The Creeping Effects of Aging and How to Defend Against Them

Remember the days you could stay out late, eat anything, have an extra couple of beers, recover quickly, and for the most part, do whatever you wanted without much difficulty?

Unfortunately, after 50, memories are the only way to experience that life without feeling awful.

It likely happened on a random morning when you woke up and felt age creeping into your joints. If you have any left, your hair is grayer than whatever color it used to be. Then there’s the sagging skin and the rapidly emerging Santa belly constantly reminding you that time is not your friend.

The onset of these mind and body transformations may occur gradually, but we notice them suddenly. From that point forward, it becomes hard not to see them.

As we transition through our 50s and beyond, the various physical and mental indications of aging march forward. If aging gracefully, or better yet, stubbornly is our goal, the time for action is now. Sure, we can dye our hair and go on a diet, but Father Time is undefeated.

1. Vision– There’s probably not a more overnight change than our eyesight. Yesterday we could see perfectly, and today everything is a bit blurry. If we have yet to need glasses, this new dance starts by purchasing a set of readers. It’s all downhill from here.

2. Back pain– We’re most likely to develop disc issues around age 50. Symptoms of disc problems are lower back pain that radiates into our buttocks and legs.

3. Brain fog– We lose our train of thought more easily and have trouble recalling words and names. This mental uncertainty and lack of clarity are common in men over 50 due to age-related hormonal changes.

4. Loss of reasoning – Our brains begin deteriorating around age 20, but it’s usually not noticeable until 50 as our reasoning skills start declining. Studies report an estimated 4% drop in reasoning ability between ages 50 and 60.

5. Low testosterone– Middle to late middle age is when our hormones tend to be less stable, and testosterone levels drop significantly. We lose muscle, energy, and our sex drive wanes.

6. Muscle loss– Our muscles begin deteriorating at age 30, but it is a slow-moving process throughout the rest of our lives. Muscle loss is a factor in brain fog, decreased energy, and slowing our healing and recovery abilities. Our gym sessions become more muscle maintenance than building.

7. Arthritis– That pain we feel in our joints when getting out of bed is likely osteoarthritis, and this type of arthritis involves the deterioration of cartilage between the bones.

8. Digestive issues– Eating rich foods becomes uncomfortable due to muscle weakness in the digestive tract. Digestive problems like heartburn and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) become more common as we age.

9. Lactose intolerance– As if the heartburn wasn’t enough punishment, ice cream also becomes an issue because the body’s level of the enzyme that processes lactose decreases. If you experience bloating, cramping, and diarrhea after consuming dairy products, it’s likely that you’re lactose intolerant.

10. Growing prostate– The dreaded finger exam! Prostate cancer is a slow killer that we should not ignore. Primarily in men over 50, our prostates grow and cause difficulties urinating as we age.

11. Erectile dysfunction– Research reports that men in their 50s are three and a half times more likely to experience erectile dysfunction.

12. Loss of virility– Even if getting our soldiers to salute is not a problem, men over 50 are generally less fertile than the younger version of themselves.

13. Flat butt– Whether from years of sitting in a desk chair or hormonal changes, fat migrates from back to front as we age. It’s the transition from fit to dad-bod and then eventually saggy grandpa.

14. Wrinkles– Around age 40, when testosterone levels drop, our facial skin drys out and thins. This drying effect, combined with the migration downward of the fat in our faces, causes our skin to lose elasticity and wrinkles to appear.

15. Alcohol tolerance– Once you hit the big 5 – 0, don’t expect to keep the drinking habits of a college kid. Not only does it take fewer drinks to get tipsy, but hangovers and our ability to recover from them worsen significantly. Our livers gradually lose the ability to metabolize alcohol, and we slowly become lightweights.

Have you heard the good news?

Wow, that’s a lot to look forward to in the next decade or so. But the good news is that even though Father Time is undefeated, he runs slowly, and we can outpace him for a while.

If we exercise regularly, eat healthily, and take dietary supplements, it’s possible to delay the effects of aging. The secrets in the fight against aging are maintaining muscle mass, increasing blood flow, achieving flexibility, and reducing inflammation.

What can you do to defend against aging today?

Take care, even down there.

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