More great skin do’s/don’ts

Ready for these tips?

TRASH READY MEALS AND JUNK FOOD. Most processed foods such as supermarket bakery products, ready meals and pizzas contain a cocktail of ageing ingredients. These foods are usually high in refined carbohydrates, unhealthy fats and artificial additives.  Steer clear of them and instead, spend a little more time making food yourself and opting for foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Your skin and waistline will thank you for it.

CHOOSE ALTERNATIVES TO SUGAR . Most of us are aware that too much sugar leads to weight gain, but did you know that it can also accelerate skin aging?  When we eat sugar and refined carbohydrates like white bread, noodles and pasta (which break down to simple sugars) they enter our blood stream where they can then attach to the skin's collagen and elastin.  This causes the skins structure to weaken which results in visible signs of ageing by a process called glycation. 

Choosing healthier alternatives like swapping sugar for a natural sweetener like xylitol and stevia and adding more veg to your meals in place of starchy carbohydrates can make a healthy difference to skin. 

TOMATOES TO PROTECT SKIN: Vegetables rich in betacarotene and lycopene, such as tomatoes, can protect the skin from sun damage. Lycopene is a unique nutrient as it is one of the few that becomes more available to the body after cooking. Try making a healthy tomato based sauce by cooking fresh tomatoes with onions, garlic, herbs and olive oil - great as a topping for fish.

MAKE GREEN TEA YOUR CUPPA:  Green tea is a powerful antioxidant drink for the skin and sipping a cup throughout the day is a good way to provide a regular skin boost.  If you prefer an iced tea in the summer, simply allow the tea to cool and then pour the tea in to a jug and add cold water and pop it in the fridge.  Once chilled, pour a glass and add some fresh mint and a squeeze of fresh lemon - a great source of vitamin C which is vital for skin's collagen production. 

Happy Friday everyone and make it a great weekend!

(credit: Alice Johnston sourcing Kim Pearson For Mailonline https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-3695870/The-surprising-foods-wrinkles.html#ixzz4H2QQkxbx )