Truth In Aging Series – Diet

Dos and Don’ts of an Anti-Aging Diet

Maybe you are a young man or woman who wants to prepare your anti-aging regimen to stay ahead of the game. Maybe you have hit middle age, when you just start to notice those annoying crow’s feet and dark circles under your eyes. Or, you might be preparing for retirement, and desire to look as fresh as you will feel with your new-found freedom. Regardless of how many birthdays have come and gone in your life, you and many other people likely take interest in how to look and feel younger – even as you age.

Aging happens for many reasons. Your body starts to slow down its functions, working less efficiently. Cells do not regenerate as easily. And, on top of that, you are exposed to toxins that will speed up the process every day – whether this is by choice or not. This leads many people to turn to some wild extremes in preventing the years from piling onto their faces, making the cruel hand of time obvious in their skin. But did you know you could potentially reverse some of the damage from the inside? And, no, we are not talking about plastic surgery or bogus pills either.

One of the main factors of maintaining a youthful appearance does not lie in that magical facial cream you saw on television last night. It does not come in a bottle, jar, or plastic surgery and Botox. It comes from what you put into your body on a day to day basis. Remember the old saying ‘You are what you eat?’ Well, this also applies to keeping a glowing appearance and aging gracefully as well. What you put on your plate will show on your face, whether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a simple snack. We give you the dos and don’ts on anti-aging through food and diet.

 

Diet Don’ts of Anti-Aging

Okay, so we all like to indulge in some sweets or greasy foods every now and then. The taste, smell, and texture often lures us into taking a bite… or two, or three! But what if you make bad eating habits a part of your daily diet? Most people do not realize the effects that processed foods can have on their skin – especially when implemented in your typical menu for nourishment. Check out what a diet of these kinds foods can to do to your youth, and maybe we can convince you that diet certainly is a massive factor in maintaining your youth. Many of the foods on the menu of the Standard American Diet contribute to the aging process on a greater scale than we realize. Here are a few entrees you might want to at least cut down on, even if they make your mouth water.

Foods high in sugar, like most candies, cakes, and other snacks, can send your body’s aging process into hyperdrive. Ingesting too much sugar at one time will result in glycation, which means that the rest of the sugar ends up attaching itself to particles of collagen. Collagen is one of the main proteins that helps you look young, by keeping your skin supple, firm, and consistent. When glycation occurs, the collagen gets damaged by the sugar particles as they release enzymes to break it down, rendering it useless. This results in loss of elasticity, dullness, and stiffness in your skin’s appearance. Plus, sugar can cause an inflammatory reaction in your body, which can add to ruddiness and puffiness.

Trans fat is the next culprit in food products that age us. It creates a similar result to that of sugar, making the skin seem inflexible and dull. This is due to the fact that it congests the tiny blood vessels that run just beneath the surface of the skin, keeping proper blood flow and nutrients from re-energizing your complexion, and thus slowing the shedding process of dead skin cells. Additionally, this type of fat also has a similar response to collagen like sugar, making it a double dose of piling the years on.

Too much salt can make your attempts to turn back the clock a struggle as well. Salt is good for many things; however, it also dehydrates your cells. This is why you may feel thirstier than usual after you eat a meal high in sodium. Eating too much salt will dehydrate your skin cells as well, and cause dryness and flakiness to become even more of a problem. It can contribute to a tired or exhausted appearance as well. On the other end of the spectrum, high intake of salt can cause fluid retention, creating puffy, swollen features in addition to drying out your skin.

We cannot pound it in enough about how terrible artificial sweeteners are for you – and there is a link to aging as well. Aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, and neotame all fall into this category, as well as others. These substances cause inflammatory reactions such as joint pain and headaches. Plus, they train your body to crave sweets. Remember what sugar does to your skin? Well, relying on these ingredients can make it double since you will crave the cake or cookie even more. Plus, if you have any preexisting skin conditions, then artificial sweeteners can make them worse and cause greater reaction.

Cut down on the red meat to cut down on the years. Experts say that fatty, red meat creates free radicals. Free radicals are the main culprits we try to avoid when creating our anti-aging regimens, as they deplete the skin’s ability to heal and take care of itself. Free radicals work by stealing electrons from healthy cells, causing an imbalance that thereby damages the cell. If you love your steak, then at least  try to cut down on it. Your skin and body will thank you later.

Consuming too many carbohydrates will also accelerate your aging process as well. And, no, we do not mean that all carbs are bad for you. We are talking about the ones you find in enriched products like white breads and cereals. When carbs enter your body, they become sugar, and prompt your pancreas to release insulin so that your body can turn it into energy. But, there may be too many carbs – especially if you are guilty of adding the aforementioned sugary sweets to your daily diet. This will result in collagen breakdown, causing wrinkles, fine lines and sagging. Plus it has a bad effect on other fibers in your skin that help with connectivity to bones.

We are not saying that an occasional treat is going to make your anti-aging routine go down the drain. Everyone deserves to indulge in their favorite foods every now and  then. When you make it an every day meal item, however, is when you may start to see some new developments in your appearance that you may not like. Even if you are unconcerned with keeping wrinkles at a minimum, this way of eating may contribute to other issues like sensitivity, dryness, and acneic blemishes. Try implementing a few of the following foods into your daily diet instead. Not only will you feel better, you will look naturally beautiful as well!

 

Diet Dos of Anti-Aging

Now that you know which foods to cut down on, we will show you some foods to add to your diet! These selections will help you age more gracefully, and are often recommended by numerous sources as nutritional value with an attractive kick. This means that if you eat these tasty foods on a daily basis, you can turn back the clock no matter how old or young you are now. Check out these suggestions and see if you can find a new item to add to your menu.

First, raw foods that have red, yellow, or orange colors tend to have lots of lycopene and beta carotene. These nutrients literally nourish the top layer of the epidermis from the inside out, and can protect from environmental damage. They offer optimal cell regeneration, resulting in a fresher, more even complexion. Consume foods like organic tomatoes, organic watermelon, and organic bell peppers to achieve these affects. These foods in their raw form generally contain the most nutrients, so you may want to add them to salads. Plus, watermelon is often recommended for those who wish to achieve a moist, dewy complexion. Hence why it is called watermelon.

Consume food sources that have a high content of omega-3 fatty acids. Your body cannot create these essential fatty acids on its own. So, it is highly important to get your daily dose of them. They have anti-inflammatory effects on your whole body, which results in less puffiness or ruddiness in your complexion. Plus, they ensure that your skin stays hydrated for a more supple, elastic appearance. Fatty acids are also one of the best healers in the food world, providing nourishment and protection. This applies to your skin as well, especially when it comes to advancing your anti-aging routine. Avocados, hemp seeds, and flax seeds are all excellent examples of foods with these benefits.

Organic pomegranate and organic cucumber both have the components to build up your collagen reserves. Remember the foods that break down collagen? Well, if you have eaten lots of that, then you will want to stock up on these two fruits. Cucumber contains silica, while pomegranate has elagic acid. Both of  these substances help your body generate collagen for a more supple, elastic appearance. Pomegranate also has antioxidants that work with your skin on a molecular level, and has some of the best anti-aging abilities on the market, including generating a re-energized complexion that holds in moisture well.

Citrus fruits are a must if you want to ensure a diet that honors your anti-aging goals. Lemons, limes, grapefruits, and oranges contain vitamin C, a nutrient that neutralizes free radicals that damage all kinds of tissue cells from the inside out. Citrus fruits will even help prevent skin cancer. Plus, they will help you maintain an even, bright complexion that glows no matter what your age. Citrus will protect your skin from sun damage, thereby reducing the likelihood of sunspots or liver spots – a concentration of melanin on the skin.

Even though we just said stay away from sugar, adding a little dark chocolate your daily diet will do you some good. And, hey, everyone needs to treat themselves after a long day, right? Dark chocolate helps to maintain health in the tiny blood vessels beneath your skin’s surface. Remember how trans fat will clog them? If you indulged in trans fat, this is your chance to reverse some damage. Eating a few pieces of dark chocolate will clear them out, making them less noticeable. Plus, it keeps your skin hydrated from the inside.

Berries are another obvious selection when adding anti-aging foods to your diet. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are all excellent sources of vitamin C and querciten – an anti-inflammatory component also found in apples. Berries contain other antioxidants and chemical compounds that produce anti-aging effects like supple, firm skin and a bright complexion. They protect the skin from environmental stress, and their high water content helps to keep you hydrated. Berries are one of the most recommended go-tos by beauty and health bloggers, as well as experts in the health and skincare industry. We are inclined to agree.

Consuming plenty of nuts or nut butters will also slow down the aging process. Think almonds, walnuts, cashews, and pistachios. Each of these contains vitamin E, a nutritive antioxidant that helps protect cells and reverse damage caused by environmental factors. Plus, nuts are often high in minerals, which can help to retexture your complexion and maintain your skin’s attachment to the bones. Nuts also contain high amounts of protein, which can aid in nourishing your cells to satiation. You can also benefit your hair by consuming more nuts as well, especially if your coif has gotten thinner and more damaged with age.

Finally, next time you are thirsty, forego the soda pops, energy drinks, and coffee, and grab either a water or a naturally sweetened tea. Water replenishes hydration to your skin, resulting in a dewy complexion. It also helps your body detox by cleansing out toxins and antibodies that could show up on your complexion later in life. Teas can also help the anti-aging process. Green tea consumption can reduce the appearance of dark spots. Chamomile tea reduces inflammation, which in turn takes away any ruddy, reddish coloration that many people get as they age. Peppermint tea enhances blood circulation, helping return a healthy glow to your skin. All of these options are better than high-sugar energy drinks or sodas that send your body into a sugary spiral.

If you replace some of the foods from the ‘Don’t’ list with the foods from the ‘Do’ list, not only will you look better, but you will also feel better as well. And why settle for just looking a few years younger, when you can turn back time on your health also? Besides, most of the healthy foods we mentioned are actually tasty, and can be prepared in fun, colorful dishes that will excite your friends and family!

 

Face Naturals Loves Food That Loves Your Skin

Face naturals focuses on providing our readers with useful information that they can implement into their daily lives. From diet and sleep, to stress and illness, we cover a multitude of hot health topics to keep you and your family in the know. You can learn more about foods that provide for your all-around health needs with ‘Superfoods Can Give You Super Life,’ ‘Health Through Diet and Nutrition,’ and ‘The Big Picture of Little Nutrients.‘ Find out even more about our healthy mission with our ingredient highlights, which outline some of our botanical ingredients and why we use them, and our specials on toxic chemicals commonly used in the skin-care industry.

To start your healthier lifestyle today, check out our web catalogue! We offer our clients truly natural skin-care products made only of organic botanical ingredients. Our products are so safe, you can eat them – though we cannot account for taste. Join us in our healthy mission of education and toxin-free skincare that nourishes your skin from the outside in. You can contact us for more information about which products will work best for you. Provide us with information regarding your skin, which products interest you, and what you wish to accomplish using our all-natural skincare. We will provide you with suggestions based off of the information you give, and maybe a few extra ideas to implement as well.

 

References

• 14 Foods That Make You Look Older
• Foods to Avoid: 11 Foods That Age You
• Prevent Aging By Avoiding These Foods That Age You
• Food Habits That Age You
• 7 Anti-Aging Superfoods
• The Best Anti-Aging Foods
• Foods That Fight Aging
• An Anti-Aging Diet for Your Skin