Being mindful of your diet doesn’t just ensure a healthy physique, it also offers a host of beauty benefits. In fact, foods have a great impact on how young and refreshed you look.
Here are five foods you should eat more of to look younger!
Raw vegetables
Veggies like tomatoes, spinach, and broccoli become more nutritious when cooked (or lightly steamed) but, many fruits and vegetables such as antioxidant-rich cranberries and red bell peppers are best eaten raw. They not only promote healthy skin; they also aid in digestion and blood circulation.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain lycopene which naturally brightens skin. Vitamin C also helps clear up blemishes and acts as a powerful antioxidant which reduces wrinkles and rebuilds skin cells.
photo: Pixabay
Carrots
Raw carrots are packed with beta carotene, which keeps skin supple and youthful. Consuming up to a cup of carrots daily keeps you glowing and it counteracts the effects of aging.
Lemons
Infusing your water with a little lemon juice can be great at detoxifing your liver, skin, and entire body.
Cucumbers
The beauty benefits of cucumbers aren’t confined to reducing eye bags; adding raw cucumbers to your diet hydrates skin and reduces blemishes. A consistent intake of cucumber can boost collagen production which plumps the skin and promotes elasticity.
Next page: Foods to avoid to look younger
While you are increasing your intake of the aforementioned foods, it’s important to also avoid these foods in order to be refreshed and more youthful looking.
Sugar
Sugar in your diet can cause damage to collagen and elastin, which are essential to keeping skin plump and wrinkle free.
A high amount of sugar in your diet also increases the risk of age-related diseases such as cataracts, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and stroke.
Cutting out sugar from your diet rebuilds collagen resulting in healthier, younger looking skin. If you can’t go sweet-free, try these healthy alternatives.
Fried Foods
Some foods turn bad when fried; this is because frying can change food’s chemical composition, altering its nutritious content and releasing toxins. It causes oil retention and inflammation, which can cause damage to your skin.
photo: Pixabay
Meat and Dairy
Constant intake of meat can eventually cause a stiffening of the arteries as well as diseases which cause wrinkles and premature aging.
Thankfully, though, there are a lot of alternatives to meat, dairy, and egg that are just as delicious. Try meat substitutes and dairy-free dessert as well as these egg-free recipes.
Alcohol
Though having a bit of alcohol every now and then is fine, it’s important to know that it can actually lead to wrinkles because it dehydrates skin. With prolonged consumption, it can cause swelling of the blood vessels and it also increases fat in the body.
Caffeine
Caffeine has a dehydrating effect on the body, causing it to produce more cortisol—a hormone which can cause stress on the skin and produces fine lines and wrinkles.
Too much caffeine can also disrupt one’s sleep cycle, leading to tired, puffy eyes. Instead of relying on constant caffeine boosts throughout the day, opt for energy-boosting snacks such as apples and oranges.
READ: 7 Healthy snack recipes for the busy breastfeeding mom
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