These days we tend to prioritise how we look over our health, and how we feel. For many of us, this increasingly means booking ourselves in for cosmetic surgery.

But there is a way of looking, feeling and being younger – without all the pain and expense of a Harley Street clinic. And that's by taking a good look at your biological age, and how to improve it. The good news is it's well within your control. Read on to find out more...

What is your true age?
Research says that your biological age is a more accurate assessment of your age than how many years you have lived. You only have to look at Madonna: she exercises regularly, stays out of the sun, eats well, and takes care of her spiritual well-being – and she looks ten years younger than her actual age of 50.

Genes versus lifestyle
We all age at different rates, and in different ways. Genes play a role in determining our biological age, but it's mostly based on lifestyle choices. If you have a poor diet, spend a lot of time on the sofa, use sun beds, and have a stressful work or personal life, your biological age is more likely to increase beyond your actual age.

What is biological measurement about?
Originally, it was all about early detection of diseases caused by aging. Age was determined by disease 'markers', which indicated whether or not we might have a disease in the future. But discovering these can be too late to avoid illness. Hence, the importance of biological age measurement, or 'biomarkers', that measures changes throughout our bodies as we age, predicting how fast we are aging, and which parts are aging faster than others.

Making changes
Knowing how your body is aging, and which parts are more vulnerable than others, you can take preventative action by making changes to your lifestyle. This might be as simple as improving your diet and exercise regime, or for some, getting hormone checks or other therapy. These things go a long way toward better health, looking younger, and longer life expectancy. Having a second biological assessment later will give you an idea of how well those changes are working for you.