Wine gets finer with time, but unfortunately, your skin does not. Skin aging is a natural phenomenon faced by any human after a certain age. Though it cannot be prevented, it is possible to delay it.
As you age, your skin becomes more stretched, wrinkled, and fragile, as a result of thinning of the epidermis.
Although you cannot prevent or reverse the aging process, you can easily slow it down and make your skin look young, fresh, and glowing for a longer period of time by maintaining healthy eating habits. Consuming food containing a high amount of nutrients, healthy fats, antioxidants, and water, and taking in lots of fruits and vegetables help to make your skin look youthful and stunning.
So, here are the best anti-aging foods you can use to make your skin healthier.
#1 WATERCRESS
This green vegetable is a vital source of many essential nutrients such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, and vitamins B-1, A, C, B-2 and K. Watercress acts as an antiseptic for internal skin and helps to increase the circulation and delivery of minerals inside body cells. Also, vitamin C & A in watercress neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, making your skin healthy and glowing.
#2 RED BELL PEPPER
The significant amounts of vitamin C present in bell pepper help to produce collagen. Powerful antioxidants called carotenoids defend the skin against sunburns, pollution, and other environmental damages, due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
#3 SPINACH
Antioxidants in spinach oxygenate and replenish the body. Vitamin C enhances collagen generation, maintaining the smooth and firm nature of the skin. Spinach also contains an abundance of vitamins such as; vitamin A that promotes shiny and healthy hair, vitamin E that reduces free radical damage, vitamin K that reduces inflammation of cells, and vitamin C that acts as a powerful antioxidant. It is also rich in lutein, magnesium and plant-based heme iron.
#4 POMEGRANATE SEEDS
Widely recognized for its medicinal benefits, pomegranates contain high concentrations of vitamin C, and powerful antioxidants. They provide protection against body inflammations and harmful free radicals. Punicalagins in pomegranate seeds retain collagen in the skin, thereby slowing down the aging process.
#5 BLUEBERRIES
In addition to the significant amounts of vitamin C and A, age-defying antioxidant named Anthocyanin that helps to protect the skin against stress, sunburn, and pollution, makes blueberries an ideal food to combat skin aging.
#6 BROCCOLI
Being loaded with lutein, folate, calcium, fiber, vitamin C, K, and antioxidants, broccoli proves to be an ideal anti-aging food. It’s best to eat it raw, or steamed rather than cooked because cooking reduces its nutritional value.
#7 SWEET POTATOES
Sweet potatoes gain its orange color by the antioxidant called beta-carotene. After transforming into vitamin A, it contributes to restore the elastic nature of the skin. Sweet potatoes are also a vital source of vitamin C and vitamin E that helps to maintain a radiant complexion. They also provide protection against harmful free radicals.
#8 AVOCADO
Fatty acids in avocados reduce inflammation and enhance smooth, supple skin. Carotenoids present in avocados block toxins, and provide protection against sunburn, resulting in protection against skin cancers. Vitamin A present in avocados helps to shed off dead cells, leaving the healthy and youthful skin.
#9 NUTS
Nuts contain heaps of vitamin E that contribute to repair the skin tissue, retain moisture in the skin, and protect the skin from UltraViolet radiation. Nuts such as walnuts contain anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids that strengthen the cell membrane and preserve its natural oil barrier, thereby combating against aging of the skin.
#10 PAPAYA
Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants contained in papaya promote elasticity of the skin. Calcium, magnesium, B vitamins, potassium, and phosphorus present in papaya protect the skin against damages caused by free radicals. Papain enzyme present in papaya is the best natural anti-inflammatory agent, so it’s found in many products used for exfoliation, due to its ability to delay aging.
#11 TOMATOES
Lycopene, an antioxidant present in tomatoes, restricts the activity of collagenases, thereby enhancing the elasticity of the skin. Flavonoids in tomatoes help to delay aging, and they also contain anti-inflammatory properties.
#12 GARLIC
The antibacterial, antioxidant, and detoxification properties in garlic preserve youth in the skin. It’s best to consume garlic raw.
#13 DARK CHOCOLATE
Dark chocolate is capable of maintaining the elasticity and hydration levels of the skin, preventing wrinkles and fine lines. It also contains flavanols that protect the skin against UV radiation.
So, start consuming these anti-aging foods to make yourself healthier and become a better, more confident version of yourself.
Reading, creative writing, poetry writing, and language learning have been my passions since I was young. I have won many Japanese and Chinese language competitions, and many national-level creative writing, art & oratory competitions too. I am still schooling, and passed my O/Levels with distinction passes for English Literature, Japanese, and English. I have also completed my Certificate of Human Resource Management.
