Foods That Provide Anti-Aging Benefits

Eat For Aging Younger

One of the most overlooked components of healthy aging is your diet. When you eat the right foods that deliver the essential minerals and vitamins that your body needs, your body will be more efficient at rebuilding itself with fully formed, healthy cells.

Some key foods to consume on a regular basis to help slow aging are the following:

Anti-Aging Benefits of Grapes

One of the most potent anti-aging components in food is resveratrol, which can be found in the fleshy skin of darker grapes. In experiments, scientists found that resveratrol had the ability to protect some people from UV damage and helps to reduce specific types of inflammation. Resveratrol is now being added to supplements geared towards anti-aging and there is a synergy when combined with other nutrients.

Anti-Aging Benefits of Pomegranates

Pomegranates are full of essential vitamins and minerals, along with a few important micronutrients such as fibre, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium. One pomegranate supplies one-quarter of a day’s worth of folate (a B vitamin needed to synthesize and repair DNA) and one-third of your daily vitamin C.

Many of the compounds in pomegranates offer us protection from free radicals, as well as helping to maintain and protect collagen. The best way to gain the beneficial nutrients from pomegranates is to ingest the pomegranate seeds.

Anti-Aging Benefits of Avocados

Avocados are high in inflammation-fighting essential fatty acids that promote smooth, supple skin as well as prevent obesity.

The high content of vitamin A in avocados can help us shed dead skin cells, leaving us with gorgeous, glowing skin. Their carotenoid content may also assist in blocking toxins and damage from the sun’s rays and also help to protect against skin cancers.

Avocados contain a compound called beta-sitosterol, which helps to lower LDL cholesterol. They are also high in Vitamin K2, which is essential for healthy bones.

Anti-Aging Benefits of Citrus Fruits

Oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes are great for the skin. This is due not only to the high content of vitamin C needed for collagen, but also because they are high in bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids are plant compounds that function as anti-oxidants, protecting our tissues from damage.

Some citrus fruits, such as grapefruit, also contain a chemical known as lycopene, that is a potent antioxidant, lowers LDL cholesterol, helps prevent memory loss and is protective for bones.

Have fun incorporating these foods into your diet, whether it be in a salad, a smoothie, or even topically in a mask!

Collagen for Ageless Skin

They say that physical beauty is only skin deep.

And while that may be true, wouldn’t you love to know how to stay beautiful without using expensive creams or surgery?

Why Collagen is Essential for Anti-Aging

You may have noticed an ingredient called collagen in many skin care products, especially in products dedicated to anti-aging, but you may not know how important its role is in tissues throughout the body. Collagen is an essential protein found naturally in the human body. It is found in our skin, bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. It is responsible for keeping the skin elastic, replacing dead skin cells, as well as making your hair and nails shiny and strong.

How Does Collagen Play a Role in Aging?

The collagen in your body is produced naturally by cells in your skin, but it begins to decline as you age. This is not always preventable, but by supplementing the loss with outside sources of collagen, you are able to help reduce wrinkles and slow down the signs of aging.

Can Collagen Production Be Increased as We Age?

There are two main ways you can try to combat collagen loss; oral supplementation of collagen and consuming collagen-boosting foods, as well as topical treatment to stimulate the cells that make collagen.

Collagen supplements are easily accessible and can be found at most health food stores. Look for hydrolyzed collagen, as it is easy to absorb. The collagen in these supplements is solely derived from animals. Specifically, the skin, bone, and cartilage of cows, chickens, and fish, as well as egg shell membranes. If you prefer a more vegan or natural route you can consume foods that naturally boost collagen production.

Natural “collagen boosters” have the ability to encourage the cells in your body to make more collagen. These plant-based foods contain the building blocks for collagen such as amino acids and Vitamin C. A few of these collagen boosters include blueberries, dark leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), garlic, eggs, mango, carrots, and white tea. Vitamin C is also necessary to enhance collagen production. You can take a vitamin c supplements or consume foods rich in vitamin c, such as broccoli and citrus fruit.

Are There Other Benefits of Supplementing With Collagen?

Collagen supplementation can benefit many systems in your body, not just your skin! It helps you to have stronger hair, reduces joint pain, helps with leaky gut, increases muscle mass, strengthens our nails, improves liver function and improves our sleep! Wow! 

What Age Should We Start Supplementing?

It is never too early to begin supplementing collagen. Many people will wait until they notice wrinkles and loss of elasticity in their skin to add collagen to their regime, but it is a good idea to start before this occurs in order to slow down any signs of aging.

While aging plays the biggest role in the loss of collagen, you should also be aware of other factors that can harm collagen production. Sun damage, smoking, chronic stress, and poor diet can speed up the aging process of the skin. If you are frequently exposed to any of these factors collagen supplementation may be even more essential.

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