Eat your way back to youth Rima Al-Mukhtar Wednesday 12 March 2014 It’s a priority for most people these days to look young. Many women purchase cosmetics, lotions and anti-wrinkle creams to keep their skin looking young and fresh. Others go the extra mile and visit their dermatologists and undergo surgery to nip and tuck their skin to attain youthful features. Health specialists say beauty comes from within. Nature provides super foods that can control ageing and make you feel younger and healthy. “Many people think they need to buy bottles of vitamin pills to enrich their bodies with young hormones, this is not true. One need to look no further than their fridge for some great age-defying treatments,” said Hessa Shabaan, nutritionist. “Antioxidants, the health-protecting complexes found in plant-based foods are key, as they stop damage to the body’s cells, but so are the right type of fluids and dairy products,” she added. Add age-defying foods to your diet and start looking and feeling younger. “There are many factors in your daily life that can make you look older than your actual age, such as insomnia, stress, pollution, dehydration and smoking which play a major role in speeding up the ageing process,” said Shabaan. “You need to take good care of yourself and invest in some quality time relaxing and maybe go to the spa for a massage every once in a while to take the stress off your shoulders. Limit your coffee and tea to once a day and you will not regret it,” she added. According to Shabaan, there are foods that can protect you from age-related illnesses and degenerative diseases, and prevent wrinkles from appearing before their time. “You need to indulge in healthy food every day to cleanse your body off the toxins and stay away from cigarettes and smokers to keep your lungs and your skin healthy; you also need to have your beauty sleep to ensure clearness of the mind and freshness of the skin,” she said. List of foods that Shabaan promises to make you look and feel young: 1) Avocado: Aside from being delicious, this fruit is rich in antioxidants and is high in vitamin E, both of which help protect the skin. Avocado helps in regenerating skin cells, which give your skin a more youthful complexion. Make sure to add avocado in your smoothies, salads and sandwiches; it will give you a great twist and will help you achieve your beauty goal. 2) Blueberries: These small, blue, juicy balls contain cancer-preventing antioxidants called anthocyanin. This fruit is filled with vitamin C and dietary fiber, which plays a vital role in bone health and metabolism. Blueberries also contain certain minerals, which help control the anti-ageing process. High in potassium, these berries help fight puffiness. The best part of this fruit is that it tastes like candy. 3) Dark chocolate: Chocolate that contains more than 70 percent cocoa is usually full of proteins and Vitamin B. This type of chocolate can help you improve your skin cells and your hair too, not to mention it tastes amazing. 4) Green vegetables: When it comes to green vegetables, the darker the color the better it is. They are filled with plethora of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to help build and repair the skin’s cells. These veggies can also help control weight and also help fight heart diseases. Greens such as kale, spinach and broccoli are a great choice of healthy food, which you can mix with your regular dishes and be creative with new dishes or even better drink a glass of green juice every morning to provide you with the energy you need. 5) Water: It is the real fountain of youth. 70 percent of our bodies contain water and it keeps us fresh and hydrated. Dehydrated bodies feel tired, cranky and dehydrated skin looks dry and lackluster. 6) Kidney beans: They are full of fiber, protein and potassium which helps reduce the cholesterol levels. They also help reduce the risk of any heart diseases. 7) Prunes: These dark purple dried fruits are known for their laxative qualities and are used in natural digestive remedies. They are formidable anti-aging food, even though they have wrinkly skin and they may not be as attractive as dried apricots or raisins, but they happen to be filled with potassium, fiber and antioxidant phytochemicals, plus iron and vitamin A. ) Turmeric: Beauty gurus know the secret behind the anti-ageing and health promoting properties of this great spice that contains the highly effective antioxidant called curcumin. Use this spice in your diet to keep your brain young and healthy. Studies say it helps preserve memory and reduces the risk of Alzheimer disease, while protecting you from heart disease and cancer. 9) Nuts: Munching on nuts will provide your body with mineral selenium, which helps to improve skin elasticity. Selenium is a potent antioxidant, which helps to reduce the risk of skin cancer and prevents from premature ageing. 10) Whole grains: They offer an array of anti-aging elements, from fiber to protein to iron. But perhaps just as significantly, they are the best appetite-satisfying alternative to refined white carbohydrates. Make sure to stay away from white based foods that are high in simple carbs and can lead to heart disease, obesity and general malaise, all of which ages you.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 04:58:19 +0000
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