Having children is a choice, and everyone is free to have them or not, but one thing’s for sure: having them marks a before and after in our lives. Everything changes, including your body.
Becoming a mother ages you 11 years. That was the conclusion of a study published by George Mason University in Virginia. The findings show that when women become mothers, it adds 11 years to their biological age.
The reason is that becoming a mother is much more than just 9 months of pregnancy. Afterwards, the mother enters a postpartum period, where her body returns to its “natural” state and adapts to its new lifestyle. In addition to the acceptance and recovery process, having a baby means time, energy, and work for various activities. And all of this effort has an impact on our cells, preventing telomeres (the ends of our chromosomes) from protecting our DNA from aging.
A very common and noticeable example is the appearance of gray hairs. For women who don’t have children, it’s less likely that they’ll get gray hairs. This shouldn’t be a determining factor in anyone’s decision to have children or not, it’s only that, if you do decide to have a baby, you should take care of your health during and after your pregnancy. Make sure that you eat a balanced diet and try to get as much physical activity as possible.
Your waist, belly, legs, and butt will never be the same again, but don’t worry. Many women don’t think about it that much and gradually learn to embrace their new figure.
Recommendations:
– Make time for doing physical exercise. If you are always with your children, you can do your workout with them.
– Eat antioxidants because they fight the signs of aging.
– Try to keep your mind busy. Playing mental games helps stimulate your hormones.
– Make time for yourself. Doing the things you love produces serotonin, the happiness hormone that will keep you young.
– Meet up with your friends. Hanging out with them will produce endorphins and provide a feeling of well-being.
Although science says that becoming a mother ages you 11 years, the fact is that it depends on whether you let yourself go or take care of your body. Sure, having children is a huge responsibility, but that doesn’t mean you should forget about yourself and your needs. Make time for yourself and don’t let mom duties take up every single second of your time. Have fun and feel young again by doing the things you love as you enjoy and embrace this new chapter of your life as a mom.
Translated by Zoralis Pérez
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Here are other articles you should check out:
7 Weird Things That Happen To Your Body When You’re Pregnant
Ignoring A Baby’s Cry Might Be The Reason Why Some People Are More Aggressive Than Others
What Would Happen To Your Breasts If You Stopped Wearing A Bra Today?
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