Doctors Tell My Mom She Has the Body of Someone Half Her Age—This Is Her Secret

My 70-year-old parents are my superheroes. And while I used to think of their age as something to be feared—something scary that could only represent sadness, or, more morbidly, accelerated tragedy down the line, I’ve since learned to celebrate and appreciate it. Both my mom and dad overflow with richness—constant curiosity, eerily on-point perceptiveness, and a non-relenting thirst for life, which, I’m convinced is why they look and act half of their age—especially my mom. (So sorry, dad.)

When I tell people my mom's actual age (especially if they've met her face to face) they never believe me. And not in an oh I need to act surprised in order to be polite way. Nope—they're genuinely shocked and typically guess that she's (at least) fifteen years younger than she actually is. I often forget myself, and it's only been more recently (as I've become more immersed in beauty and wellness because of this lovely job of mine) that it's become more of a point of fascination for me. Not only do doctors frequently tell her she's healthier than other patients half—or even a third—of her age, she also has the dewy, plump, glowy skin of a Michaelangelo cherub and a shocking amount of passionate energy. How is she doing this? I often wonder when I'm at home for a visit and can barely drag myself off the sofa.

Sure, genes may be at play here, but another little-known fact about my mom is that she takes exceptional care of herself—like, exceptional. And while she's pretty much always stayed out of the sun and taken care of her skin in that regard, it's the shifts in her wellness and beauty routine she began making in her 30's she credits to her epic youth preservation (my words not hers, of course.) So, I thought I'd conduct a little mother-daughter interview with her not only to selfishly glean all of her very best tips for myself but to share her strategies for aging gracefully with you all as well! Ahead, and (mostly) in her own words, my mom shares her personal prescription for feeling and looking almost half of her age. Keep scrolling!