The foods and snacks you should be eating to anti-age your skin.
You are what you eat, so snack your way to more youthful, healthier skin with this guide…
1. Celery – To prevent dry skin
It’s a classic diet food, but your skin will thank you for eating it too.
‘A few sticks will give you a big hit of vitamins, including A, C and K, as well as potassium,’ says Helen Bond, dietitian on behalf of The Harley Medical Group.
Since potassium balances the bad effects of salt, it can help regulate fluid levels and keep dry skin at bay. And the better hydrated your skin is, the less apparent fine lines around your eyes and lips will be.
2. Walnuts – To get softer skin
These wrinkly little wonders are the only type of tree nut to contain high levels of essential omega-3, which helps skin maintain a healthy oil production.
‘Almonds have become the trendy nut to eat, but walnuts are richer in the fats that your skin needs to stay soft, hydrated and plump,’ says Helen.
If you’re vegetarian, then make sure to snack on these as an alternative to oily fish.
3. Turmeric – To stop sun damage
This brightly coloured root contains curcuminoids – strong antioxidants. These can help prevent the dark spots and hyperpigmentation caused by too much sun. Pick up a jar of turmeric powder from your local shop and sprinkle it into your smoothie, scrambled eggs, or add it to curries.
4. Porridge oats – To protect collagen
Ditch the sugary cereals in favour of a skin-loving breakfast like porridge.
‘Oats are low on the glycemic index, which means they’ll give you a slow and steady increase in blood sugar, instead of a big spike,’ says Helen.
These spikes can lead to inflammation in the body, which has been shown to break down collagen. This means that, over time, skin can lose its elasticity and become more wrinkly.
5. Coconut oil – To reduce wrinkles
There isn’t a lot coconut oil can’t do, which is why we’re all rushing to grab a tub. For ageing skin, it can be particularly handy as it contains vitamin E.
‘It helps to fight the damage of free radicals,’ Helen adds. ‘When applied to skin, it can help to stop wrinkles appearing.’
Use a thin layer as a moisturiser at night for glowing skin the next day. Or you can use it in your cooking instead of olive or vegetable oil.
The anti-ageing colour chart
These fruits and vegetables are easy to add to your weekly shop, and they’ll help you in your fight against ageing…
Tomatoes
They have the ingredient lycopene, which helps protect skin from sun damage.
Sweet potato
The beta-carotene (strong red-orange pigment) in these turns into vitamin A, which helps smooth skin.
Lemons
The vitamin C in citrus fruit produces collagen to help fight wrinkles.
Kale
Rich in vitamin K, kale can help reduce the appearance of dark circles under your eyes.
Blueberries
Packed with antioxidants to fight wrinkle-producing free radicals. Frozen is just as good.
