Since Will & Grace made its debut in the late 90s, it's almost impossible to fathom that Debra Messing turned 50 in August-which she admits was a huge (and slightly scary) milestone for her.
"I was really freaked out approaching 50," Messing recently told AOL. "I had this preconceived idea about what 50 would feel like and what it would mean, and I just had my birthday and realised that I had all of these beautiful people in my life celebrating with me. I felt an enormous amount of gratitude. I realised that it was only by living 50 years on this earth that I was able to accrue these people. It’s bountiful. I feel feisty and fifty."
It's safe to say, though, that Messing looks better than ever. Beyond radiating confidence, here's how she takes care of her health to make 50 look like 30.
She eats a healthy diet
When she turned 40, Messing decided to eliminate added sugar, coffee, alcohol, fried foods, gluten, and dairy from her diet-and it was a game-changer for her. "I feel so much better," Messing revealed to INSIDER. "I have so much more energy and my skin is better, my hair is better, and I just feel like my body heals more quickly. There is a direct correlation between making healthy choices and feeling and looking better."
While going gluten or dairy free isn't for everyone (since both food groups offer vital nutrients like fibre, protein, and calcium), Messing says this eating plan has personally done wonders for her health.
"Let's face it, I'm an actress and there is a certain expectation about looking a certain way," she told INSIDER. "I'm not a gym rat, I'm a single mum. So for me to be able to make choices like that and for it to do half of the work for me, then I figure it's smart." (If you want to make a switch, talk to your doc or nutritionist before you start cutting out whole food groups-just to be on the safe side!)
She takes care of her skin and smile
Messing admits that skincare is important to her because she has to wear a tonne of makeup for work, which tends to clog her pores. However, she recently told InStyle that her skin also gets extremely sensitive, so she's picky with products. Messing also keeps her smile youthful by using a whitening toothpaste.
To truly pamper herself, Messing also gets regulars facials with celebrity facialist Joanne Vargas, giving credit to her “magic hands” for keeping her complexion red carpet-ready.
She prioritises sleep
Messing doesn't underestimate the importance of down time. “I’m usually working so hard,” Messing told InStyle, “like Mysteries of Laura I was working 12 hours every single day, and then I would come home and be a single mum, and then have to learn my lines for the next day. So, for me, staying healthy was really about trying to catch up on sleep.”
Aim for seven to nine hours of shuteye each night, according to recommendations from the National Sleep Foundation. Doing so will keep your immune system up to par, reduce anxiety, help you maintain a healthy weight, and spike your energy levels. Tossing and turning all night? Check out these 5 ways to get a better night's sleep.
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