Who ages faster – women or men? 6 tips on how to stay young

On average, women in all countries live several years longer than men. Does this mean that the aging process depends on gender? Not quite so, but let’s take a look at everything in order.

MD, pediatrician, nutritiologist, integrative medicine specialist

Slow aging is quite realistic, if you revise your lifestyle and start some healthy habits.

Who ages faster – women or men?

Men and women age differently. But most scientists agree that the fair sex in this regard in the first place. Why is this so? In the female body is much less hormone that slows down the aging process. The most important “hormone” of youth in men is considered to be testosterone. Its analog in women is estrogen. Although it also keeps the body “young”, its production decreases faster than the synthesis of testosterone. In addition, men tend to have thicker skin and more active sebaceous glands. That’s why wrinkles appear later. But this is not related to longevity.

Irina: According to the World Health Organization, women in all countries live on average longer than men: 75.9 years and 70.8 years respectively (statistics for 2020). Some studies show that the cells of the female body have the ability to resist diseases more strongly and are reliably protected from stress, bad ecology. If the “male” cells are not “able” to adjust to external stimuli, the “female” cells adapt to new circumstances with ease and do not lose vitality.

What accelerates aging?

It is a natural process, but there are things that can accelerate it. And it is not always related to gender and hormonal status. In addition to heredity and chronic disease, factors that trigger aging include oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. This is the body’s defense reaction in the production of free radicals, which attack healthy cells in the body and so accelerate the aging process.

What can trigger accelerated age-related changes?

• Toxins that accumulate over a lifetime;
• excessive intake of “fast carbohydrates”;
• the presence of chronic infection;
• excess trans fats and omega-6s;
• stress; sleep disorders;
• decreased testosterone/estrogen levels;
• затлъстяване;
• mental, physical fatigue;
• infections, inflammatory diseases;
• smoking, alcohol.

All this leads to other unpleasant consequences:

• the skin receives insufficient nutrition, becomes wrinkled;
• small vessels become fragile and brittle;
• creases, wrinkles;
• the rate of epidermis renewal decreases;
• the skin coarsens (with a tendency to greasiness) or thinning (with a tendency to dryness), it appears redness and flaking;
• skin reacts badly to any exposure (sun, water);
• the effect of cosmetic procedures – minimal, the skin after them recovered poorly.

• Sleep. Proper healthy rest slows down aging and reduces emotional stress.
• Physical activity. Gym classes and walks in the fresh air increase energy, reduce stress levels.
• Positive attitude. Studies prove: optimistic thinking can increase life expectancy by 15%. Those who think with hope for the best are less susceptible to stress.