Toni’s Healthy Tip #20: Eat to keep your skin young
Tip #20 | Eat to keep your skin young
By Toni Julian, health advocate
The myth that “beauty is skin deep” is simply not true. True beauty comes from the inside and your skin, the largest organ on your body, is the real reflection of your general inner-health status and aging.
Sun spots, crepe, inelastic skin are signs of extrinsic skin aging, that is the result of external factors and environmental influences, such as UV irradiation, smoking, pollution, sleep deprivation and poor nutrition.
A different process that relates to aging skin is intrinsic and represents chronological aging that effects all your organs.
Prevention seems to be the surefire way to keep looking young. Have you ever compared the skin on your own body? Compare your hand, a part of the body consistently exposed to sun, and a part of your body that rarely, if ever, sees the sun, say your right glute? Unless you’re one of those folks playing frisbee on that little secluded “clothing optional” beach at Santa Cruz, my guess is your derrière looks younger than the back of your hand. Sigh…
So what can we do? Avoiding overexposure to the sun, eating organic, living in a fresh air environment and avoiding stress all add up. In addition, according to the National Institutes of Health “Fruit and vegetables consumption may represent the most healthy and safe method in order to maintain a balanced diet and youthful appearing skin.”
There’s been LOADS of research about the link between nutrition and skin aging. Look at the investments from the beauty industry in search of the fountain of youth they can bottle, put into a cream or a pill. And if you go through the details, there is still much controversy. For example, there are many preparations of topical vitamin C-based products available on the market however they are not necessarily converted by your body into the only active vitamin C, which is L-ascorbic acid.
But one thing is clear, and that is eating the proper nutrition will work from the inside out if you eat the right amount of natural sources of vitamins, carotenoids, tocopherols, falvonoids and plant extracts which are all high in anti-oxidant properties.
Here’s a list of the most powerful anti-oxidant foods to contribute to a glowing complextion:
VITAMIN C (ascorbic acid) Fresh fruits and veggies
VITAMIN A Carrots, milk, eggs, sweet potatoes (try Jewel Yams)
VITAMIN E (tocopherals) Nuts, mangos, broccoli and vegetable oils
CARTODENOIDS (lycopene, lutein) Fresh fruit and veggies, eggs
*cooking tomatoes releases the lycopene!
POLYPHENOLIC ANTIOXIDANTS (reservatrol, flavonoids) Tea, coffee, fruit, olive oil, red wine, cinnamon, chocolate
Try incorporating some of natures fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet, and notice the difference it makes. Next week, I’ll share my anti-oxidant berry smoothie recipe with you.
Please share this with your friends who would like to eat to stay looking young!
From my heart to yours,
Toni Julian is a nationally renowned health advocate, nutrition adviser, fitness expert, and author of BITE ME! Change Your Life One Bite at a Time, as well as a 50-something mom of four! She is the 2017 recipient of the Top Women of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, and is on the board of directors for NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners). Toni is also the creator of TONI’S ultra-convenient, protein meals, a complete and healthy hot protein meal that’s ready in minutes. Get yours at Sigona’s! Visit www.ToniJulian.com
