FOODS FOR YOUTH//START LOOKING YOUNGER

FOODS FOR YOUTH
As I wrote my previous article about ways to keep your skin looking youthful, I got to thinking about foods that can also help keep us looking young. I did some research and are there lots of things we can be adding to our diet if we don’t eat them already to help slow the aging process.

WALNUTS TO PREVENT GRAY HAIR
Walnuts are rich in body-boosting biotin that promotes hair growth, nourishing vitamin E, and naturally moisturizing omega oils. They also contain copper, which is a very important mineral that helps with the production of melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives our skin and hair color. A deficiency in copper is a common cause of hair prematurely turning gray. According to research eating a handful of walnuts a day can help delay your hair from turning gray and another bonus is that walnuts are high in the good fat our body needs to function and fuel the brain.

LEAN BEEF FOR SHINY NAILS
Weekly manicures can keep your nails in tip-top shape, but so can a Sunday’s roast dinner. Research has found that a diet rich in protein, iron and zinc are the key to long, strong, beautiful nails. And you’ll get a healthy serving of all three nutrients from a small portion of lean red meat.

TOMATOES TO REVERSE SUN DAMAGE
New research has found that the reason melanoma rates are so low in regions like the Mediterranean where the sun shines almost all year around has to do with the particular diet they eat. Foods high in antioxidants, particularly deeply colored fruits and vegetables, can help fight the oxidizing effect of UV rays. One study found participants who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste daily showed 33 percent more protectionagainst sunburn than the control group. Tomatoes do two great things- the carotenoids and antioxidants help the body fight off oxidation that ages skin cells and they boost pro-collagen which is a molecule that gives skin its taught, youthful structure.

SWEET POTATOES FOR GLOWING SKIN
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables gives a healthier, and more attractive, golden glow than the sun. Researchers found people who ate more portions of red and orange fruits and vegetables per day had a more sun-kissed complexion than those who didn’t consume as much. Few foods are as rich in all the compounds that give your skin a glow as sweet potatoes. Eating just half a sweet potato with the skin provides 200 percent of your daily-recommended intake. Other vegetables that can give your skin a glowing look are beets, carrots, and pumpkin.

LASTLY… WATER! GOOD FOR EVERYTHING IN OUR BODY.
When looking for the real fountain of youth, search no further than plain water. Our bodies are made up of over 70 percent water and it keeps us fresh and hydrated. When our body is dehydrated, not only can that cause fatigue but also it can cause our skin to look dry and wrinkled. Hydrated skin looks smooth, fresh and younger and you will be doing well to all your organs too by drinking water. A good rule of thumb for how much water you should drink is dividing your body weight in half and that is the amount of ounces you should be consuming.