Defy Age with Anti Aging Diet

A List of Anti Aging Minerals and Nutrients Diet

2009-03-27T21:17:00.000-07:00

A previous article discussed the benefits of antioxidant vitamins. Vitamins are not the only cure to anti-aging. One also needs to have antioxidant minerals in their anti-aging diet.

In general, most people don’t need to take mineral supplements especially if we already take multivitamins. This is even more the case if you are a drinker of spring water. Spring water contains helpful and important minerals. Moreover, studies indicate that if you wash your skin with mineral water, it helps reduce common skin irritations; it also helps the skin absorb moisture better.

There are a few minerals that are gaining the attention of scientists. Here’s a list.

Selenium

Selenium can be taken as a supplement or applied as a cream. It protects the skin from sun damage and may even play a key role in skin cancer prevention. Sources for selenium from dietary intake include eggs, whole-grain cereals, seafood, and garlic.

Copper

It is not a good idea to take extra copper supplements but applied as a cream, it helps with skin elasticity as it works in conjunction with Vitamin C and another mineral: zinc.

Zinc

Zinc can be taken both internally or applied topically on the skin. It helps with acne as it tames the production of oil on the skin. Sources for zinc from dietary intake include oysters, lean meat, and poultry.

In addition to antioxidant vitamins and minerals, there are other anti-aging nutrients that are generating excitement for scientists studying the effects of aging.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid

What makes this acid so special is its ability to penetrate both oil and water, thus affecting the skin cells both internally and externally from the body. It is rare that an antioxidant does both. This acid helps reduce the damage of cells from free radicals. You can get supplements for alpha-lipoic acid or get it in cream form.

DMAE

DMAE reduces the effects of sun damage and cigarette smoke by stabilizing cell membranes. DMAE also helps prevent age spots. This nutrient is available in supplements or in a topical cream form.

Hyaluronic Acid

Although hyaluronic acid is not readily available in foods, we can take it as a supplement or apply it as a cream. This nutrient helps skin look smoother and more youthful as it acts as a glue for skin cells.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)

EFAs can be found in cold water fish as omega-3 fatty acids. Taking this will help your skin with a more youthful appearance and help control black heads and white heads.

As you can see, antioxidant minerals also play a vital role in our anti-aging diet!

A List of Anti Aging Antioxidant Vitamins Diet

2009-03-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

The science and health community acknowledge the wonders of an anti-aging diet full of antioxidant vitamins, minerals and other nutrients as ways to promote healthier looking skin; to give it that radiant look and youthful appearance.

Whether we use take these anti-aging antioxidants as supplements, put it topically on our skin, or ingest them through our daily diet, these minerals and vitamins in all forms play a vital role in the way we look and feel. After all, the skin is a physical manifestation of what is going on inside our body. If we feed our skin well both from the inside and outside, the skin can’t help but benefit from our conscience effort of good health care.

Science is always progressing in how to better produce crop output and how to bulk up livestock. But these technological advances also have their downfalls. Our foods are now shown to contain more free radicals due to all the sprayed pesticides and herbicides and animals injected with growth hormones. Given this startling news, concerned citizens are now demanding organic products in their grocery stores. The push is now towards organic fruits and vegetables and free roaming animals just as Mother Nature intended. If you haven’t switched over to organic foods, it is time to do so. The earlier you start treating your body right and eating healthier, the better off you’ll look as you get older.

By having a balanced diet, drinking lots of water and using gentle products to cleanse the skin, it should slow the process of aging and the harmful effects of free radicals. Having the basis covered, you can then augment your anti aging diet with antioxidant nutritional supplements.

In particular, these are the vitamins that are particularly healthy for the skin.

Vitamin C and E

The damaged caused by sunlight, smoke and pollution can be offset by Vitamin C and E.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A helps with skin repair and used topically, it has been shown to reduce fine line wrinkles, control acne and also provide psoriasis relief.

Vitamin B Complex

Vitamin B biotin is known to promote skin, nail, and hair cells growth. However, recent studies also show that creams containing niacin help the skin retain moisture, creating a younger look with results showing in as little as a week.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K has not been known to do a whole heck for the skin if ingested. However, by applying a cream containing Vitamin K, it has been known to reduce dark circles under the eyes as well as decreasing wrinkles.

So there you have a summary of antioxidant vitamins that are good for the skin. Eat a proper anti-aging diet properly and you’ll be treating your body right from the inside. To feed the skin from the outside, look for these antioxidant vitamins on the jar label. Always remember, one of the most important things to do is to wear sunblock - at least SPF 15+ when you go outside. For those people who still yearn for bronzed skin and frequent an indoor tanning solution, you are required to have indoor tanning lotion as well. The bottom line is, protect your skin at all times to prevent the effects of anti aging!

Explaining anti aging diets, antioxidants and free radicals

2009-03-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

Anti aging diets are all about foods containing antioxidants that stop the effects of free radicals. This all sounds very complicated and scientific but what does it mean? This really isn’t as hard to understand as it seems.

If we go back to high school chemistry, we'd remember that atoms bond together by sharing electrons to form stable molecules. Normally, these bonds don't break but when a weak bond splits, it frees up the molecule and becomes unstabalized. The term radical comes from the fact that it now floats around trying to reform that bond by stealing another electron elsewhere. Unfortunately for humans, free radicals are everywhere in the environment as we are exposed to pollution, herbicides and pesticides. The free radicals attack our cell walls leaving it unstable and turning it into another free radical. The process just perpetuates.

Antioxidants on the other hand refer to a group of organic vitamins and minerals that have the property to donate their electrons without turning unstable. It stops the snowball effect of the destructive nature of free radicals. Left unchecked, free radicals can cause diseases as it attacks cell walls and structure. Free radicals also destroy genetic material. Being exposed to high levels of free radicals has been linked to cancer, strokes, and heart disease. Therefore, to stop the onslaught of free radicals, we should increase our intake of antioxidants. The vitamins and minerals known to be antioxidant agents are the vitamins A, C and E and the mineral selenium. Added to this group are carotenoids which are pigment compounds giving fresh fruits and vegetables their vibrant colors.

Perhaps now you would be tempted to go out to your nearest nutrition store to stock up on vitamins. This would not be a good idea. The long term effects of mega doses of vitamins and minerals have not been studied and more is not always better. It is much more prudent to get your vitamin and mineral fix the natural way from eating fruits and vegetables as it is more easily absorbed into your body. Expert scientists recommend that the best way to counter the effects of free radicals is to have a wide ranging anti-aging diet with foods known to be super anti aging foods which had been discussed in a previous post. So enjoy your grocery shopping down the fruits and vegetable aisles keeping in mind that there is a science to an anti aging diet!

Anti-aging Diet

2009-03-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

As the saying goes, we are what we eat. And if you put junk into your body, expect to feel crappy. The foods we eat fuel our body and if we put low performance fuel in, how can we expect to feel good? After all, it's garbage in and garbage out and this also affects our physical appearance. It might not seem like a big deal when we are younger because our metabolism can handle the junk food, but as we get older, nutrition becomes a greater issue. The health benefits of having proper nutrition can greatly boost our energy levels and our appearance.

The secrets of an anti-aging diet are to keep your caloric consumption as well as your saturated fat intake down. Moreover, lay off the salt and sugar as well. Eat plenty of whole grains and oily types of fish. And, as your parents probably told you, eat your fruits and vegetables.

These are the general guidelines for healthy eating but there are what is known as "super foods" that promote anti-aging effects. Here they are:

Avocados

Avocados are a fruit rich in monounsaturated fat that helps reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in the body. Also, it is a good source of vitamin E which is known to maintain healthy skin and to reduce the effects of aging.

Berries

Dark berries such as blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, and black grapes contain antioxidants which help to protect the body against free radicals and the general course of aging.

Cruciferous vegetables

Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, turnip, brussel sprouts, radish and watercress are all in a family known as cruciferous vegetables. Eating these vegetables on a daily basis can help fight against toxins and cancer.

Garlic

It might not be the best for your breath, but eating a clove of garlic a day can also help protect against cancer and heart disease. Garlic can also help reduce cholesterol levels. Some studies indicate garlic is more effective at thinning the blood than aspirin, thus reducing the risk for heart disease.

Ginger

Ever wonder why people say to drink some ginger ale to settle an upset stomach? That's a health benefit of ginger. Ginger helps with the digestive and circulatory system. Ginger also helps with rheumatic aches and pains.

Nuts

Nuts are just a great snack as they are nutritious, helps enhance the immune system and improves your chances of preventing skin cancer.

Soya

Soya products are good for menopausal women as it helps maintain estrogen levels. It also protects against Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis and heart disease.

Wholemeal pasta and rice

Your daily diet should consist in bulk of wholemeal pasta and rice. These complex carbohydrates provide you energy throughout the day.

Watermelon

Both the watermelon flesh and seeds are a good source of vitamins A, B, C and E not to mention selenium, essential fats and zinc. All these help against free radical damage and the signs of aging.

Water

Last but not least is water. We all know how important it is, and the standard of drinking 8 glasses of water a day. Drinking water helps us get rid of toxins and flush out waste from the body.

By eating organic health food, that is the secret of an anti-aging diet.

How to Look Good as You Get Older

2009-03-25T19:52:00.001-07:00

You don’t know when it happened but time just creeps up on you. One day, you start noticing a wrinkle. How did that happen you ask? And then you get your first white hair. Egads! Time is something we cannot control, but you sure as heck can control how you look! People who say age gracefully is just giving you lip service. Who doesn’t want to defy age and look as best as they can even in their senior years? After all, we are living longer and longer and being old does not mean we cannot live an active life and that includes being social and entertain family and friends by looking our best.

There are lots of ways to look your optimal when the hands of time advance. One way is to dress appropriately for your age. Trying to look too young and wearing a sign that says “Juicy” on your butt is just not appropriate and makes and older person seem ridiculous who is trying too hard. On the other hand, wearing drab and baggy clothes is going towards the other end of the spectrum and can age you even more. However, wearing age appropriate clothes will give you an air of sophistication.

Along with having an age appropriate wardrobe, consider getting a makeover as well. Sometimes, something as simple as getting the right haircut and the right hair color will lift years off the face. This is a really simple and cheap alternative to getting cosmetic surgery.

If money is not an issue, then cosmetic surgery is always an option. It can be something as non invasive as microdermabrasion or botox, to getting complete face lifts along with a nip and tuck here and there

Of course, all this cosmetic surgery will go for not if you don’t continue with good habits to protect your skin. Always moisturize your skin to keep it rejuvenated. Avoid the sun and always wear sunblock! The sun damage on your skin really takes its toll and it is never good to have leathery brown skin. Keep in mind that you not only do you need to moisturize and apply anti-aging cream to your face, but also pay special attention to the neck, chest and hands. These latter three areas often give away your true age.

These tips to looking younger all deal with your physical appearance. Let’s not forget that you are only as old as you feel and there is nothing more age defying than being young at heart! Keep a positive attitude and you will stay young forever!

Welcome to Defying Age Beauty Tips!

2009-03-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

Hello, and welcome to the Defying Age Beauty Tips website.

Here, I'll discuss tips and tricks to defy age that will keep you looking young and vibrant! No one needs to know your secret and as long as you are young at heart! Keep them guessing as to how old you really are!