Maintaining a youthful appearance can be costly. Between trips to the dermatologist's office and money spent on anti-aging serums, cleansers, and lotions, it is easy to shell out hundreds of dollars to make yourself look younger.
Fortunately, you can slow down your skin's aging by including certain nutritious foods in your diet. Here are five foods that can fight against skin aging and give you that youthful glow you've been seeking.
Oranges
According to a report published by the United States Department of Agriculture, a single orange provides all of the vitamin C your body needs for an entire day. This makes oranges perfect for someone who is trying to appear younger. In 2007, researchers for The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that vitamin C was linked to less skin wrinkling and dryness among middle-aged woman.
Almonds
Nutrient-rich almonds are not only a healthy, satisfying snack; they can also improve the health of your skin. As reported by the National Institutes of Health, a one-ounce serving of almonds contains 34 percent of your daily vitamin E, which has been found to shield the skin. In 2002, researchers for Free Radical Biology and Medicine found that vitamin E protected human skin cells from ultraviolet damage.
Olive Oil
You have probably heard that olive oil is good for your heart; it might also keep your skin looking fresh. A 2001 study in the Journalof the American College of Nutrition found that the intake of olive oil was associated with less skin wrinkling. This may be a result of the healthy fats found in olive oil. In 2012, researchers for PLoS ONE found that men and women were less likely to experience severe skin aging when they consumed monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil.
Avocados
Avocados also contain fats that can protect your skin from the signs of aging. In a 2011 study in the Archives of Dermatological Research, scientists found that fatty alcohols taken from avocados protected human skin from ultraviolet radiation damage. As the study authors explained, ultraviolet radiation ages the skin by leading to inflammation and other damaging cellular processes.
Apples
An apple a day could keep you out of the dermatologist's office. In 2012, scientists for Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity found that exposure to apples lengthened the lifespan of cells. These scientists explained that apples contain both vitamin C and polyphenols, which can thwart the activity of damaging free radicals and prevent cellular aging. This means that apples can also protect skin cells from aging. Researchers for a 2015 edition of the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology tested the effectiveness of a facial serum containing stem cells from apples and found that it reduced wrinkles in 71 percent of subjects, in addition to increasing skin density and elasticity.
With apples, avocados, and other healthy foods being linked to benefits such as fewer wrinkles and less skin damage, it seems that youthful-looking skin starts in the grocery store instead of in the health and beauty department. Stock up on these skin-preserving nutritional powerhouses, and you will protect both your health and your physical appearance.
A holistic approach to health care is what Dr. Maninder Badyal and the Surrey Absolute Health Clinic team is all about.