Although there isn’t any magic trick or pill that makes you appear older, there are several healthy practices that can aid in maintaining a youthful appearance when practiced consistently. Simple daily routines can provide you with a more youthful appearance as well as you’ll look younger. Dr. Steve Hruby, a Doctor of Chiropractic and founder at Kaizen Progressive Health, reminds us, “Aging is a normal and wonderful part of life. We grow smarter, more experienced, and more distinct as individuals as we age, and we believe this is something to be proud of.” Eat This, Not That! Health interviewed experts to discuss their secrets to maintaining a youthful appearance. It’s true that Aging gracefully is beautiful, and regardless of which stage of life you’re at, feeling happy and well-being is essential. Learn more about it and to ensure your health and that of your loved ones, be sure to take note of these signs that indicate you’ve been diagnosed with COVID.
1 Switching From Coffee To Green Tea
Dr. Hruby shares, “We all love a good cup of coffee in the morning, but drinking too much to burn the candle at both ends might be bad for our skin! The more coffee we consume, the more dehydrated our bodies become (and we’ve already discussed the significance of water for a youthful glow!) Furthermore, it has a significant impact on our sleep quality, another important aspect of maintaining a youthful appearance! On the other hand, Green tea is high in antioxidants and enzymes that help eliminate wrinkles by preserving the skin against the breakdown of collagen and elastin and minimizing UV damage! Green tea is also an excellent substitute because it allows you to retain more moisture than coffee while also providing a small energy boost when you need it!”
2 Reduce Your Salt And Sugar Intake
Dr. Hruby says, “I believe most of us can agree that we consume far too much salt and sugar in our daily lives. Doctors have a variety of reasons we should limit our sugar intake, but one of the most important is that sugar triggers a process called glycation, which can make us look younger. Glycation causes us to lose skin suppleness and decreases the efficiency of collagen and other proteins that help keep our skin looking young. Too much salt can also be harmful because it dehydrates our cells naturally when we ingest more and more. When our skin cells become dehydrated, our skin becomes more wrinkled and dull, causing us to age. We advocate lowering your salt and sugar intake and observing the consequences for yourself!”
3 Your Diet Matters
Dana Ellis Hunnes Ph.D., MPH, RD is a senior dietitian at UCLA medical center and assistant professor at the UCLA Fielding department of health public. She is also an author with Cambridge University Press of RECIPE for Survival’s newest book. The book explains, “Primarily plant-forward diets, Mediterranean style diets, high in healthy plant fats – monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can help keep us looking younger because of the antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, healthy anti-inflammatory fats, and high water content.”
Dr. Hruby adds, “You don’t need us to remind you that eating a nutritious diet is critical to feeling your best! By that logic, if it has you feeling your best, it must also be able to help you look your best! Vegetables are incredibly nutrient-dense for their low-calorie content. Many of them include antioxidants that can help prevent heart disease and cataracts (which your chance of developing naturally increases with age). Pumpkins, carrots, and sweet potatoes are strong in beta carotene, a pigment that protects us from free radicals and UV radiation from the sun, two factors that age our skin. Finally, in terms of hydration, did you know that you may meet a considerable portion of your daily water requirement simply by eating fruits and vegetables? We already know how crucial hydration is for cell health, so getting more of it by eating high-water-content food is always a good idea. Watermelon, cucumber, and lettuce are all excellent water sources, so aim to include as many as possible in your diet and follow the rainbow diet whenever possible!”
4 Red Wine
Hunnes discloses, “Red wine in moderation, meaning up to one serving per day for women and up to two servings per day for men have been associated with long lived people, and may help keep skin looking better. But smaller doses are much better! It could be the anthocyanins, the resveratrol, or other antioxidants.”
5 Quit Smoking
Doctor. Karan Lal of Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, NJ, says, “Stop smoking! Smoking increases your risk of lung cancer and contributes to Aging. Smoking degrades collagen and elastin, proteins which are essential for maintaining youthful skin.”
6 Use a Topical Retinoid
Based on Dr. Lal, “Topical retinoids have many benefits including increasing cell turnover, stimulating collagen, reducing hyperpigmentation, and more! If you are naive to this, start using your topical retinoid 2-3x a week because you may experience dryness. Once your skin has become tolerant of the retinoid, work on using it every night. It will make your skin brighter and hopefully reduce your risk of developing fine lines.”
7 Wear a Serum With Vitamin C
Dr. Lilliana Ramirez Garcia MD with Nava MD(TM) discusses, “Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant. It helps combat free radicals and solar damage. Also, vitamin C stimulates the production of collagen, the protein that gives your skin structure and elasticity. For that reason, using a Vitamin C serum can help prevent the formulation of fine lines, wrinkles, and loose, sagging skin.”
8 Massage Your Face
Dr. Garcia says, “Giving yourself daily facial massages can do wonders for the tone and texture of your skin. They relieve tension in your face, making it less susceptible to wrinkling. Facial massages can promote circulation to give skin a firmer, more vibrant appearance. There are numerous facial massage techniques to choose from. Do a quick online search for inspiration, and have fun crafting your routine. Here’s a facial massage technique that’s good for firming and toning your jawline. Bend your index and middle fingers. Then, glide your fingers along your jawline, from your chin up to the bottom of your ears. Repeat this move five times, using a fluid, sweeping motion.”
9 Drink Tons of Water
As per Dr. Garcia, “Dehydration can affect your skin’s elasticity – the ability to stretch and return to its original shape. Drinking water is essential to maintain your skin’s natural elasticity and keep unwanted wrinkles at bay. While every person’s ideal water intake is different, research shows most women should be drinking at least 3 liters of water every day.”
10 Wear Sunscreen
“As you probably already know, UV rays from the sun are the main causes of wrinkles and other signs of aging,” warns us. “Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher (even when it isn’t super sunny out) and reapply throughout the day. While I recommend using a cream or liquid formula for everyday use, powder sunscreens can be great for touch-ups throughout the day.”
Dr. Lal adds, “This sounds simple, but very few people wear sunscreen daily. The sun emits UV radiation, whether sunny, raining, or snowing. Sunscreen is a shield for your skin. It is a simple thing you can do to reduce your risk of skin cancer and fight Aging. You want to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every day to your face, ears, and neck.”
11 Reduce Stress by Meditation
It’s well-known that stress is a significant cause of health problems such as obesity, heart disease, depression, diabetes, and many more. It can also age you faster and cause wrinkles, in the words of the National Library of Medicine. Kent Probst, a personal trainer, kinesiotherapy, and bodybuilder from Long Healthy Life, explains, “Meditation is widely practiced throughout the globe for stress reduction and relaxation. However, it also has many additional benefits too. There is evidence to show the numerous advantages for people who meditate regularly. Meditation could help in the following issues:
- Reduction of pain
- Hypertension
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Smoking Cessation
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia”
12 Use A Moisturizer Daily
Probst claims, “Since your skin tends to dry out with age, hydration is imperative. A moisturizer that encourages collagen regeneration will have your skin singing your praises. Retinyl palmitate will promote a renewal of skin cells. Your moisturizer should have ingredients that block free radicals and enhance DNA health. Apply a moisturizer early in the day and at bedtime. Ingredients in your moisturizer are retinoids, vitamin C, hydroxy acids, CoQ10, peptides, tea extracts, grape seed extract, and niacinamide. These ingredients have demonstrated some clinical effectiveness in promoting youthful skin.”
