A Facelift in the Fridge

By Cynthia Ross Cravit

Health experts say certain foods can slow down the aging process. Food rich in antioxidants not only help to combat chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, but they are also good for your skin.

The Right Diet

In fact, dermatologist and best selling author Dr. Nicholas Perricone says you can actually find a facelift “in the fridge.” “The right diet certainly decreases your risk of all age-related disease such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, but it can also make a great difference in the skin very rapidly,” he told CNN.
Foods that contain a high amount of antioxidants ease an ongoing bodily process called intracellular inflammation. “Because of the inflammation, the cell doesn’t function correctly. It doesn’t produce enough energy, you can’t expel waste, and you can’t get in nutrients properly,” said Perricone.

The long-term effects of cellular inflammation can be seen in the brain with premature senility and in the arteries with arteriosclerosis. And in the skin, it’s sagging and wrinkling, according to Perricone.

Skin-Friendly Foods

Skin-friendly foods include all types of berries, brightly coloured fruits and vegetables and cold-water fish such as wild salmon. Good fats such as olive oil and avocado should also be included in your diet.

Offenders

The offenders?
“Stay away from starches and sugars, because they are pro-inflammatory,” said Perricone. “And substitute green tea for coffee.” While good nutrition can help to slow down the biological clock, reducing stress is also important. “We recommend moderate exercise, meditation, tai chi, qigong, prayer, anything you can do decrease that type of daily anxiety we face,” said Perricone. For more skin benefits, quit smoking, drink lots of water, and don’t forget the sunscreen, he added.


Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/A-Facelift-in-the-Fridge.aspx?p=4#ixzz1hERqIusU