For youthful-looking skin
EATING too much sugar certainly isn’t wise for your waistline, but overindulging in dessert can also add years to your face.
The natural ingredients in whole foods such as romaine lettuce and strawberries help increase cell turnover and boost production of collagen fibres to help keep skin smooth and firm.
Conversely, foods with little-to-no nutritional benefits, such as sugar-packed doughnuts, can actually damage the collagen and elastin that keep skin firm and youthful.
These ageing effects start at about age 35 and increase rapidly after that, according to a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology. Follow any of these tips to attain better-looking skin.
Don’t overdo dessert
The breakdown of sugars, called glycation, damages the collagen that keeps skin smooth and firm. To prevent this, stick to low-glycemic carbs like whole grains; they are naturally low in sugar, and the body processes them slowly to limit the loss of collagen.
Exercise your stress away
Taking your work angst out on the bike or treadmill might make you feel better for a little while, but incorporating yoga into your fitness routine regularly may help you look younger and prevent breakouts while whittling away stress.
Research shows regular yoga practice may reduce the inflammation and stress that speed skin ageing.
Get a lift
Following a regular strength-training routine that creates better, more supportive muscle tone will help you firm sagging skin from the neck down
Include more alkaline-forming food such as parsley, almonds, kale, pears, lemons, and apples, to make the skin and hair look better.
If your body is too acidic, which can happen when your diet is unbalanced, it leaches the alkaline minerals, such as calcium, potassium and magnesium, that allow us to have strong, healthy bones, teeth and hair.
Take a breather
When your exercise routine is so intense that you’re tired all the time but can’t sleep at night, you’re setting yourself up for overuse injuries – not to mention dark circles and bags under your eyes from those sleepless nights.
Other clues that you’re working out too much include extreme muscle soreness that persists for several days, unintended weight loss, an increased resting heart rate, interruptions in your menstrual cycle, or decreased appetite. You should plan your rest as well as you plan to exercise.
Do not make a drastic cut on fats When your diet isn’t balanced, your skin, hair, and nails will suffer. Cutting calories can deprive your body of certain nutrients that promote healthy cell division, cell regeneration, and overall skin tone and texture.
The skin also requires essential fatty acids – which the body can’t produce on its own – to maintain hydration.
A diet that’s too low in fat could cause dry skin, hair loss, and brittle nails. Other key youth-boosting nutrients include vitamins A, C and E. — Prevention magazine/ Tribune News Service