Aging has always been the worst nightmares for men and women alike with constant worries of wrinkles, crow’s feet, laugh lines, fine lines and dark spots. Unfortunately, one cannot avoid aging, but we can always slow it down.
Here is a list of 35 healthy foods that make you look five times younger. As you read through the list, here’s a suggestion:- make a mental note of how many of these items you keep regularly in your home.
1. Pomegranates
Packed with vitamin C, this fruit protects the skin from wrinkling effects of sun damage. The Ellagic Acid in Pomegranate fights damage from free radicals and preserves collagen. Punicalagin present in this fruit keeps the skin smooth and plump.
2. Blueberries
This food is rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, blueberries can protect your skin against the skin-damaging free radicals that result from sun exposure, emotional stress, and even over-exercising. Also, they prevent cell damage preventing loss of firmness, fine lines, and wrinkles.
3. Kale
Kale leaves have Lycopene and Lutein which protect against the harmful effects of UV radiation. The antioxidants in Kale improves skin elasticity.
4. Cold-Water Fish
Sardines, salmon, and mackerel contain omega-3 fatty acids, which strengthen skin-cell membranes, helping keep moisture in. Salmon is rich in astaxanthin, an antioxidant, and carotenoid known for its unique anti-aging benefits.
5. Green Tea
This healthy tea contains catechins and polyphenols that prevent sun damage like hyperpigmentation and combat free-radical damage, reversing the effects of aging.
6. Watermelon
Combined with Vitamin C, Lycopene and Potassium, watermelon acts as a natural sunblock, protecting the skin from ultraviolet rays that damage and age the skin, create sunspots, and make skin look weathered. Watermelon also keeps your skin hydrated and plump by regulating the balance of water and nutrients in cells.
7. Olives
This Mediterranean fruit is rich in polyphenols and other phytonutrients which protect your DNA and keep you looking and feeling younger.
8. Sesame Seeds
Black sesame seeds are rich in natural antioxidants that are anti-aging. The natural SPF in sesame seeds keeps the skin protected from the sun’s UV rays and free radicals.
9. Fortified Almond Milk
A healthy choice of Almond’s intake and daily skin application of vitamin E-enriched almond milk lotions and creams before sun exposure helps minimize skin damage.
10. Nuts
Nuts contain omega-3 fatty acids that help maintain cell membranes of the skin. Vitamin E in nuts prevents inflammation of the skin cells.
11. Dark Chocolate
Dark Chocolate helps reduce inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to UV light. Loaded with flavanols, it increases blood circulation in the skin and improves skin moisture retention, which reduces the appearance reducing wrinkles and keeping you younger.
12. Pineapples
A cup of pineapple gives you the daily dose of antioxidants in the form of Vitamin C and promotes collagen production to keep the skin plump and flexible.
13. Lemons
The concentrated levels of antioxidants in Lemon detoxify your body. The Vitamin C in lemons increases the production of collagen keeping your skin look tighter and younger. Lemon juice, a natural diuretic, flushes out any harmful bacteria leading to a healthier looking skin.
14. Oranges
An Orange a day keeps your body youthful. This great source of vitamin C, loaded with water boosts immunity, keeps the skin hydrated and help build collagen, making the skin elastic, supple, and younger-looking.
15. Avocados
This healthy food contains phytochemicals to prevent the negative effects of aging. Packed with inflammation-fighting monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants, Avocados boost the immune system that helps both mind and body to age gracefully.
16. Mushrooms
Ergothioneine and Glutathione, two antioxidants present in Mushrooms help fight aging and bolster health. Mushrooms contain vitamin D that helps in healthy aging as Vitamin D helps absorb Calcium for healthy bones.
17. Carrots
Rich in vitamin A, carrots restore and regenerate damaged collagen, an essential for the elasticity and regeneration of skin cells.
18. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of carotenoids which fights off fine lines and wrinkles by revitalizing damaged collagen, restoring cell DNA and delaying aging of the body.
19. Broccoli
Broccoli contains glucoraphanin that aids skin repair and helps skin glow. Broccoli has been found to offer anti-aging benefits and protect against skin cancer. In fact, you could smear broccoli extract over your skin before bath.
20. Cooked Tomatoes
Tomatoes are loaded with lycopene, an antioxidant that protects the skin from damage. When the tomatoes have been cooked, it makes it easier to absorb the nutrients.
21. Beans and Lentils (Legumes)
These foods, Beans, and Lentils contain plant-based protein, fiber, and phytochemicals which regenerates the damaged skin and delays aging.
22. Yoghurt
This healthy food, Yogurt, taken before bed helps skin cells turn over very rapidly and by a healthy night’s sleep, you give them time to replenish and rebuild.
23. Oatmeal
Oats also are packed with the antioxidants that battle against cell damage and protect from skin-aging.
24. Turmeric
Turmeric helps fight cell damage, keeping skin vibrant and immune to chronic diseases. the curcumin in Turmeric prevents telomere shortening. Telomeres are like little tags on both ends of our stem cells and as we age, they get smaller. This is a prime cause for aging and degenerative diseases.
25. Saffron
Saffron contains the carotenoid phytonutrients crocin and crocetin, which have antioxidant effects that reverse cell-damage delaying aging.
26. Cilantro (Coriander Leaves)
Cilantro, sometimes known as coriander or “Chinese parsley” benefits your health by detoxifying your body which reduces free-radical and toxin-related skin damage thus delaying the aging process. Chopped coriander leaves are also a delicious addition to salads, as well as a number of cooked dishes.
27. Manuka Honey
Manuka honey regenerates skin, repairs cellular damage, reduces scarring, rejuvenates skin and retains moisture without making skin oily resulting in a wrinkle-free skin.
28. Ghee
Ghee provides healthful fats to keep your skin soft as it contains health-boosting Omega-3 and Omega-9 fatty acids.
29. Red Wine
The health benefits of wine are unmatchable, wine contains a high level of antioxidants, particularly resveratrol, keeps your skin look younger.
30. Enhanced Water
Fluids with a little salt and sugar in them hydrates better than water alone. Your skin cells need hydration to get that glowing youthful look.
31. Parsley
Parsley, used in foods are rich in Vitamin C and flavinoids, especially luteolin, which prevents oxidative cell damage, keeping your skin glowing and healthy.
32. Figs
Packed with flavinoids and polyphenols, figs have strong antioxidant properties that help prevent oxidative stress- a major factor for skin aging.
33. Spinach
Spinach is rich in both Vitamin C and Vitamin A to help fight the damaging impact of UV light and protect the skin. Know more health benefits of Spinach Food.
34. Garlic
A study shows that garlic has antioxidant, antibacterial, and detoxification properties that have youth-preserving and anti-aging effects on your skin.
35. Brinjal
Otherwise known as eggplant, this purple vegetable is loaded with anthocyanins which are a type of flavinoids that eliminate harmful free radicals from your body, keeping your skin youthful.
Though no-one can be young forever, following a healthy diet and healthy living can surely retain your youth for long.
About the Author:
Jessica is a registered dietitian and wellness guru, who loves to read, research and write. A fitness freak who believes in healthy living and doesn’t like to miss her yoga. When not reading she can be found relishing her favorite foods.
