The first facet of anti-aging skin care is in our diet, and the more healthily we eat, the smoother and healthier our skin will be. This stands to reason when you consider that it’s our food that provides our body with the building blocks required to make look after our skin and every other tissue and muscle in the body. You literally are what you eat, and if you want healthy skin you need a healthy diet. When thinking specifically about trying to look younger, there are three main things we need in our diet – antioxidants, vitamins, and fats.
Antioxidants
First, the antioxidants, found in foods such as citrus fruits and fish, will help protect our skin cells from oxidization and attack by free radicals. We’ve touched on this idea briefly already but to reiterate – every cell in your body is under constant attack from free radicals which damage the cell walls when they encounter them. Antioxidants manage to neutralize these free radicals so that there are fewer available to attack the skin.
This will mean that the skin cells come under less fire and so appear healthier. At the same time, this will help protect the skin and other cells against cancer by lowering the chance of the DNA behind the cell walls being damaged or mutated. There are countless sources of antioxidants in your diet but the best way to make sure you’re getting plenty is just to consume a lot of fruits and vegetables which tend to be packed with them.
Vitamins
Vitamins, meanwhile, particularly vitamins A and E, are used in rebuilding the skin and are a great way to encourage the body to heal both scars and wrinkles. These are used to help encourage the production of collagen and other important substances that give the skin its elasticity and generally, they will keep your skin looking more youthful and healthier. Again, this all comes from eating a diet high in nutrients.
Fats
Essential fatty acids meanwhile will provide your skin with oil to keep it subtle and prevent it from becoming dry and flaky. Omega 3 fatty acids will act as both a source of oil for your skin and a source of antioxidants. Saturated fats in general are an important part of your diet and will help to keep your skin naturally moisturized while also encouraging the production of hormones that further help to keep your skin glowing. Fat is an important part of our diet! And eating lots of protein is also important. Protein provides the body with all the building blocks it needs to create more tissue and that includes the skin.
- Misty Cassady