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Blood oranges, cherries and blueberries Collagen is a natural protein in your skin and muscles that provides resiliency, shape and texture. Unfortunately, collagen production decreases with age but you can fight back with dark fruits. Blood oranges, cherries and blueberries are full of antioxidants, which decrease aging and disease by lowering inflammation. Antioxidants also increase collagen production and thicken your skin, making you look younger and healthier. Antioxidants also decrease the severity of rosacea. Blackberries, raspberries, plums, pomegranates, cranberries, Asian dragon fruit and kiwis also contain antioxidants. Shellfish, sunflower seeds and sardines These foods offer a powerhouse of essential fatty acids. Fatty acids nourish the skin, help maintain skin integrity and keep skin cells performing optimally. Essential fatty acids, a component of all cell membranes in your body, regulate the flow of nutrients, waste materials, and water in and out of your cells which keeps you looking young. Flax seeds, tuna, walnuts, canola oil, soybean oil and pumpkin seeds are more good sources of essential fatty acids. Dandelion, turnip and mustard greens These foods that keep your livers cleansed of toxins, heavy metals and fats make your whole body function more efficiently. This makes you happier, which affects how you look. A healthy liver brightens your eyes and tightens your skin. Dense green foods such as broccoli, spinach as well as turnip, mustard and dandelion greens have been shown to lessen your sweet tooth. Simple and refined sugars, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and refined, manufactured foods age you. Excess sugar has been linked to a process called glycation, in which sugar molecules bond to protein molecules, which has been linked to sagging, wrinkled skin. Oregano, thyme and parsley If you have puffy bags under your eyes in the morning, you are almost certainly consuming much more salt than you need. Another problem is alcohol. It dehydrates you and can make your skin sag. The worst combination is alcohol and salt, which causes puffy dark circles under your eyes. Reducing your sodium intake will help to eliminate bloating. Instead of salt, season your meals with herbs and spices such as oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley and garlic. Crunchy vegetables Fresh raw veggies are as good for your smile as they are for your skin! Celery, carrots, string beans and cauliflower contain cellulose, which helps scrub stains from your teeth giving you a whiter, brighter smile. Both the cellulose and the fiber in these foods act as abrasives that clean and remove bacteria from your teeth. Crunchy veggies are especially effective for recent discolorations. If you've just consumed blueberries, coffee, mustard, red wine or cranberry juice, follow it up with fresh cucumber slices or an apple. Sea vegetables Polluted cells can't function at their optimum level. When your cells are functioning optimally, not only do you have more energy you look and feel great. Sea vegetables are one of the richest sources of minerals and phytochemicals. These veggies help detoxify, rebuild and nourish all the cells in your body. Unhealthy foods, stress and environmental pollutants cause your cells to age prematurely, potentially leading to thinning hair and premature wrinkles. Sea vegetables reverse this process. For example, spirulina is a 'detox powerhouse.' Hijiki, kelp, arame, wakame, and dulse also work wonders. Meat, cheese and lentils It may take 10 pounds of milk to make a pound of cheese, but fortunately you don't need to eat that much dairy or protein to repair your cells. As you age, your hair and skin cells become damaged, making you appear older. The protein in meat, chicken, low-fat cheese, cottage cheese, and certain vegetables promotes cell growth and repair, which translates to younger-looking skin, fewer wrinkles, less hair loss and a glossy mane. To take a break from meat or dairy, try soybeans and lentils which contain more protein than any other legume. Egg yolks, organ meats and whole-milk products Vitamin A is especially important for skin repair, and decreased levels can lead to dry, flaky skin. A lack of vitamin A may cause your skin to heal poorly and wrinkle easily. The main sources of this vitamin are foods from animals, such as liver, eggs and whole-milk dairy products. Some plants carrots and broccoli, for example supply beta-carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A as needed. Apricots, nectarines, plums and cantaloupe are more great sources of beta-carotene. Almond or hemp "milk" Almond milk is a nutritious dairy alternative because of its high levels of magnesium, potassium, manganese, copper, vitamin E, selenium and calcium. Hemp milk is a delicious, nutty-tasting non-dairy beverage that provides essential balanced nutrition. It's a fantastic alternative to soymilk or dairy, and has a natural well-balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids to keep your mind sharp, your immune system strong and your skin glowing. Both almond and hemp milks are plant-based, and don't contain lactose. They offer high-quality protein that can give hair a radiant, healthy shine and helps keep skin soft. Wild salmon with avocado and mango dressing This is more than a delicious meal it's an anti-aging feast! Wild Alaskan salmon has precious omega-3 essential fatty acids, which enhance blood flow. The pink/orange color of wild salmon is an anti-aging carotenoid called astaxanthin that protects cell membranes. Salmon also contains dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), which improves facial muscle tone and reduces wrinkles. Add avocado for its antioxidant properties and mango for vitamin E and anti-inflammatory carotenoids and you'll be sitting pretty after dinner! Part of looking good for some is to have a flat belly and to achieve this here are some tips. Cut out refined grains and sugar. This may be the simplest way to eliminate empty-calorie junk foods from your diet. The list of products to pass up includes white bread (and other baked goods), soda, candy, and potato chips. These foods are loaded with fast-absorbing carbs that raise your blood sugar quickly. A sugar spike is typically followed by a crash, which can leave you feeling sluggish and hungry. So try to avoid products that contain sugar in any form, sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, or cane syrup and refined flour. If it doesn't start with the word "whole," as in whole wheat, cut it out. Eat more protein, healthy fats, and fiber-rich produce and whole grains. This is the balanced diet you're looking for. Protein fills you up while you're eating and provides the raw material to help you maintain and build muscle. Fat tastes good and keeps you satisfied for hours after a meal. And fiber, which is also filling, slows down the absorption of carbohydrates into your bloodstream, so you'll have energy all day long. And eat more vegetables and fruits which are low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with healthful antioxidants. Eat breakfast every day. In the morning, you have an entire day's worth of activity to fuel. After dinner, you lie motionless for hours. Dieters who regularly eat a protein-rich, 610-calorie breakfast lose significantly more weight in eight months than those who eat only 290 calories and a quarter of the protein. Big breakfast eaters, have an easier time sticking with their diet and achieving their weight loss goals. Workout with weights at least three days a week. Pumping iron burns calories and can also can boost your metabolism for almost two days afterward. Also add in cardio workouts using interval training, short bursts of intensity mixed with periods of slower activity. This burns fat and improves your fitness level more quickly than long, moderate bouts of exercise. You also get the after burn effect similar to strength training, keeping your body burning calories hours after you have stopped. You need to be self motivated. Without it, none of the previous techniques will have any effect.
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