If you are looking for a youthful skin, it's time you stop visiting those beauty stores and start analyzing your diet. Topical creams may work to fight against wrinkles, loose skin and other aging signs, but experts say that what you put inside your body is nearly as important as what you put on your skin.
Dermatologists
advise people to get any phytonutrients, antioxidants
and vitamins from the foods they eat. Many people take supplements,
but we are not sure if the effect of vitamins in the supplement form
will be the same as when taken in natural form.
If
you include fruits, vegetables and antioxidants in your diet, you
could prevent some signs of aging. And, age does not matter. Even if
you are more than 50, you can still make a difference. Modify your
diet and consume good food. Nobody wants to age. You may find
yourself envying those celebrities featuring on magazines, who never
seem to age. But, if you closely look at it, you find that a lot of
effort and money goes into giving these celebrities the image that
they portray.
An
important part of your health care regime is to take care of your
skin. The first and foremost thing that you will be told to keep your
skin healthy is to limit your exposure to sun's UV rays. But, sun is
not that bad. About 15 minutes of exposure to sun helps in
manufacturing vitamin D in the skin.
Vitamin
D is a great nutrient for your skin along with other vitamins like C,
K and E. Make sure that you get enough vitamins as it helps keep your
skin youthful and healthy. Continuous intake of vitamins on a regular
basis leads to reduced wrinkles, dark spots, roughness and dryness.
Essential
vitamins are present as supplements and they are even found in many
skin care products. They help achieve optimum health of the skin. A
good skin care with healthy lifestyle is the best method to slow down
the process of aging.
When
someone asks about the best available antiaging products, the very
first thing that comes to the mind is vitamin C and vitamin A
(Retinol). These ingredients can be used one with the other. They
stimulate the production of collagen, repair old cells, improve the
texture of the skin, and provide youthfulness and glow.
Excessive
exposure to UV rays and a diet not rich in vitamin C will increase
the speed at which the loss of collagen occurs. UV rays break the
collagen
in the skin, leading to the formation of wrinkles. When we are in our
20s, we start losing collagen at the rate of about 1% in a year. So,
this simply implies that by the time we reach our 50s, we would
already have lost at least half of the collagen.
Our
body requires vitamin C for producing collagen. And undoubtedly, a
diet rich in vitamin C & A will keep the skin as young as ever.
There are different types of vitamins, which offer benefits like
protection and repair from damage caused due to free radicals.
Following are some powerful vitamins that help prevent the signs of
aging:
Vitamin
E:
It is a compound soluble in fat and repairs dry skin. Further, it
hydrates the skin by helping it to retain moisture. It is an active
component of sunscreens
as it provides protection against the sun's harmful UV-B radiation.
It
also shields against the harmful effects of free radicals. Vitamin E
prevents blood clot; thereby, reducing the chances of heart attack or
stroke. Vitamin E can also protect against cancer as free radicals
may lead to the development of cancer.
Also,
it is known to offer protection against cognitive decline because of
its antioxidant effects on neurons in the brain. Vitamin E is
available in nuts, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils and seeds.
It is also present in supplements, and creams, meant for topical
application.
Vitamin
C:
You may be really careful, but you still find your skin prone to get
damaged by the sun. Free radicals are to be blamed for the damage
caused. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and helps protect against
such damages. Vitamin C also helps regenerate other antioxidants like
vitamin E.
When
applied on the skin, vitamin C protects against the harmful UV
radiations. Vitamin C enhances the production of collagen; thus,
giving the skin a young and healthy appearance.
It
also helps heal wounds faster and reduces the chances of cancer and
cardiovascular diseases. It is believed that vitamin C reduces
chances of age-related
macular degeneration
and cataracts.
Fruits like guava and oranges, and vegetables, such as kale and
broccoli are good sources of vitamin C.
Vitamin
K: As we get older, dark
circles start appearing under the eyes. These could be caused by
innumerable factors. It is believed that vitamin K breaks up the
clots that create the circles. However, it may not completely cure
the under-eye circles, but you must not forget to add this vitamin in
your skin treatment regime.
Our
body produces small amounts of vitamin K on its own, but at times, we
need more than what is produced inside us. Supplements of vitamin K
can be consumed in such a case. It can even be applied topically.
Spinach, broccoli, lettuce, kale are great sources of vitamin K,
which also helps maintain the strength of the bones.
Niacin
(B3):
As B3,
it forms a part of the larger vitamin B Complex. Vitamin B3
has many antiaging effects. It increases the skin's ability to retain
moisture. Skin generally loses its moisture over time or as one age.
Dry skin can be itchy and sensitive. Not only this, it can also lead
to cracks between the scales.
Niacin
restores moisture and also acts as an exfoliant by removing old and
dead skin cells and forming the new ones. Deficiency of niacin can
cause dry skin. Besides, niacin raises the level of good cholesterol
while lowering triglycerides (body fat). This reduces the chances of
occurrence of atherosclerosis.
It also plays a vital role in converting food into energy.
Vitamin
A:
It is also an antioxidant that neutralizes the harmful effects of
oxidation caused by free radicals. It works as an exfoliator and
thus, its application reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
Like
vitamin K, this vitamin also helps reduce under-eye circles. It is
essential for bone health as well. However, it should be taken only
in regulated amounts as excessive amounts may be harmful for bone
health.