Younger Looking Skin

Foods for Younger Looking Skin

Salmon

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids that have been found to have positive effects on inflammation, depression, heart disease and more, salmon has beauty benefits for your skin as well. Our bodies don’t have the ability to produce some essential fatty acids, so including them in your diet helps reinforce your skin’s barrier and keep moisture in and irritants out. Omega-3 fatty acids can help decrease inflammation, so salmon is a great choice for those who suffer from rosacea or eczema. 

Carrots

This vegetable is orange thanks to high levels of beta carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A (which also happens to be a form of the main active ingredient in Retin-A). This vitamin is an antioxidant has been found to decrease the skin’s oil production, and there’s also some evidence that it can improve psoriasis. You can also find vitamin A in leafy greens, squash and mangoes.

Milk

Milk is a great source of vitamin D, which plays a critical role in skin development and repair and helps destroy free radicals that cause the skin to age. Getting your daily dose of “D” from milk also means you don’t have to get it from sun exposure that causes wrinkles and increases your risk of skin cancer.

Almonds

In addition to the protein you get from snacking on almonds, you also get a big dose of vitamin E. This powerful antioxidant helps prevent signs of aging caused by free radicals and may even bolster your skin’s defense against skin cancer. Studies also suggest that vitamin E consumed orally can increase its levels on the skin’s surface, which is good news for those with dry skin.

Safflower and Sunflower Oil 

Swapping out your olive oil for safflower or sunflower oil can work wonders for your skin. It still has the great taste, but it’s higher in linoleic acid.  Linoleic acid helps your skin hold onto water (by helping your skin produce ceramides.) These oils are great to eat or use topically for those with dry skin.

Broccoli

If you were to only eat one vegetable (although I advise you get a wide variety), make it broccoli. It contains myriad good-for-your-skin vitamins including A (a retinoid); C, which is a fantastic antioxidant that also supports collagen production; and K, which speeds bruise healing and may even help improve dark under-eye circles.

Berries

Fruits and vegetables owe their vibrant colors to antioxidants, and berries are a wonderful source. If your diet includes blueberries, raspberries, cherries, and the like, you’ll get a range of protective antioxidants that shield your skin from free radicals.

Spices

Dark chocolate

Not only is dark chocolate a treat for your sweet tooth, it’s a treat for your skin, too. Cacao contains high levels of polyphenol antioxidants, but any old chocolate won’t do. Look for high cacao concentrations (high quality chocolates will give a % on the label) because these have less sugar, which can actually be bad for your skin.

Watermelon

Though it may sound counterintuitive, the high concentration of water in watermelon can actually reduce the water retention that leads to puffiness around the eyes. And because watermelon is low in sugar (as compared to many other fruits), you don’t have to worry about glycation, the chemical reaction that compromises collagen and leads to lines and wrinkles.

Pineapple

Pineapple contains enzymes that help break down the purple pigment in bruises.  A herbal pill called Bromelain that is used to treat bruising is actually a pineapple extract that many surgeons suggest using after cosmetic surgery.  If you bruise a lot, eating pineapple may make them clear sooner.

Many foods are good for your skin.  Green tea, red wine, and tomatoes are other foods shown to have skin benefits.  It is important to vary your diet with skin improving ingredients that have been shown to be beneficial for your skin type.

Image and Article Credit: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/skintype/photos/foods-younger-looking-skin#11

Anti Aging

Anti Aging Natural Facial

When it comes to anti aging, natural and ancient methods are sometimes the best and least expensive route. Skin care experts state there are visible benefits from raw egg yolk when used in an anti aging natural facial. While many other ingredients are helpful, one expert even stated that there's nothing else in the world that restores the skin like egg yolk. And the Romans believed in eternal youth possibly more than any culture, and were heavy believers in olive oil, while the honey from long ago had great anti aging natural skin healing abilities.

Some people see immediate results, and there seems to be great potential with this facial over time. For best results many suggest organic, free-range or "pastured" eggs, olive oil sold in dark bottles, and raw, wild honey has more healing powers similar to "ancient" honey than dead commercial honey. Here's the anti aging natural facial directions:

1) Beat the egg yolk.

2) Add one teaspoon of olive oil and mix together well.

3) Heat a metal spoon (holding it under hot water works well). You want something warm to help the honey melt and mix in, but not something so hot you end up with a fried egg anti aging facial!

4) Use the hot spoon to mix in the teaspoon of honey. Your anti aging natural facial is complete.

5) Apply your anti aging natural facial to clean skin for 20 minutes, then rinse.

Article from: Ehow

Aging

4 Secret Sources of Aging

Sunlight, cigarettes, and botched plastic surgeries will turn your mug into a catcher's mitt, but they're not the only offenders.

Sunlight, cigarettes, and botched plastic surgeries will turn your mug into a catcher's mitt, but they're not the only offenders. The sneakier culprits are the threats you expose yourself to every day without even thinking about—everything from what you eat and drink to how you manage your emotions. Here are four habits that can add wrinkles to your face, wear down your heart, and even undermine your manhood—and how to avoid them.

Eating processed foods

The deep grooves running from nose to mouth—also known as "smile lines"—are called nasolabial folds. These result from thinning underlying tissue. Dermatologists can prescribe high-end volumizers such as Restylane and Sculptra, but you can take action in the kitchen by avoiding excess sugar, which can make collagen more fragile, putting you at greater risk for wrinkles. Similarly, a diet high in white flour can also create what are called glycation reactions between molecules in the skin. This reaction binds collagen and decreases elasticity, so the skin becomes more susceptible to fracture. Base your diet around the 125 best foods for men, and you'll avoid added sugar, fat, and salt, and consume more of the nutrients you need.


Guzzling alcohol

A six-pack is not a sleep aid. Alcohol messes with the normal sleep cycle, especially the back end of the cycle. "Four hours into sleep, alcohol wears off and leaves you in an excitable state," says Alex Chediak, M.D., medical director of the Miami Sleep Disorders Center. And you need that deep, slow-wave, restorative sleep to keep your body looking—and feeling—young. Moderating your booze intake is key. You're 97 percent more likely to reach age 85 if you keep your daily alcohol consumption to fewer than three drinks a day, according to a study of 6,000 patients in the Journal of the American Medical Association. And remember to make one of those drinks a pinot noir. A recent review in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that resveratrol, a compound commonly found in red wine, may prevent or delay the onset of chronic disease.

Losing your temper

Emotional stress causes the release of immune compounds called histamines, which can cause inflammation. "If you reduce inflammation, you reduce the risk of death from a heart attack," says Steven Nissen, M.D., chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. A Duke University study found that when angry men took a multivitamin for six months, their levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6)-an inflammation marker that may increase the risk of heart disease—went from being elevated to as low as those measured in calm guys. The next time you're seeing red, take a deep breath and try some of these 52 ways to conquer stress. Chronic inflammation is also a serious, but easily overlooked, source of fine lines and wrinkles, says Carl Thornfeldt, M.D., in Fruitland, Idaho. When the skin puffs up, the lattice of protein, fats, and oils tends to rupture, creating damage that is difficult to reverse.

Using Harmful Lotions and Potions

Read the list of ingredients in your moisturizers, shampoos, and hair dyes closely. Many of the chemicals they contain are benign; others warrant a better-safe-than-sorry approach. Gary Ginsberg, Ph.D., a toxicologist at the Connecticut Department of Public Health in Hartford, says to steer clear of ubiquitous toxins such as 1,4-dioxane, phthalates, formaldehyde, hydroquinone, and parabens, which researchers have linked to a host of health concerns, including obesity, male fertility problems, and cancer. Instead, opt for products with labels that read "sulfate free," "paraben free," "fragrance free," and "PPD free."

Article source: msn.com
Picture source: shutterstock.com