Women all over the world spend millions of dollars on expensive moisturizers, serums and wrinkle creams to try to stave off the inevitability of aging.
There is, however, an easy and very inexpensive way to fight the signs of aging: Foods. Yes, there are certain foods, that when taken regularly, can actually plump up skin cells and feed your skin the vitamins and minerals it needs.
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Great Anti-Aging Foods
Here are five (5) of the best ones, in no particular order:
#1. Tomatoes
Just ten (10) tablespoons a week of tomatoes (in any form, raw or cooked) provides lycopene. A proven antioxidant, lycopene is known for its anti-aging properties.
#2. Wheat germ
3 cups a week, mixed into pancake or muffin batter, or in salads and stir fries. Wheat germ contains good amounts of both vitamin E and zinc, both of which have anti-aging benefits. Extra added bonus: because of its fiber-dense nature, wheat germ helps boost weight loss efforts.
#3. Guava
Once thought an exotic fruit, guava can be found in most markets today. It is a wonderful source of vitamin C which has been shown to plump up skin cells which makes the skin look younger and more supple. Eat two (2) a week for maximum results.
#4. Brazil Nuts
These are the large, odd shaped nuts in the cans of mixed nuts you buy that don’t seem to get eaten. These nuts are super rich in selenium, a mineral the body uses to help fight aging and skin cancer. In laboratory experiments and clinical trials, selenium has a role in the prevention of cancer, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases and infections. An extra benefit is that selenium regenerates Vitamin E and C in the body which adds to its anti-aging punch. (1)
#5. Romaine lettuce
Just six (6) leaves a day of this versatile salad green provides Vitamin A, a beta-carotene source, that helps leave skin moist. It also helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improves skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Dual Benefits: Anti-Aging and Better Health
Eating the foods shown above have at the very least, a dual benefit. They fight aging internally by providing the nutrition source for the anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals involved. They are also the kinds of foods that, if made a part of a daily diet, can lead to healthier eating habits, promoting better overall health.
While it is true that all of the “benefits” naturally derived from these foods are available in supplement form, it is generally thought that the body responds more readily to natural rather than synthetic sources. If supplements are your only option, it is better to have them than not.
Think about it. Tonight’s dinner salad could be prepared using every one of the 5 great anti-aging foods listed above. Add a little olive oil to get some healthy monounsaturated fat as a tasty boost! Here’s to fewer wrinkles and younger skin. Now pass that salad!
