Beauty
Dec 28Forget your vanity cabinet: According to the experts, your fridge might be hiding some of the greatest anti-aging ingredients you can find.
Veggies
You know how important it is for your overall health that you get your daily dose of vegetables, but you may not have realized that it can lead to more youthful skin, too. A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that men and women who ate a diet rich in vegetables, as well as fruit and fish, had fewer fine lines on their skin. If you have to choose, opt for leafy greens, which are a great source of carotenoids, vitamins C, iron, and calcium. “Carotenoids are vitamin A derivatives with proven benefits to protect the skin against harmful UV rays that cause the signs of premature aging of the skin such as age spots, fine lines and wrinkles and loss of elasticity,” adds Erum Ilyas, MD, a dermatologist at Montgomery Dermatology.
Fish
If you’re not already a seafood lover, it might be time to gain an affinity for the flavor, since fish is rich in omega 3 fatty acids which have been shown to reduce inflammation caused by the sun’s harmful UV rays. “Fish may lower prostaglandin E2 levels to prevent collagen breakdown that leads to wrinkles,” says Dr. Ilyas. “Some studies have shown that in combination with vitamin E and C that omega 3 fatty acids can promote collagen synthesis.” When choosing your fish, select for halibut, mackerel, salmon or tuna, which contain the most omega 3 fatty acids. Find out 8 foods that prevent wrinkles—and two you should avoid.
Fruit
Fruit is a huge health-booster for a myriad of reasons, but eating fruit that contains a particular carotenoid called lycopene may help you gain more youthful-looking skin. “Lycopene, the red pigment that gives berries and tomatoes their bright red color, is a powerful antioxidant with photo-protective qualities,” says Dr. Ilyas. That means it can help protect against sun damage: “A study looking at dietary patterns and wrinkle formation showed that diets rich in fruits resulted in fewer wrinkles.”