Two types of ageing exist: biological and chronological. With regards to the last there is little that can be done, whereas for biological ageing we can turn back a bit the clock if we follow a correct diet & a healthy lifestyle.
- No smoking. Smoking is the fastest way to age. some studies show how smoking damages our epidermal cells giving our skin a gaunt appearance.
- Proper rest. Little & not proper rest or sleep can make us look much older than we actually are. It is recommended to sleep a minimum of 7/8 hours per day.
- Start before rather than later. Surgery will give better & quicker results if done at an earlier stage, our ageing process starts when we are about 25 years old.
- Protect yourself correctly from the sun. Choose a love/hate relationship with the sun. A little exposure could also be healthy for muscle & bones due to the vitamin D in sun rays, but if done in a correct way with correct protection. excessive sun exposure will result in the possibility of a melanoma (lethal form of skin cancer), permanent damage to the dna of the epithelial cells, so always make sure to avoid the sun in peak times.
Did you know? Out of all the researches done on anti ì-ageing food, fruit & vegetable consumption has obtained the largest scientific support. A research conducted by the University of St. Andrews showed that increasing signaficantly fruit & vegetable consumption, also according to quantity & variety, gave skin a healthier & more attractive appearance already within the first 6 weeks. The most effective fruit & vegetables are the ones rich in carotenoids such as; carrots, yam, spinach, peaches, pumpkin, aprocots, watermelon, tomatoes & pink grapefruit consumed on a daily basis for a least the first 6 weeks will show a noteable improvement. so do not be surprised if I will encourage you to eat these types of fruit & vegetables more often.
Nutritional shortages linked to unhealthy hair, nails or skin consist of, protein, zinc, calcium, iron, vitamin B (ex. Biotin), vitamin A & c and omega 3.
Here are the anti-ageing foods:
Grapes & wine
Red wine has many anti-age benefits! The resveratrol found in the skin of red grapes, is an anti-inflammatory that helps slow down our ageing process. We can enjoy the benfits of the resveratrol also in grape juice or from a nice bunch of grapes. Various studies have shown how resveratrol helps protect from damages caused by UV rays, that can not only cause premature skin ageing but also skin cancer & other types of disorders.
Shock food!
Yes, chocolate once again! Chocolate especially dark chocolate can guarantee a very good UV protection tnx to the cocoa flavonols it contains. A study held out on 30 healthy volunteers, divided them into 2 groups asking one group to eat chocolate daily for 12 weeks, showed that this group had a much higher resistance to Uv rays than the other.
Olive Oil
Various analysis held out on olive oil showed it anti-ageing benefits thanks to phenolic properties, many of which are also anti-inflammatory and as effective in reducing certain inflammations as some medicines found on the shelves in stores.
Salmon
Salmon, as well as trout, tuna, sardines & mackerel are all an excellent source of omega 3, protein & vitamin B12, which all have beneficial effects on our body. Weak finger nails can be a sign of shortage in vitamin B12, in this case salmon could be ideal to fight these symptons: a portion of 85g provides us with 40% of our RDA of this vitamin! it also in respect to other animal proteins these types of fish have lower levels of saturated fat & cholesterol. The element which gives the salmon its nice <<salmon colour>> is a phytonutrient known as astaxanthin, that belongs to the carotenoid family. A research as proved how this powerful anti-oxidant helps against ageing dieseases.
Omega 3 has a fundamental role in reducing internal inflammation which means a better blood circulation. Omega 3 shortage is shown through dry skin &/or itchy scalp. Around 35% of the human brain consists of fat acids like DHA & EPA (types of omega3), but as years go by this concentration could reduce itself. A study showed that old peoples brains contained 22% less fat acids than those of younger adults.
Soybeans
Soy contains many nutrients which help in a proper ageing process both internally & externally. One of these substances is known as Equol an isoflavandiol metabolized from daidzein. Whilst women go through the menopause phase, their estrogen levels fall, also bone density, skin & so on. In a study on cells, it showed that equol increased in a significant manner the levels of collagene & elastine causing important positive changes in skin anti-oxidants & ageing genes.
Whey
Whey protein is one of the proteins found naturally in dairy products. It has high levels of aminoacids such as leucine, which is attributed the capability in helping muscle growth & repair. Proteins are a main component for hair, nails, & skin, & most of us assume suffiecient proteins through our diet. However as we get old the muscles that hold our skin tight & tense start getting damaged. Consuming high quality proteins could help slowing down this process. It was proven that whey protein stimulated protein anabolism (muscle growth/repair) independantly from the physical activity held out by the senior citizens.
Take a look at our tried and tested method: Anti-Diet
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