Can a diet trick help ward off wrinkles?

Q:

I always use sunscreen and I slather on anti-aging cream every morning, but I’ve been noticing more and more fine lines and age spots popping up despite my best efforts. Is there anything else I can do to keep my skin looking smooth? A:

Yes! Research from UCLA points to a delicious way to improve your complexion from the inside out:

Enjoy 1⁄4 cup of pomegranate seeds or sip 4 oz. of unsweetened 100% pomegranate juice daily. Their studies found that this sweet-tart fruit contains four times more antioxidants than green tea and five times more ellagic acid than other fruit that’s been studied. This powerful combination of nutrients works to boost the production of skin-firming, wrinklereducing collagen, reduce redness and promote skin-cell turnover. The payoff: Enjoying pomegranate daily can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin’s texture and tone by 26 percent in 30 days.

Another boon: Spanish researchers found that polyphenols in pomegranate ward off the damage to cellular DNA that can trigger fatigue and achiness, so you’ll feel younger too! You’re smart to ask! Though smoothies can be a great way to get in your daily dose of fruit and veggies, they can also be calorie dense and high in sugar. That’s why many dieters are switching to proteinenhanced coffee. This brew contains little to no sugar, so it delivers all the slimming perks of consuming protein first thing without triggering the release of fat-storing insulin. In fact, studies show the java sip can boost fat breakdown by 50 percent and rev the production of appetite-suppressing hormones by 300 percent.

One key to success: Since protein powder is designed to mix into cold liquid, it needs to be dissolve in 1 oz. of cold water before being stirred into coffee to avoid clumps. We also recommend using a whey protein isolate powder. It’s processed to remove lactose and carbs to help ensure smooth and easy blending.