Avoid Excessive Sun
“It is not just in recent years we have sought anti aging solutions!” writes Tania our guest writer
“All the beauty of the world, ’tis but skin deep”, said Ralph Venning. Whether you agree with him or not, you can’t deny that your skin is a giveaway of your age and health. Soft, supple, and firm skin can shave years off your age, while sagging, loose skin can have the opposite effect.
Skin starts to age naturally right after you hit puberty. Elastin, a protein that maintains the elasticity and firmness of skin, stops being produced by the body right around puberty, and from there on, it’s a downward spiral for your skin’s youth and health.
Additionally, along with the reduction in the production of collagen, the skin also has to endure a torrent of abuse and damage from overexposure to the sun, to a diet dripping in fat and spices. No wonder the skin is the first organ of the body to show the effects of aging.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to stem this inevitable aging;
6 Steps to Healthier Skin
Eat healthily
If your plate is loaded with bacon bits, burgers and fries, sooner or later, it will start showing in your skin. Foods that are rich in fats and spices are a sure way to make your skin age noticeably faster (and riddle it with zits and pimples).
Try switching to a diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits and lean proteins. The antioxidants and vitamins in such a diet do wonders for your skin. Grill your chicken instead of deep-frying it, and pick stews and soups instead of pizzas and pastas. Load up your plate with carrots and celery (served with a side portion of delicious hummus). Your skin will thank you, and your waistline too will sing the praises of such a diet.
Limit Exposure to the Sun
Spending too much time under the sun is a major cause of premature ageing, wrinkles, dry and leathery skin. And let’s not forget that overexposure to the sun can also cause skin cancer.
Ideally, you shouldn’t spend more than 20 minutes a day under direct sunlight. If that is not possible, make sure that you apply a protective sunscreen with at least 30 SPF generously every time you step out. If possible, try to avoid staying in the sun between 12pm to 4pm, when the sun’s rays are the strongest.
Cut Down on Bad Habits
Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, binge eating – all these can play havoc with your health and your skin. Try to minimize these as much as you can – your body will thank you for it.
Hydrate
There’s little need to reiterate what every doctor has probably drilled into your head by now: drink plenty of water in a day. 8 glasses is the prescribed lower limit, though ideally, you should drink more than 12 glasses. Keeping hydrated throughout the day will not only flush out toxins from the body, but will also keep you relatively full to curb those hunger pangs.
Moisturise
It goes without saying that you should use a high quality moisturiser liberally all over your body on a daily basis. Use a thick, oil based moisturiser for your body, and a water based one (if you have oily skin) on your face. Also massage your skin with coconut oil once or twice a fortnight to rejuvenate your skin from within.
Relax
Stress can have a dramatic effect on your health, including the health of your skin. Stress has been known to be a leading cause of zits, pimples and other skin related problems (not to mention its detrimental effects on cardiovascular health). Managing stress is a science in itself, but a few things that work well are meditation, regular exercise and a solid 8 hours of sleep every day. And when the stress becomes too much, it helps to bail out on a weeklong vacation with your loved ones.
Inevitably there will be a need at some time for ongoing repairs and there are some excellent anti aging supplements available which will tackle all of the problems associated with living life to the full!
See the top recommended anti aging supplement product reviews.
Best of luck with your quest to maintain your youthful looks – Tania
