{"id":43890,"date":"2023-09-21T13:27:28","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T12:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dluxe-magazine.co.uk\/?p=43890"},"modified":"2023-09-21T13:27:56","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T12:27:56","slug":"dr-julia-sen-why-being-young-is-overrated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dluxe-magazine.co.uk\/health\/dr-julia-sen-why-being-young-is-overrated\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr Julia Sen: Why Being Young Is Overrated"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dr Julia Sen is a Consultant Ophthalmic Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgeon with more than 20 years of experience in her field. Every month on DLUXE she shares with us her own observations from almost 30 years of medical practice and 50 years of life experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this month\u2019s post, Dr. Julia Sen unveils why age is just a number<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why do people on internet dating sites \u201cmisunderestimate\u201d their age? Clearly, some people find advancing age so unattractive that they\u2019re prepared to start a new relationship on the basis of a big fat lie. How bizarre (and not guilty, by the way)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reframing Ageing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We can\u2019t stop the passage of time and aren\u2019t we, in the words of the fabulous Kylie (now a mature lady herself), \u201clucky, lucky, lucky\u201d to have made it into later life at all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being young is overrated, IMHO. Teenagers of today have a complex landscape of gender and sexuality to negotiate, not to mention the risk of their most embarrassing moments ending up on social media. Twenty and 30-somethings are frantically juggling careers and domestic commitments but later life brings with it the benefits of self-knowledge and an understanding of what is important in our lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having survived heartbreak, bereavement and financial insecurity, we emerge like the proverbial phoenix, with wisdom, strength and resilience. Those whose children fledged and flown have an opportunity to reinvent themselves by relocating, starting new careers, relationships or hobbies, their \u201cempty nest\u201d transformed into a launch pad for adventure. One reason, perhaps why levels of happiness have been shown to rise from their lowest point in our 40s, continuing to climb well into our 60s – statistically the happiest decade of our lives. So if you\u2019re experiencing a midlife low, keep calm and carry on – the only way is up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Busting Myths<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The general assumption that ageing necessarily leads to poor health and unhappiness is simply not true. Indeed, with the right approach, we can enjoy some of our best years in later life. In her excellent book, \u201cAge Proof\u201d, Professor Rose Anne Kenny, Consultant Geriatrician, reveals the secrets of successful ageing, based on findings of TILDA, the largest adult population study of ageing adults in Ireland and those from studies of \u201cBlue Zone\u201d populations, five geographically disparate regions with the highest proportions of citizens aged 100 or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secrets to Successful Ageing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Nutrition. The \u201cMediterranean\u201d diet is a common feature. Predominantly plant based with minimal meat, fish, eggs and dairy with little or no processing. Beans and fermented foods, such as yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi are daily staples; water is the preferred beverage, with tea, coffee and wine consumed in moderation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n