The anti-aging and health benefits of growing a beard

An important part of self growth is to be aware of anti-aging and alternative medicine to keep yourself healthy and energetic. There are so many things that each one of us can do to feel and perform better starting with simple lifestyle changes such as avoiding processed foods, exercising regularly, practicing contentment and so on.

One of the lesser-known lifestyle changes that can have a big impact on men is facial hair. Growing a beard is a natural sunscreen and will help block those harmful UV rays that can cause skin cancer. Depending on the thickness of your beard, a study in Radiation Protection Dosimetry you can block 50-95 of the UV rays. That is a remarkable all-natural way to protect your skin. In the science of UV protection, one important aspect is the ER of the exposure ratio – meaning the exposure of human skin to solar UV rays.

The short-term harms of UV rays include photo-aging (i.e. premature aging) and while one of the best ways to prevent it is to limit your exposure, not everyone can do that. The 2nd best option for men, if you have to be out and about is to grow as thick and dense a beard as you can. It is remarkable how a beard can help you look and feel young.

This is because, in addition to the anti-aging benefits of facial hair, a beard also gives you a very strong sense of masculinity. How is that beneficial to your sense of well-being? Well, it is no secret that when you look at yourself in the mirror and see strength and virility you will feel the positive psychological effects of that on your mind and body.

It is true that some men are averse to growing a beard because they worry about how they will look. But in this area of individual expressionism and a growing trend, men will fit right in. After all, it is the natural thing to do, and the health benefits of growing a beard speak for themselves. Growing and keeping a beard complements a natural, healthy lifestyle, and more so in the winter when your beard will protect you from the cold air and reduce bacterial infections. The beard also acts as natural insulation – a muffler if you will to protect your neck and keep the temperature higher. This will reduce your perceptibility to colds and infections also. It's also easy to care for a beard, just wash it regularly like the head on your hair you can just get oil or balm to keep it nice and well-groomed. There is isn't much too it.

The dangers of skin cancer should not be discounted. The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that 7,230 people will die of melanoma in 2019. Of those, 4,740 will be men and 2,490 will be women. You can easily see that the numbers are skewed towards men – a whopping 65% of these deaths are expected to be men. The Foundation also points out two other very important facts:

More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined.

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.

Taking all the above into account, men should seriously consider throwing away their razors and holding the shave.