5 Anti-Aging Foods and Proteins That Reduce Skin Problems
“What you eat can clear your skin, firm your nails, and give you better looking hair,” says Dr John La Puma, author of Chef MD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine. “It’s amazing what the right foods can do.”
Never underestimate the importance of what you eat – certain foods can even improve your mood! For more info on eating the best foods for skin care, click Feed Your Skin, Starve Your Wrinkles: Eat Your Way to Firmer, More Beautiful Skin with the 100 Best Anti-Aging Foods. And, read on for several types of protein-laden foods that improve your natural beauty and appearance…
5 Anti-Aging Foods – Mostly Proteins – That Reduce Skin Problems
1. Red and white meat, cheese, and beans repairs skin cells. It may take 10 pounds of milk to make a pound of cheese, but luckily you don’t need to eat that much dairy or protein to repair your hair and skin cells! As you age, your hair and skin cells get damaged, which makes you look older. The protein in red meat, chicken, low-fat cheese, cottage cheese, and certain vegetables has the anti-aging effect of repairing hair cells and reducing skin problems. Healthy cells translate to younger-looking skin, fewer wrinkles, less hair loss, and thicker fuller hair. If you want to eat less meat or dairy products, try soybeans and lentils.
2. Almond or hemp milk makes your skin glow! Almond milk is a nutritious dairy alternative because of its high levels of magnesium, potassium, manganese, copper, vitamin E, selenium, and calcium. Licensed Medical Esthetic Tina Seitz says, “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 sources of protein, and don’t contain lactose. They offer high-quality protein that gives hair a radiant, healthy shine and keeps skin soft.
3. Shellfish, sunflower seeds, and sardines nourish the skin. These foods may not taste great together, but individually they offer a powerhouse of essential fatty acids, which has anti-aging effects on skin. Dr. Steven Chang, staff physician for RightHealth.com, says 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 the body, regulate the flow of nutrients, waste materials, and water in and out of cells – which keeps you looking young.” Flax seeds, tuna, walnuts, canola oil, soybean oil, and pumpkin seeds are more good sources of fatty acids that can reduce skin problems.
4. Egg yolks, organ meats, and whole-milk products help repair skin damage. Dr Chang says, “Vitamin A is especially important for skin repair, and decreased levels can lead to dry, flaky skin.” Dr Day adds that a lack of vitamin A causes your skin to heal poorly and wrinkle easily. Vitamin A also helps create smooth skin and healthy cells – which can reduce skin problems. The main sources of this vitamin are foods from animals, such as liver, eggs, and whole-milk dairy products.
5. Oregano, thyme, and parsley can increase your natural beauty? Okay, these herbs aren’t proteins, but they are anti-aging foods that improve your skin’s appearance! “If you have puffy bags under your eyes in the morning, you are almost certainly consuming much more salt than you need,” says Dr Doris Day, author of Forget the Facelift: Turn Back the Clock with a Revolutionary Program for Ageless Skin
If you have any questions or comments on these anti-aging foods, please share below…
This post is an excerpt from an article I wrote for MSN Health. To read the full article, go to 10 Foods That May Improve Your Appearance.
Dear Readers, thank you for your comments and questions -- I read every one! I do my best to respond, but may not be able to reply to everyone. ~ Warmest Wishes, Laurie
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Comment by Focus Factor on 31 January 2010:
I have not tried hemp milk yet. Since I have developed an allergic to cows milk I will look for it the next time I go shopping.
Comment by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen on 2 February 2010:
Yes, hemp milk is good for people who can’t drink cow’s milk! Also, soy or almond milk may be good….