Everyone knows someone that gets the response “My goodness, you look 20 years younger than your age” when someone enquires about their age. Meanwhile, everyone also knows someone who looks approximately 20 years older than their actual age. You might ask how the former person does it. What are they doing to look so young?
The fountain of youth doesn’t exist. There is no guaranteed way to stop aging. But, simply because you have to age doesn’t mean you have to wear that age on your skin.
How Aging Affects Skin
As you age, the skin endures natural changes. The outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis, thins, making skin more loose, transparent, and fragile. Long-term sun exposure over the lifespan breaks down essential protein fibers called elastin. These fibers are important for skin maintaining its stretch or elastic quality. As they break down, skin sags and fine lines and wrinkles form.
In addition to the natural changes associated with aging, lifestyle choices have a major impact on your skin as you age. Sun exposure, smoking, stress, poor skin care habits, and nutrition may all cause skin to age quicker. What’s more, chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity develop with age. These conditions also age the skin.
Foods to Avoid for Younger-Looking Skin
You can significantly impact the appearance of your skin and replenish skin healthy proteins like collagen and elastin by making healthy dietary choices. Certain foods negatively impact your skin as you age and compromise your overall health and wellness, too. Cut these foods that age your skin:
- Sugar. Cakes, candies, and cookies may taste good, but these foods break down collagen that helps the skin stay soft and supple. Most processed carbohydrates like bread and snack crackers also quickly convert to sugar in the body.
- Deep-fried and processed foods. Fried foods containing trans-fats contribute to inflammation, which speeds up skin aging. These fats are typically found in deep-fried and packaged foods like doughnuts, biscuits, and snack foods. Trans-fats also threaten heart health by raising LDL (bad cholesterol) and lowering HDL (bad cholesterol).
- Alcohol. As you age, the liver has trouble effectively expelling the toxins present in alcohol. This exacerbates skin conditions like rosacea or psoriasis. Alcohol also dehydrates the skin, leading to sagginess and wrinkles.
Foods to Eat for Younger-Looking Skin
Some foods provide vitamins and nutrients that promote skin health. Such foods help re-supply the body with collagen and elastin. They also benefit overall health by reducing your risk of developing age-related diseases that impact skin. Add these foods to your diet for a more youthful appearance:
- Omega-3 fatty acids. Foods containing these heart-healthy fatty acids minimize the risk of age-related conditions, such as cardiovascular disease. They also reduce inflammation that ages skin. Omega-3s are abundant in olive and flaxseed oils as well as fatty fish like salmon and mackerel. They are also found in walnuts and almonds.
- Dark, Leafy greens. Leafy greens are rich in the antioxidant beta carotene, which defends the body against free radicals. Another phytonutrient, lutein, has been shown to reduce wrinkle formation. Reach for dark, leafy greens like kale, collard green, Swiss chard, spinach, and endive.
- Avocado. This Vitamin E-rich fruit helps relieve dry skin and protects against the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Avocados also contain poly- and monounsaturated fatty acids which keep skin moist and reduce inflammation. These fruit also contain antioxidants that hydrate the skin and promote elasticity.
- Berries. Berries, especially blueberries, are an excellent source of antioxidants which work to protect the body against cell-damaging free radicals. Berries are also abundant in Vitamins C and E that reduce wrinkles.
- H2O. Although not necessarily a food, water is one of the most powerful weapons to have in your anti-aging diet. Skin is the body’s largest organ, which means, like any other organ, it counts on water to function properly. Adequate hydration helps plump up skin cells and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. When you drink more water, the skin is more efficient in removing toxins.
You can’t control your age, but you can promote a more youthful appearance by making healthier choices. Skip the sugar, deep-fried, and processed foods in favor of skin-healthy foods like leafy greens, healthy fats, and berries. Also, be sure to properly hydrate for smoother, younger-looking skin.
~Health Scams Exposed
