It has surely happened to you that you have come across a person who looks older than their actual age or, on the contrary, looks much, much younger than what their tax records say.
Maybe this same scenario has happened to you, and you have been asked: “Is that really your age? you don’t look it”. There are cases, likewise, where the way people act can distort their real age, making us perceive them as older or younger.
But have you ever wondered: why does this phenomenon occur? If so, then stay tuned to this article where we will tell you about the differences we will talk to you about the differences between chronological age and biological age and why they sometimes don’t seem to match.
What is chronological age?
We can define chronological age as the time counted from a person’s birth until his or her death, that is, the exact age that is calculated in years, months and days. It is the age we celebrate on each birthday and the age we give for some record, expressed in numbers.
This age runs within us regardless of time or the level of evolution of each person. That is why it becomes extremely important during child development because children of the same chronological age may not have the same level of individual development.
Chronological age is always accompanied by the changes that occur in a person’s individual environment.The age of the body, the events we have lived through, the experiences we have acquired and the biological, bodily and psychological growth. That is why the more time passes, the more age settles in our physique.
What is then the biological age?
On the other hand we have the biological age, which can be conceptualized as the age that we appear to the world and corresponds to the adequate or inadequate functionality of our internal organism with respect to the regular averages that should be manifested, according to the stage of the corresponding chronological age. It is also known as manifest age and in recent times it has been given a more subjective concept that directly influences health.
Expressions such as ‘I feel young despite my age’ or ‘I am young but I feel in the body of an old man’ have a great impact on our personal beliefs about personal health and the perception of the effect of the outside world on our life. This is because it has a physiological meaning that is related to the progressive aging of our body and mind.
That is why, some people may look older despite being chronologically young, while others look quite young.while others look quite youthful and fresh, when in fact they are older.
Biological age: the new standard of health and beauty.
Knowing our biological age is as important as celebrating our chronological age, because this is the one we show to the world, the one that speaks for us about our physical, emotional and psychological health, the one that allows us to adapt to the environment and relate appropriately to it. But it is also of utmost importance to know how to take care of our biological age, so that we can enjoy a healthy and balanced quality of life.
Although it may be hard to believe, it is our biological age that affects our longevity. How? Well, there is nothing better to describe it than the saying ‘if you feel good on the inside, it will show on the outside’. Depending on how we take care of our organism, it will last for a long time, no matter how old we are, avoiding the appearance of degenerative diseases, cardiovascular alterations, muscular injuries and irreversible damage.
This results in an optimal internal system, a strong body and long-lasting beauty.. After all, by taking care of our body we benefit our physical aesthetics, as our skin improves its circulation and regeneration, as it is freed from toxins and free radicals.
Essential differences between chronological age and biological age
Although the difference between these two ages that we all possess may already be clear, there are some elements that you can take into account, there are some elements you can take into account in case you still have any doubts.
1. Definition
Perhaps this is the biggest difference because, in definition, chronological age is the exact and numerical count of the time we have been in this world since we left our mother’s womb. While the biological or manifest age is the one that is shown to the outside through the conditions of internal health.
2. Calculation
Calculating the chronological age is very simple, as its name suggests, we only have to count from the moment of birth until now. At first, days and months are counted, and then the year is added. From pre-adolescence onwards, only the annual time is taken into account.
On the other hand, the biological age can be calculated through specialized tests that are performed with a sample of blood or even tissue. However, there are online pages that talk about health issues that can offer you a quick calculator to know your approximate biological age, by entering some basic and significant data of your health history.
3. Required care
For the biological age, no care is required as it is literally just a number that records how long we have lived. On the other hand, in order to preserve our biological age in an adequate, functional and optimal way, it is necessary to take care of ourselves on a daily basis.
These include: balanced diet, constant exercise, regular medical check-up, healthy lifestyle, mental health care, avoiding harmful habits, exercising the mind and reducing daily stress.
4. External appreciation
Biological age is perceptible, to some extent we can notice or people can let us know how healthy or deteriorated we may be. This happens because the negative effects on our health are manifested in the body, for example, through dark circles under the eyes, skin spots or darkening of the dermis. As an indication that something is happening and we should pay attention to correct it.
While the chronological age is appreciated in our fiscal records or to appreciate our evolution according to the corresponding stages, for this reason it has a great weight in our life.
Biological age has a more subjective meaning, whereas chronological age is recorded and celebrated every year.
5. Impact on evolution
Chronological age serves as a fixed statistic to evaluate the evolutionary growth of people, whether they are behind in some area of development or whether they maintain an adequate weight and height. Worldwide, growth charts and developmental levels are measured according to exact chronological age, which is expressed in years, months and days.
As for biological age, its importance lies in its influence at the internal level, i.e., how far the organism and its functions are evolving beyond the established chronological age. So, as long as the organism is nourished and stimulated (mentally and psychologically) it can grow according to the regular average.
Tips to take care of our biological age
We have heard these tips continuously in many organic and physical health care tips, but far from being a repetitive discourse, they are essential factors to take care of ourselves and value our existence, they are essential factors to take care of ourselves and value our existence..
1. Healthy lifestyle
This is essential in order to maintain longevity in our internal organism, but above all that can be reflected in the aesthetics of the body. A healthy lifestyle implies maintaining a balanced balance in the performance we carry out in each area of our life. So that none causes a negative impact on the other and at the same time allows optimal performance in the daily routine.
2. Worry about exercise
Physical activity not only has a direct effect on maintaining or reaching the ideal weight and having a slim figure. It also helps us to prevent diseases of any kind, from avoiding colds or viral illnesses, to strengthening the body against cardiovascular, muscular, skeletal, gastrointestinal problems and even against degenerative mental illnesses.
3. Exercise your mind
Mental health is as important as physical health, so from now on seek to practice activities that strengthen your mental activity and awaken your curiosity. Developing new skills, learning new things or trying dynamic activities helps the brain to create new neuronal connections and keep them active. This prevents oxidation of brain cells and thus the fading of brain tissue.
4. Avoid stress
Stress is one of the most harmful conditions for physical, emotional and mental health, because its effect is fatigue and the more exhaustion we have, the less motivation we have to be physically active, leaving us vulnerable to the contagion or development of diseases.
In addition, stress produces an alteration in the release of happiness hormones, which generates feelings of frustration, irritability, anger, sadness, devaluation and hopelessness. The more these feelings accumulate, the more they can generate serious mental disorders such as anxiety or depression.
5. Rest
But it is not only important to keep moving, but also to have adequate rest for the body to recover and regenerate its strength, and this can only be achieved by maintaining a good quality of sleep, as well as having a moment of disconnection during the day. At least 20 minutes in the morning and in the evening, this helps to refresh the brain and reactivate its functions.
While, at the end of the day, you need to have an ideal sleep routine, this way you can get a restful sleep and a restful night. So try to unplug all your electronic devices when you go to bed, take a hot bath and have a relaxing tea before going to sleep and sleep for 7 to 8 hours.
6. Eat well
A balanced diet is ideal for maintaining the health and functioning of the internal organs, as well as the brain. It also helps us to strengthen the immune system and ensure aesthetic beauty. To this end, it is recommended to consume more vegetables, legumes and fruits in the daily diet, avoid trans fats, increase protein, reduce the consumption of sugars and processed foods,
7. Say no to bad habits
Another essential element to maintain a healthy biological age is to avoid bad habits, such as the consumption of alcohol, smoking tobacco and other addictive substances. This is because the body metabolizes these substances and synthesizes them in the body, generating an addiction to their effects, which are extremely harmful to the functioning of internal organs and can damage skin cells.
Now you know that you have two ages in your body and you must take care of one of them, so that it goes at par or even beat that number that increases with each candle you blow on your birthday.