|
Growing old is an inevitable part of life. We all get older year
by year, the hair begins to go grey, the wrinkles and line start
to appear, and before we know it the transition has occurred. We
look in the mirror one day and we have become old. However, it
doesn’t happen like this for everyone. Some people have learned
how to keep the signs of aging at bay, so although they may be
getting older in terms of years this isn’t reflected in the
skin. In fact, some people can reach their fifties and sixties
and still look amazing – and without having to resort to surgery
and chemical procedures.
One of the factors that can contribute to younger looking skin
is our diet. What we eat can affect both our physical and mental
well being, and by eating the right foods you can improve the
health of everything from your joints and bones to your skin and
hair. We’ve all heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” Well,
if you eat loads of unhealthy foods such as refined sugars and
rich foods, you are going to end up looking and feeling
unhealthy both inside and out. If you are eating healthy,
nutritious, vitamin-rich foods, then you are more likely to
enjoy healthy looking skin and body.
Dr. Atkins’ Theory
Dr. Robert Atkins has become world famous for his once-radical
diet based on minimal carbohydrate consumption. However, this
wasn’t Dr. Atkin’s only diet-based theory. He also wrote about
what he claimed was an effective anti aging diet, which could
reverse the signs of aging. Atkins stated that a lifetime of
eating rich, refined, processed foods is what often led to the
signs of aging, and that by assessing and changing our eating
habits we could start to turn back the clock.
Atkins believes that in order to beat the signs of aging we need
to eat more protein and fewer refined carbohydrates. He
recommends eating plenty of nuts and sunflower seeds, which are
rich in protein and in the recommended vitamins C and E. These
vitamins contain anti aging properties that will help keep your
skin healthy and retain more elasticity and resilience, which
resultantly cuts down on wrinkles and lines. Dr Atkins believes
that a healthy diet that is rich in the right nutrients and
vitamins can help to reverse the signs of aging in the skin as
well as in the brain and other parts of the body.
Recommended foods
There are a number of foods, vitamins, minerals, and supplements
that are known to slow or delay the signs of aging both in terms
of the skin and the brain. Some of the most well-known anti
aging foods that are recommended include:
Olive Oil: This contains antioxidants that can help to slow down
cell damage and deterioration, therefore keeping the skin
looking fresher and younger. This can also help with joints and
internal organs as well as skin.
Seaweed: This contains a valuable source of Iodine, which helps
to produce a hormone called thyroxin. This hormone stimulates
the nervous system, which helps to slow down damage and
oxidization of the cells.
Various fruits and vegetables: These can be rich in
antioxidants, which play a large part in delaying the signs of
aging. You can enjoy fruits and veggies such as: prunes,
raisins, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, blackberries,
raspberries, broccoli, spinach, beets, peppers, sprouts and more.
Vitamins C & E: These are essential vitamins that can help delay
the signs of aging in the skin and other parts of the body.
These vitamins can help to produce natural collagen, which helps
the skin to retain elasticity, thus reducing the signs of
wrinkles. You can find these vitamins in a range of foods, but
can also buy them in supplement form.
Water: This is one of the most important considerations when it
comes to your diet, as it is water than keeps us hydrated and
alive. Drinking plenty of fresh water every day and minimizing
on alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks can help to replenish
your skin and keep you feeling and looking hydrated both inside
and out.
Foods that cause healthy and unhealthy cell regeneration
Scientific studies have shown that cells can regenerate
themselves in two ways; either by replacement with a weaker cell
or by replacement with a stronger cell. The foods that we eat
contribute to which route cell regeneration takes. There are
certain foods and food types that promote weaker cell
regeneration, which can lead to signs of aging, and there are
foods that promote healthier cell regeneration, which can keep
the signs of aging at bay.
Unhealthy cell regeneration can be caused by the following foods:
• Refined carbohydrates • Sugar • Caffeine • White flour •
Processed foods • Artificial sweeteners • Alcohol • Artificial
colourings and additives • Fatty and processed meats • Vegetable
and hydrogenated oils • Fried food • Foods containing mercury
(e.g. many types of fish such as tuna) • Genetically modified
foods
Healthy cell regeneration can be promoted through the following
foods:
• Raw seeds, nuts and grains • Fruit • Vegetables (including
leafy greens) • Bean and lentils • Seaweed • Barley greens •
Antioxidants • Olive and evening primrose oil • Foods containing
Omega 3 fatty acids • Foods containing Omega 4 or 5 fatty acids
It is important to base your diet on certain types of foods if
you are looking to delay or reverse the signs of aging, and the
good news is that a great deal of this food is probably
incorporated into your daily diet anyway. All you have to do is
identify the good foods from the bad, and make sure that your
diet leans heavily towards the good foods. Quite simply, you
need to:
• Incorporate a variety of foods into your diet • Eat a diet
high in grain products, fruits and vegetables • Eat a diet low
in saturated fatty acids and cholesterol • Use low to moderate
amounts of sugar, salt, and alcohol • Balance energy intake with
physical activity
Although diet plays a large part in the anti aging process, it
is important to remember that there are other factors in play in
the skin rejuvenation process as well. It seems pretty pointless
to change the things that you eat if you are simply going to
smoke twenty cigarettes a day, allow your skin to frazzle in the
midday sun, and gulp back twenty cups of coffee. You need to
ensure that you take all of the necessary steps to promote
health and well being. This includes:
Cutting out cigarettes: Apart from putting you at risk of cancer
and heart disease, cigarettes can make you look older than you
are. Long term smokers tend to end up with very deep wrinkling
of the skin, premature age spots, and a host of other skin
problems.
Avoiding unprotected exposure to sun: The sun’s UV rays can have
a very damaging effect on the skin, and can result in very
haggard, old looking skin and deep wrinkles. Like cigarettes,
unprotected sun exposure also puts you at risk of getting
cancer. You should ensure that you always wear UV protection in
the form of a barrier cream or sunscreen, which can block the
sun’s rays. Also, minimize time spent in intense, direct
sunlight (usually midday) as this has a damaging effect on your
skin.
Take care of your skin: It is still important to look after your
skin even if you have developed a good anti aging diet plan.
This means cleaning, toning, and moisturizing twice daily with
appropriate products. You can find plenty of anti aging products
on the market these days, and you can even try natural skin care
products and home remedies. A good facial skin care routine will
help to keep your skin feeling fresh, rejuvenated, supple, and
soft.
Summary
If you want to enjoy the benefits of younger, fresher skin and
all around health without having to resort to medical procedures
and surgery, the combination of a good diet and healthy living
can make a real difference. With a little time and commitment,
you should be able to see a real difference in the way you look
and feel.
About the author:
Reno Charlton is an experienced freelance copywriter and an
award-winning children’s author from the United Kingdom. Aged
33, she lives near to the city with her husband, Phil, and their
two cats. Her articles on anti-aging skin care can be found at
http://www.look-younger-now.com.
|