Your mother was right when she said "eat your fruits and vegetables"!
Your skin is your largest organ and the most exposed to elements both
inside and out. You can slap on the most expensive creams, but without
knowing the whole story you will be sadly disappointed with the results.
The great news is that your skin is one area where you can make a
noticeable difference to the way you look, FAST. Incorporating these
easy and delicious tips, you can start looking and feeling younger
within weeks.
EAT
Foods rich in vitamin A
help form and maintain healthy skin, teeth, skeletal and soft tissue,
and mucus membranes. It is also known as retinol because it produces the
pigments in the retina of the eye. Polyphenols, found in berries, play a
major role in keeping the skin healthy. Flavonoids are among the most
beneficial nutrients that you can derive from plants and plant products.
They are antioxidants found naturally in plants. Antioxidant-rich foods
include berries, grapes, pomegranate, walnuts, almonds, black beans,
cooked tomatoes, eggplant, spinach, whole grains and superfoods such as
seaweed. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C. Other
great sources of vitamin C include papayas, carrots and citrus fruits.
A
mutually beneficial relationship exists between flavonoids and vitamin
C. Each substance improves the antioxidant activity of the other, and
many of the vitamin-related functions of vitamin C also appear to
require the presence of flavonoids. Vitamin C has shown positive results
as UVA/UVB protection, decreasing hyperpigmentation (brown spots) and
increase collagen production, all factors in aging skin.
For that
young, dewy look, you need to seal this water into your skin. To do
that, you need to eat healthy essential fats. Not only do they make your
cell membranes stronger-which helps prevent harmful toxins from being
absorbed-they also keep moisture from getting out. Without plenty of
omega 3, 6 and 9, drinking water is like trying to fill a paddling pool
with a hole in it. Be sure to include at least one serving of these
essential fats per day such as salmon, unsalted nuts, seeds, avocado,
and vegetable oils such as canola oil, olive oil and safflower oil.
It's
also important to know that a disrupted digestion prevents proper
absorption of nutrients, thus starving your skin of the raw material to
keep it looking young. Certain foods and supplements can help improve
liver function and liver detox systems are enhanced by broccoli sprouts,
seaweed, and dark greens.
DRINK
I am sure
you have been told a million times to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a
day. Well, you are going to hear it one more time. Drinking water
regularly can help muscles increase, fat to be lost, and skin to shine,
creating a better version of the body you have.
According to the
Mayo Clinic, water is used for a variety of functions in the body, such
as moistening tissues and protecting internal organs, dissolving
nutrients to be absorbed by the body, lubricating joints and regulating
body temperature. Water helps the kidneys flush out waste products as
well as help in oxygen transport to the cells of the body.
Elderberry
and cranberry juices are good choices for their immune boosting and
anti-bacterial properties. Avoid high sugar juices, especially from
exotic fruits such as banana and mango, because sugar is the ultimate
skin-ager.
The polyphenols in red wine and green tea contain
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that detoxify and help
repair cell-damaging free radicals in the body.
PUT IT ON EVERYTHING
Try
adding flaxseed, ginger, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, honey, lemon and
lime to your food and drink to add a punch of flavour that harbors a
powerhouse of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial,
stomach-soothing, and liver-and heart-protecting effects.
Some
foods and herbs may alter the effects of some prescription and
non-prescription medications. If you have allergies, are currently being
treated with medications or have an illness, you should first talk to
your health care provider.
LOOK YOUNGER!
5 Skin Care Basics
- Cleanse and Tone
- Exfoliate (facial scrubs and fruit enzyme peels work to soften and break down and digest dead skin cells.)
- Nourish (serums and masks)
- Hydrate (day and night creams or lotions with hyaluronic acid)
- Protect (sunscreen and lip balm with SPF 15 or more)
10 Deadliest Skin-Aging Sins
Research
shows that there are, in fact, two distinct types of aging. Aging
caused by the genes we inherit is called intrinsic (internal) aging. The
other type of aging is known as extrinsic (external) aging and is
caused by external or environmental factors. Here are some of the worst
extrinsic factors.
- Smoking
- Sun exposure
- Sugars
- Alcohol
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Bad food choices
- Dehydration from lack of water intake, using too hot water or exposure to very cold and hot temperatures
- Harsh cleansers or products containing toxic ingredients
- Lack of exercise. Exercise helps to tone your muscles and get your blood flowing.
