Fight Aging Skin with your Diet

Aging is inevitable. It will happen to the best of us, and there is nothing you can do to stop it; however, there are ways to slow the process.  Of course you always have the option to undergo plastic surgery, Botox, facials, etc. You can also prevent the signs of aging by eating certain foods and drinking lots of water.

Strawberries

We always think of oranges having the most Vitamin C, but actually a serving of strawberries has more Vitamin C than oranges or grapefruits. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who have diets high in Vitamin C typically have less wrinkles.  Fine lines are causes by free radicals that break down collagen, Vitamin C combats those free radicals, reducing the amount in your body.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that benefit you inside and out. Just like our strawberries, olive oil fights free radicals in the body, thus reducing wrinkles.  You can also use olive oil as a moisturizer to prevent dry skin which increases wrinkles and cracking. Adding a tablespoon of olive oil to a salad or yogurt or dipping some bread at dinner in olive oil every day will help slow the effects of aging.

Green Tea

Green tea, along with its cancer prevention properties, is full of antioxidants that keep your skin looking bright and smooth. When you add a citrus juice, such as lemon to the tea, this activates the antioxidant power so they remain in your body longer.  Along with drinking the tea, you can also use the tea bags on the skin, typically the eyes, to reduce puffiness.

Pumpkin

Pumpkins aren’t just for carving, the pulp is full of carotenoids that are wrinkle fighting. Any food that is orange in color has carotenoids that can help your skin, such as carrots. Vitamin C, E, and A are all present in pumpkin that help cleanse the skin.

One thing to avoid as much as possible to prevent premature aging is Sugar

When sugar is present in the body it attaches to the proteins in the blood stream to create harmful molecules called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs. As AGEs build up they damage the surrounding proteins in a chain-like reaction.  The most vulnerable to the damage are collagen and elastin, proteins that keep the skin smooth and firm. A diet high in sugar is going to damage the collagen and elastin in your body much quicker than the natural aging process, so avoid added sugar at all costs.

To learn more about how to prevent the signs of again, schedule a consultation with Dr. Hovsepian today!