Benjamin Franklin had it mostly right when he said that in this world there are two inevitabilities: death and taxes. He just forgot one other thing that’s for certain: growing older. That’s something that we’ll all have to experience, too.

One of the most common issues that plague a lot of men, though, is Father Time coming for the way they look and feel long before he’s meant to.

As it turns out, there are plenty of things that you might be doing every single day that may be causing it. Here are a few of them, and what you can do to turn the clock back:

You don’t sleep well

Sleep deprivation is a common problem in the United States, with a significant portion of the population reporting that they do not get enough sleep.

Specifically, about 35% of adults in the country report that they regularly get less than the recommended minimum of 7 hours of sleep per night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is especially true for certain groups of people, such as shift workers, people who suffer from sleep disorders, and individuals with certain medical conditions.

Experts recommend getting between 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. If you have trouble sleeping, you may want to try one of our men’s anti-aging supplements, Sleep Aid Ultra with 10mg Melatonin. Our proprietary blend includes ingredients that will help you fall asleep more easily and regulate your circadian rhythm so that you feel more rested and energized when you wake up.

You’re not getting all the vitamins and nutrients you need from your diet

Being healthy really does start from within. What you choose to put in your body can have a significant impact not just on the way that you feel, but also in how you look.

Unfortunately, it’s not at all possible to get all the vitamins and minerals that your body needs, even if you have a balanced diet–though it certainly helps. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted by the CDC, an estimated 28.9% of the U.S. population is deficient in vitamin D, which is caused by a number of factors. Either you don’t get enough of it in your food, or your body simply can’t absorb enough vitamin D from your diet. It’s also possible to become deficient in vitamin D if you don’t get enough exposure to sunlight.

An easy way to cover all of your vitamin, mineral, and nutrient needs is to take supplements. Our All in One Multivitamin + Mineral Formula with Antioxidant + Immune Support is yet another men’s anti-aging supplement from our catalog that can help with that. It’s also a good idea to start eating healthier and consuming less processed foods. Starchy, sugar-laden foods can also be aging you, and it’s best to cut down on them.

You’re stressed out

Stress is yet another common issue in the United States, and men are not exempt from experiencing its effects.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), men report higher levels of stress than women. In the APA's 2020 Stress in America survey, 23% of men reported experiencing "extreme stress" compared to 18% of women. Work and job-related pressures are reported to be the most common sources of stress for males, but what’s worse is that men are a lot less likely than women to seek help for it.

It’s easy to say that you’ll just push through it, but stress can have a range of negative effects on your health, well-being, and daily functioning. Chronic stress can contribute to a range of physical health problems, elevating your blood pressure and increasing your risk for developing conditions such as heart disease, obesity, digestive issues, headaches, and chronic pain. Your mental health suffers, too: stress contributes to feelings of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. At work, stress can make it hard to concentrate and focus, leading to decreased productivity.

Fortunately, there are many ways to cope with stress. Mindfulness meditation, relaxation techniques, and seeking support from your friends and family members can all be hugely beneficial. You can also take a men’s anti-aging supplement that also helps combat stress, such as our Serenity Anti-Stress Support or our 5 HTP 200mg Serotonin Support.

You smoke and/or drink too much

We probably don’t need to talk at length about how smoking can affect you negatively. You should know, though, that it’s not just your lungs that pay a price whenever you light up. It also increases your risk of developing heart disease, erectile dysfunction, stroke, and age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly. Furthermore, it can decrease your ability to have children in the future.

Your appearance suffers, too. Smoking affects the elasticity of your skin, causing signs of premature aging to appear on your face, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and a duller complexion. It also increases the risk of hair loss among men, as well as premature graying.

Overindulging in alcohol is just as bad. Some of the conditions that you may become more at risk for include liver disease, cancer, and pancreatitis. Heavy drinking can also lead to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Smoking is a habit that you would do well to kick to the curb immediately. As for drinking, it’s best to do so moderately. Experts recommend drinking no more than 2 standard drinks per day, which is defined as a drink that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol. This is equivalent to 12 ounces of regular beer (about 5% alcohol content), 5 ounces of wine (about 12% alcohol content), or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (about 40% alcohol content). If you happen to be more sensitive to the effects of alcohol, then you may want to consume less than this recommended amount.

Remember: you have the power to make yourself look and feel younger. All you need to do is make healthier choices! For more information on supplements that can help turn the clock back, view our anti-aging supplements that are available online.