Simple steps to prevent premature ageing

Thanks to daily stressful lives, sun-damage, lack of proper nutrition and indulging excessively in processed and fast food, our skin, the largest organ in our body, is slowly giving up.

Women in their late 20s and early 30s are already beginning to show signs of ageing. Here are some simple steps you can take to prevent it…

– Eat the correct foods Cells in your body and skin regenerate daily — however, without healthy food that is not possible. Eat fresh and non-processed food to encourage your skin to renew itself. Similarly, you skin also needs water to replenish itself. Drinking at least three to four litres of water daily will keep your skin hydrated, supple, clear and youthful because toxins are flushed out and cells are internally hydrated.

– Follow a moisturising regime Instead of carelessly applying products on your face, work them into your skin with light upwards strokes. This TLC and massage of your skin keeps it rejuvenated. Avoid tugging or stretching your skin to prevent premature lines.

– Have herbal tea Green teas and herbal teas have a significant level of antioxidants that can hold back ageing. Switch coffee with tea because diuretics (caffeinated drinks) could cause internal dehydration and make your skin dry and mature.

– Exercise Daily Any kind of exercise will help your skin stay youthful. Aerobic activities increase circulation in your body and help deliver all nutrients to the right places.

– Stay stress free Stress produces free radicals that can damage cells and so there is a risk of premature ageing. Meditation, yoga, gardening, walking, playing with your pets, etc can help you stay stress and wrinkle free.

Foods that keep your skin young and healthy

Vitamin C Powerful antioxidants like these are essential to produce collagen that is responsible for our skin’s youthful elasticity — it encourages skin strength and produces elastin in cell walls.
Include in your diet: Amla, oranges, lemons, kiwi, capsicum, yellow and red bell pepper.

Beta Carotene This antioxidant prevents your skin from ageing quickly by promoting regeneration of cells. Include in your diet: Apricots, carrots and squash. This important skin vitamin is also a fat soluble and potent antioxidant that slows down the ageing of cells and takes care of tissues.
Include in your diet: Sunflower seeds, almonds, wheatgerm oil, vegetable oils.

Zinc For cell growth and repair, we need to consume zinc.
Include in your diet: Seafood, whole grains and onions

Essential fats Fatty acids are essential if you want to maintain proper skin and tissue repair and functioning.
Include in your diet: Omega 3 fats are present in flaxseeds, walnuts, salmon and sardines.

Selenium The antioxidant properties of selenium helps stop free radicals from damaging the cell membranes and prevents ageing.