Anti-Aging Tips From 89-Year-Old Wellness Luminary Louise Hay

Years ago at a nutrition seminar, I met Louise Hay, a wellness expert and visionary. She liked my red lipstick and I liked her quick wit. We exchanged business cards and began one of the most unusual friendships I’ve ever had: this 89-year-old leader of the self-help movement was, in fact, a hidden nutrition guru who taught me more about staying healthy and young than any of my degrees or certifications ever had.

When you’re with Louise, it’s not uncommon to feel like you're hanging out with a 14-year-old (a very wise one, though!) because of her playfulness.

After learning all the "rules" of staying young, fit, and healthy, it wasn’t until I channeled my inner 14-year-old with Louise that I began to experience a new level of health and energy. I learned to embrace the part of me that likes to jump up and down when excited; we’ve missed flights while sitting at the gate because we were busy trading iPad apps; we've experimented with all-natural makeup, painted pink streaks in our hair, and danced around the kitchen as we cooked recipes for our book.

She’s mischievous, loves shenanigans, and, more often than not, has a big smile and quick laugh at the ready. I learned to drop my refined, buttoned-up adult persona and let my inner child fly free. Before I knew it, I was feeling happier than I’d ever felt before.

Remember the last time you fell in love? Love makes us feel younger and improves our physical and emotional health. So, what if you fell in love with yourself? And reminded yourself of this love every day?

In You Can Heal Your Life, Louise wrote that changing your mind can change your life. Positive affirmations like, “I love myself” became a game-changer for millions of people. How we feel about ourselves does in fact make a difference when it comes to our health and well-being: when we love ourselves, we're more likely to make loving choices.

The bottom line is that thinking more positively relieves stress, the root cause of many illnesses. Stress kills our minerals, B vitamins, and good gut bacteria — all the things that help us stay young and healthy. It contributes to inflammation and reduces the enzymes we need for better moods, sleep, and decision-making. We see these effects in our skin, hair, energy, and weight … all things that contribute to an aging appearance.

Louise eats well but isn't rigid about her diet. If you asked why her skin, hair, and bones are so young and healthy today, she’d declare, “I’m a bone broth girl,” starting and ending her day with a cup of bone broth. And while bone broth may be trendy today, Louise has been consuming it since the '60s, when she learned how to make it from Julia Child.

Bone broth is full of bioavailable collagen, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. While all of these nutrients contribute to our health, collagen has a special function for our bones, muscles, skin, hair, and nails. It’s the connective tissue that holds our body together. It can help keep skin from sagging and wrinkles from forming and add shine and strength to hair and nails.

Don’t we have enough rules to follow in life? Living your life with these three simple guidelines might just be the recipe you need for health, beauty, and longevity!

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