Have you ever wondered why most people especially celebrities have refused to grow old and always appear younger than their age in glossy magazines? These people take care of themselves. They watch what they eat, how they eat and how they treat their body.
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The fastest skin regimen that can help restore your youthful skin is good food. Eating healthy meals can help you take care of your skin much better than expensive skin care products. The foods listed below will help you have a young fresh skin:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin Olive oil is recommended by researchers as very healthy for the human body and has the properties that prevent diseases common with aging. It reduces blood pressure and cuts the risks of developing heart disease and the occurrence of cancer. It also makes the skin look fresher due to the anti-inflammatory content which prevents skin damage. Olive oil has about 73% monounsaturated fat which helps in the elasticity and firmness of the skin.
Two studies on food were carried out among older and middle-aged adults. The results showed that adults who take foods with enough monounsaturated fats were able to survive sunburn longer than those who consumed less.
Green Tea
Green tea has antioxidants that prevent aging and damage to the skin. It can also fight diabetes, heart diseases, inflammation, and insulin resistance in the body. Polyphenols, a substance found in green tea, can support collagen and lower aging. A study conducted on women showed that women who were treated with a mixture of green tea and supplements had improved skin elasticity in just eight weeks.
Fatty Fish
The omega three fats content in fish makes it very effective against heart diseases, inflammation, and ulcerative colitis among others. These protect the skin from damage caused by ultraviolet rays. Some fish such as salmon have a dark pink antioxidant called astaxanthin that keeps the skin looking fresher and younger. In a study, a blend of astaxanthin and collagen were given to adults with sun-damaged skin, and there were many improvements in the elasticity and hydration of their skin after 12 weeks. So instead of always ordering for steaks, you should try out fatty fish meals. They are delicious and healthy too.
Dark Chocolate/Cocoa
Research has shown that dark chocolate has flavanols, an antioxidant responsible for the protection of the skin from damage caused by the sun. The measures of flavanols in chocolates are not the same. According to a research, chocolates which are darker in color have more flavanols which give the skin the ability to resist sunburn for a longer time than chocolates with low flavanols content. Other studies showed that the higher flavanols in the body, the better the blood flows, giving the skin its radiance and hydration. The amount of cocoa content measures the presence of flavanols in chocolates, and about 70% is required. This is why older people are advised to take dark chocolates and pure cocoa as it helps with reducing wrinkles.
Vegetables
Vegetables are rich in nutrients and low in calories, and they have antioxidants that prevent possible heart diseases, cancer and cataracts. Carotenoids like carotene beta in vegetables protect the skin from damage from the heat of the sun. Examples of sources of carotene beta are sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and carrots.
Vitamin C is found in many varieties of vegetables, and this is useful in the production of collagen. Leafy greens, bell peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli are good examples of plants with rich vitamin C content. About 700 Japanese women on green and yellow vegetable diet recorded lesser wrinkles on their skin.
Most Asians live longer and stronger than their counterparts from other parts of the world because they feed majorly on herbs and vegetables. Instead, of taking food supplements, why not switch your diet to incorporate more vegetables and herbs?
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Flaxseeds
The great health benefits of flaxseeds are that they lower the levels of insulin and sugar in the blood. Due to its omega three content, it reduces breast cancer and prevents skin damages owing to the heat from the sun. Controlled studies conducted on women for 12 weeks, using flaxseeds, recorded skin smoothness and increased elasticity.
