Aging is natural and inevitable, but we can still look young even as the age advances. As we approach thirty, wrinkles and lines start to appear. The skin also becomes saggy.
What most of us do not understand is that, when we are hitting 30, our bodies are unable to produce enough collagen, a protein that keeps the skin hydrated and smooth.
Fortunately, there are various ways that you can keep a youthful look even with advancing age. You can go for commercial anti-aging skin care products or including anti-aging foods in your diet.
Using anti-aging skincare products is one of the biggest mistakes that people commit without knowing. Some of these products, especially the cheap ones, are associated with severe side effects because of the dangerous chemicals used as ingredients.
That is the reason why including anti-aging the diet is the best and safest way to maintain a youthful look. It has no side effects and the result fantastic in the long run.
But which are the most recommended anti-aging foods? I have put up a list of 10 foods that you should add to your shopping list if you want to look 10 years younger.
1. Avocado
Avocado is, without doubt, one of the superfoods in the world today. The fruit is extremely rich in nutrients and is widely being used in both food and cosmetic industries.
Avocado is one of the essential ingredients in most of the skincare products today. In particular, avocado contains polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols, which is a unique compound that treats inflammation and protects your skin from harmful sun rays.
The fruit is also rich in monounsaturated fat and antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin which provides additional skin protection. In addition, Avocado is rich in fiber, heart-healthy fat and a number of vitamins and minerals that keeps the skin hydrated and smooth.
The fruit is also good in protecting your skin from sun-related skin damages and the DNA in your skin cells.
2. Berries
We all love berries due to the sweetness and their numerous health benefits. Their anti-aging properties will help you maintain a youthful look even in old age.
There are various types of berries that you can add to your diet, but blackberries, grapes, strawberries, and blueberries are among the most recommended.
These fruits are extremely rich in antioxidant which prevents the skin from various types of cell damages.
Berries also contain nutrients such as Vitamin C and E which fights off free radicals that cause lines and wrinkles hence making you look old. Apart from keeping your skin look young, berries promote the overall health of your body.
3. Green Tea
There are numerous health benefits associated with green tea including losing weight naturally. What most people may not be aware of is that green tea is also rich in antioxidant components.
It is these components that protect your skin from free radicals that cause damages to the skin. In particular, green tea is high in polyphenol which is an antioxidant that promotes collagen levels to maintain healthy and youthful skin.
4. Fatty Fish
Do you know that fatty fish are categorized among anti-aging foods? Well, now you know. If you feel your skin looks older, add some fatty fish in the diet, and you will see the magic.
Fatty fish such as salmon contain omega-3 fats which are great in treating and preventing inflammation and skin damage caused by sun exposure.
Fatty fish also contains a powerful carotenoid antioxidant called astaxanthin that improves the levels of collagen in the body hence increasing elasticity and hydration of the skin.
Sardines, tuna, mackerel, and wild salmon are some of the fatty fishes that contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
5. Garlic
Garlic is a powerful food that you should add to your shopping if you want to regain or maintain a young look naturally. It contains powerful compounds that kill most of the infections in the body including that of the skin.
Its bactericidal and fungicidal properties make it a perfect anti-aging superfood. You should at least take one clove of garlic every day if you want to get the most out of it.
Garlic will keep your skin looking young hence maintaining your youthful appearance even if you are hitting above 40 and above.
6. Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are another superfood that has been found to do very well in promoting youthful skin.
These seeds provide amazing health benefits to the body which includes the skin. They contain a special Omega-3 fatty acid called ALA, which protects the skin from harmful sun radiations.
ALA also protects the skin against any other sun-related skin damages which usually accelerates the aging skin.
There are two ways that you can use flaxseeds. First, you can consume them as food or take the flax oil.
Within two weeks of consuming flaxseed or its products, you should start seeing improvement on your skin as it gets more hydrated and smoother.
7. Turmeric
There are many reasons why turmeric is increasingly becoming popular in the world. This food is known for its high nutrient content thus making it among the most sought-after superfoods.
Turmeric is for a long time known to contain antioxidants making one of the best foods to clean off free radicals and other bad elements in the body. Its anti-inflammatory properties combined with antioxidants makes it a perfect anti-aging food.
Therefore, by eating turmeric, you will be able to slow down the aging process. In the recent researches conducted on turmeric, it has found to contain anti-cancer properties.
8. Almond Butter
When almond butter comes is mention in relation to youthful skin, what comes in your mind? I know you might be thinking of rubbing on your face, but that is not the case.
That’s not the case, you should eat it. Almond butter is one of the nutrient-rich foods, and it contains healthy fats, proteins and certain vitamins that keep the skin hydrated and smooth.
Among the key vitamins in almond butter is vitamin E. Almonds is also rich in antioxidants and thus helps the body to get rid of free radicals that damage the skin to make look old.
9. Whole Grain
One of the biggest mistakes people make is eating processed foods such as flour and others. In fact, refined foods are the most popular with people for the reason that they are tasty, smells good and ready to consume. That is the opposite of the whole meal.
But processed foods come with a heavy cost which most don’t know about. Do you know that by eating processed food you become a candidate for blood sugar? Well, that;’s true.
Blood sugar is known to accelerate the process of aging by developing wrinkles and saggy skins too early in life. That is why it recommended that you stick with whole grain to keep your blood sugar in check and hence a healthy skin.
10. Vegetables
This list would be incomplete without adding vegetables. These are nutrient-dense foods and very helpful to the body.
The most nutritious vegetables including broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, leafy greens. These foods are rich in anti-aging agents. In particular, veggies contain high levels of antioxidants which are crucial in protecting the skin from damages.
Most of the vegetables are rich in beta-carotene, a powerful carotenoid that protects the skin against free radicals and harmful sun’s radiation. Adding more green and yellow vegetables will enhance the elasticity of the skin.
However, don’t overcook vegetables. Some such as tomatoes and carrots, eat them raw to get the most out of them.
Conclusion
Although there is no way that you can turn back the clock, you can regain or maintain a youthful look by eating the right food. Most of the foods around us especially processed or refined foods are just junk that accelerates the process of aging.
The solution is to eat whole grains, vegetables, berries, fatty fish and other superfoods mentioned if you want to maintain a youthful look naturally.
You do not need anti-aging products that will leave you battling severe side effects. Just watching what you eat and eating healthy food is enough to keep young.
