The Foods That Make You Age Faster
By Leslie Howard Stevens – Follow me on Google+
If you’ve been reading any healthy living magazines or news articles over the past few years, you’ve probably seen your fair share of lists touting foods that contain antioxidants and other age-defying nutrients. According to Whole Living, some of these foodstuffs include leafy greens, berries, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil, just to name a few. While it’s not a bad idea to use these foods in your quest to fight off wrinkles, it’s equally important to avoid foods that may actually speed up the aging process.
Keep these off your plate
The Huffington Post recently penned an article outlining some of the foods that could make you look older than you actually are. For example, the article recommends avoiding foods that are dehydrating, as these can suck up moisture from the skin, leaving behind a “dried up” look. Salt is a major culprit in this sense, but too much caffeine should also be avoided – coffee can also make you look “tired and worn out,” the website warns.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, stock up on those berries, but stay away from candy and other overly-sweet, processed snacks. Sugar in candy promotes inflammation, but on top of that, it can increase the appearance of wrinkles. Even those who settle for artificial sweeteners are putting themselves at risk. Products like Splenda and Sweet n’ Low contain aspartame, which is associated with joint pain, and these fake sweets can make you crave the real sugary stuff.
You’ve probably read that the occasional glass of red wine can be good for you, but much more than that will contribute to signs of aging. Booze can be dehydrating, and it does bad things for the skin – think puffiness, redness, swelling, and a loss of collagen.
Is it too late?
Unfortunately, if you’ve been focusing your efforts on eating those anti-aging foods and neglected to keep these wrinkle-promoting snacks off your plate, you may be wondering if it’s too late to do anything about the signs of aging that have already appeared.
Fortunately, modern advancements in the world of aesthetic medicine have made it possible to turn back the clock, even if you are fond of martinis, espresso, and candy. Botox injections are a quick, affordable, and non-invasive way to reduce or prevent wrinkles around the eyes, mouth, and forehead, while soft tissue fillers can be used to fill in deep creases and add volume to your facial features.
View this blog post originally available on The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
