The Best (and Worst) Anti-Aging Foods

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed)
Mar 31st 2010 at 3:01PM

Everybody wants to look and feel young, healthy, and vibrant, but unfortunately our lives don't always make achieving that goal easy. Stress, pollution, activities, and even the food we eat can affect how fast and how gracefully we age. Are you making diet choices that will keep you looking young?

The best anti-aging foods:

Berries like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries are especially high in Vitamin C that helps to reduce wrinkles and age-related skin dryness, fiber that boosts heart health and helps maintain a healthy weight, antioxidants that fight against environmental and dietary toxins, and polyphenols that are thoughts to battle age-related mental decline.
Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and swiss chard have high levels of Vitamin K that helps keep bones strong and lutein and zeaxanthin that together keep vision sharp by protecting eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light.
Whole grains such as whole wheat, brown rice, and oats are full of a wide variety of nutrients and minerals that help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and even gum disease. Whole grains are also full of appetite-curbing fiber for help maintaining a healthy weight.
Low-fat dairy because its protein can help maintain healthy strong muscles (age-related muscle loss makes you look and feel older) while its minerals can help keep bones strong and blood pressure within healthy limits.
Water helps all of the functions in your body, including waste and toxin removal and skin rejuvenation, work better and faster. Dehydration strains body systems but is especially bad for the skin, making it appear dull, less supple, and wrinkles more pronounced.

The worst foods for aging:

Sugar is known to accelerate aging by decreasing skin's elasticity which leads to sagging. Too much sugar can also suppress the immune system, raise blood pressure, and increase the risk of some cancers.
Salt is a major cause of hypertension, which can lead to heart disease and stroke. Excess sodium can also lead to water retention and puffiness in the face, hands, and feet.
Processed foods have high levels of both sugar and salt, plus chemicals and artificial ingredients that form damaging free-radicals in the body.
Alcohol (in excess) weakens the immune system, depletes the body of vital minerals and nutrients, and dehydrates the skin leading to dryness and wrinkles.

Tags: anti-aging, antiaging, beauty, beauty-pedia, dining, food, skin, skin care, skincare

Filed under: Dining

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Jessa Mar 31st 2010 2:26PM

This list should include FLAX! Flax is loaded with Omega 3's so it not only helps with weight loss, it is great for your skin, hair and overall health.

al schrader Mar 31st 2010 7:40PM

Hey, people in the know are saying that Google, Verizon, and Facebook are giving your IP address to anyone. Either never make another comment again, or drop these services right now...Just a heads-up...Alfred-

Robert Mar 31st 2010 2:44PM

There is no proof that sugar causes skin damage from what I have read.

Youtube

Another Black Season

Gina Mar 31st 2010 2:55PM

Robert, it's obvious that you don't read very much. Google the word "glycation" and it's affects on the our cells. That includes the the cells insides our body and the cells outside our body too.

Robert Mar 31st 2010 3:02PM

Gina,

I read up on it so show me a clinical study that is reputable that proves sugar ages your skin.

Steve Mar 31st 2010 3:16PM

all food reduces wrinkles ...if you eat too much of it

katie Mar 31st 2010 4:31PM

Good one Steve :o) Thanks for the laugh, of course now that is going to cause more "laugh lines" -- but as far as I know, I'm only going to live once, so i entend to LAUGH AWAY ! !

Steve Mar 31st 2010 3:18PM

every food stops wrinkles ...if you eat too much of it !

baysen181 Mar 31st 2010 3:46PM

Well I'll be sagging fast, alcolhol is my friend

Meghan Mar 31st 2010 4:34PM

What's wrong with a few wrinkles? I'm sick of seeing over-botoxed faces everywhere. There was a time when it was okay to age gracefully, now every 60 year old wants a 20 year old face. That's not how it works, no matter how young your face looks, you'll still be the age you are on the inside. They don't have botox for the insides...yet.

jill Mar 31st 2010 5:18PM

I'm sure eating healthy is important, but 90% of wrinkles are caused by sun damage. I say eat (and drink) whatever you want....just wear sun block :)

chic7615 Mar 31st 2010 5:30PM

Life is short!!!!!!!!!!! Eat, Drink & have unprotected sex!

RubyBucy Mar 31st 2010 5:39PM

WOW

RubyBucy Mar 31st 2010 5:33PM

The sun, yo-yo diets and looking like my dad gave me my wrinkles.

UM PAUL Mar 31st 2010 5:52PM

STRESS is a killer...........medicine today has all of us stressed to the breaking point about lifestyle etc. Moderation in all things is what is best inc salt and sugar.

only1emmapeel Mar 31st 2010 6:36PM

boy you got that REAL right. i know we wanted to get rid of dubya, but we need the socialists out of office. climbing the ladder is what made america great.

Barb Mar 31st 2010 6:10PM

This health bill has given me more wrinkles than the sun or food could ever do!

Debbie Mar 31st 2010 6:25PM

Also, Avocado smashed up and put on your face for 15 minutes to dry is good.

evelyn goodreau Mar 31st 2010 7:18PM

I BELIEVE YOU ARE ALL NUTS. JUST LIVE FOR THE DAY

lillian Mar 31st 2010 8:39PM

I'm old, eat candy everyday. Carry candy with me. I smoke , just drink iced green tea. A doctor couldn't belive my age, wanted to know how i do it. I told him all that and also told him I didn't have the stress , not having a husband. I honestly look 20 years younger without trying. So I tell you, eat what you want. Life is short, enjoy it.

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