Foods that prevent skin aging

As mentioned in the article “what foods reverse aging?” collagen is the protein in the skin that prevents wrinkles. It also strengthens the skin and makes it look firm.

We need to eat food rich in anti-oxidants to boost the production of collagen. Hence eating a diet rich in anti-oxidants will make you look younger.

On the other side there are foods that you must avoid. These foods cause skin aging. These are foods that damage collagen. 

Eating too much sugar and processed carbohydrates food like pasta and bread can lead to wrinkle formation.

Below is a list of foods to avoid if you want to look younger.  

Doughnuts and sugary pastries

There is a compound called advanced glycation end products or AGEs. It is formed by combination of sugars and proteins. This compound is known to accelerate the signs of aging.

Therefore diets high in sugar can damage elastin and collagen molecules in the skin. This will lead to wrinkles and damaged skin.

Therefore it is necessary to avoid doughnuts and sugary pastries to prevent aging skin. Doughnuts and sugar pastries are therefore one of the foods that cause aging and you need to stop eating them to look younger. 

French fries

Free radicals are the number one cause of skin aging. They are responsible for the breakdown of our skins collagen. Collagen as mentioned above keeps the skin firm and wrinkles free.

Foods fried in oil at high temperatures c release free radicals which causes aging skin. French fries also have salt in them. S

alt is known for its water retention properties. This will lead to dehydration in your skin. Dry skin is known to cause wrinkles.

Hence avoid eating French fries no matter how tasty they are. 

You can try baked potatoes or even baked sweet potatoes as an alternative. Sweet potatoes have anti-aging properties.

Alcohol

As mentioned above your skin needs to avoid dehydration as this can lead to your skin becoming dry. Dry skin can aid in wrinkle formation.

You must have felt thirsty after binge drinking for a night. This is because drinking alcohol leads to dehydration. Hence abstaining from alcohol can make you look younger.

If at all you feel tempted to drink then try red wine. Red wine has a compound called resveratrol which is known for its anti-aging properties. Also red wine has lots of anti-oxidants which can neutralize free radicals in our body.

But drink only a glass of red wine during dinner time.

White sugar

Sugar as mentioned above reacts with proteins to form advanced glycation end products or AGEs.

These substances damage the collagen and elastin of the skin to cause wrinkles and sagginess. Hence it is important to limit your intake of sugar to prevent premature aging.

You can go for sugar substitutes. You can try honey, date sugar, coconut sugar or maple syrup. These are healthier alternatives to white sugar.

Also white sugar contains lots of calories. This can lead to obesity which can make you look older. Hence reduce your intake of white sugar to prevent aging skin.

Soda and coffee

Sleeping is very important if you want to have youthful skin. Your skin makes collagen when you sleep. We recommend at least 8 hours of sleep a day.

Also if you sleep for less than 6 hours a day you will have puffy eyes. So sleep if you want to prevent wrinkles and puffy eyes. Both soda and coffee are high in caffeine. Caffeine alters our sleeping patterns and keeps us awake at night.

Therefore you have to avoid drinking soda and coffee if you want to look younger. This way you can also avoid the sugar that you add to your coffee.

Processed meat

Processed meats are loaded with starches and fats, which can make you age more quickly.

They also have a high salt content used as a preservative. Salt contains sodium which is known to absorb water. This can lead to dehydration of the skin. Dehydrated skin will give rise to wrinkles.

Hence avoid processed meat if you want to look younger. Also you will be able to maintain good blood pressure levels and avoid certain types of cancer.

If you want a substitute for processed meat then try chicken liver. Processed meat is one of the foods that cause skin aging.

Foods to eat

There are many good alternatives that you must try if you want to look younger. First of all drink at least 8 glasses of water. This will keep your skin hydrated and wrinkle free.

Eat fruits which are rich in antioxidants and water content. Examples are avocadoes, blueberries, watermelon, red grapes and oranges.

You can also go for vegetables like spinach, kale and broccoli. These vegetables will boost collagen production in your skin.

You can also try drinks like coconut water and green tea to fight free radicals in your body.

Nuts and oatmeal can also fight signs of aging. 

So replace all the above foods with the ones mentioned here to prevent skin aging. Read about foods that reverse aging here.

In conclusion

By changing your diet you can look at least 10 years younger in the matter of few weeks. Eating healthy is the key to having wrinkle free skin.

But you must also not forget to stay happy. Living a stress free life is also important. Love yourself and stay positive.