On top of all the love they offer, your furry family member may just be the ultimate anti-aging secret…
By Adriana Ermter
There are a number of things you can do to look younger. Apply face creams loaded with retinoids, collagen, hyaluronic acid and peptides. Eat antioxidant-rich broccoli, spinach, tomatoes and blueberries. Engage in swimming, free weights, stretching and walking. Or go to bed early, rise with the sun and indulge in daytime naps. But perhaps the best tip of all is: share your life with an animal. It may just result in having fewer wrinkles.
Create a happier home life
Having a fur baby can make you feel happier, healthier and more youthful, says Claire Silvester, a psychotherapist in Toronto. “Animals bring out our maternal and paternal instincts,” she adds. “You check to make sure they’re okay. You want to make sure that they have been fed well and, in turn, they give you back all of this unconditional love. It’s why so many people adopted or acquired pets during the pandemic. They make you feel needed and important, and they make your space feel like a home.”
Many people continue to add animals into their family units. In 2024, according to research and data company Made in CA, a whopping 80 per cent of Canadians chose to share their homes with at least one animal. It makes sense. Who doesn’t love being greeted at the door with a wagging tail or receiving a purr and a rub when you sit down to watch your favourite show on Netflix? Canine and feline affection lifts your spirits, puts you in a good mood and can improve how you age.
“They bring joy and fun, which is so needed in our everyday, stressful, busy lives,” explains Suzana Gartner, J.D., LL.M, animal rights activist, retired animal rights lawyer and author of the book A Voice for Animals. “And they demand it. It’s like they say: ‘Hey, stop with your to-do list, stop with your tasks and your monkey mind and let’s just play.’ From a youthful perspective, we need that. We need the childlike qualities they bring out in us. Study after study has shown that this behaviour makes us more playful and present in the moment and, very importantly, it releases stress.”
Let Fluffy and Woofy be your Zen master
Reducing your stress has lots of great benefits. It can improve your cardiovascular health courtesy of increased physical activity (think of all the walks at the dog park) and it can enhance your mental well-being, both of which can positively impact how you feel and look. According to a 2024 survey by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and the University of Minnesota, people with pets – especially those with dogs and cats – report a higher sense of purpose, reduced anxiety and lower blood pressure compared to non-pet owners.
With Fluffy and Woofy by your side, you’re less likely to experience loneliness too, which the National Institutes of Health say will strengthen your immune system and reduce depression. “They help us get through life experiences with more ease,” explains Gartner. “Nurturing an animal helps us slow down and connect with both them and with ourselves.” All combined, these physiological and emotional benefits create more resilience and relaxation – and that can translate into fewer crow’s feet and frown lines.
After all, stress plays a role in how we age. A 2019 research study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology journal notes this as the “stress theory of aging,” which supports the notion that the cumulative effects of stress and stressful environments disrupt normal cellular function and cause cellular damage that can manifest as fine lines and wrinkles. When you’re feeling stress, your body releases cortisol, the stress hormone, which damages your skin’s natural collagen and elastin. Increased or chronic stress equals more cortisol production, which has the domino effect of triggering inflammation, which then weakens your immune system and diminishes your skin’s texture and elasticity, which makes you more susceptible to looking older.
Engage with your four-legged pal and minimize wrinkles
Research from the American Psychological Association notes that snuggling, petting, observing and engaging with your pet can lower these cortisol levels and boost oxytocin, the feel-good hormone that fosters feelings of relaxation and slows down the physical signs of stress and aging. Even something as simple as gazing lovingly into your fur baby’s eyes can elevate your body’s levels of dopamine and serotonin, which promote positive emotions and calmness.
“It’s the ‘mirror neuron system,’” explains Silvester. “Humans experience this regularly, but so do dogs. Our brains’ neurons fire up through certain emotional interactions, like love and playfulness. So, for example, what I do with my dog is, I look at my dog and I wink and then I wink at him again. At first, he blinks and then after a little while he’ll do a wink. It’s just another way of communicating and expressing our feelings.” While mirror neurons between people and their furry family members are still being explored, a 2021 article published by the National Library of Medicine affirms their existence and attributes the initial discovery of the human-animal neurological connection to primates.
So, despite what people (cough, certain politicians) may say about all the single cat ladies, having a pet is a good thing. In fact, we’re hardwired for this type of connection – which can be hard to come by if you live in a big city and don’t know your neighbours, work beyond a 9-to-5, spend more time indoors than outside due to the weather or, perhaps, live alone. Bringing an animal into your life can be the stopgap filling the void of companionship. “If you are introverted or you’ve moved to a new area or maybe you’ve gone through a breakup, getting a dog gives you a sense of companionship,” adds Silvester. “When I go to the farmers’ market on a Saturday and bring the dog, I build in an extra half-hour because of all the people who stop me and want to pet him. So, there’s something about [having a dog] that can bring this connection with other humans too.”
Keep it simple and prevent aging
Animals – particularly cats, dogs and horses – can additionally support you through bouts of anxiety, panic attacks and depression, along with big-life moments such as marriage, divorce and disease. They are sensitive to your emotions and respond empathetically, and their presence reassures that you aren’t going through life alone.
Ever cried during a Hallmark movie and had Woofy jump onto the couch and crawl into your lap? Been ill and stuck in bed and had Fluffy curl in beside you? The Hormel Institute’s research has found that these specific pet-based reactions can actually improve your quality of life. So know that watching your fish swim can calm your mind. Caring for your hamster, rabbit or guinea pig can provide a sense of purpose. Riding your horse can fill you with joy. “Animals keep it simple for us,” enthuses Gartner. “They don’t judge or criticize us like, maybe, some of our other family members or friends do. They simply tap into our innate need to be loved and accepted. And they’re consistent about it.”
So, no matter which furry (or finned) companion you call your own, each one is a worthy family member filling you with love, peace and happiness…and is helping you feel and look younger.
ADRIANA ERMTER is a Toronto-based lifestyle-magazine pro who has travelled the globe writing about must-spritz fragrances, child poverty, beauty and grooming.
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