Natural ways to look and feel younger

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With the new year in full swing, you may be looking to create a “new you.” However, you may actually be seeking the “old you,” the you that was ten years ago, as far as appearance goes at least. While there are many ways to augment your appearance from the outside—from Botox to other plastic surgery procedures--, there are also many ways to achieve beauty from the inside out. Experts in the fields of nutrition, diet, health, and fitness provide the following seven beauty tips to help shed years from your appearance naturally.

1. WATER! Drink more water. When the skin is dehydrated, it can appear more wrinkled, dull, tired, and older. Drinking one to two liters of water daily can re-hydrate the skin—making it appear more fresh and youthful—in a matter of weeks. Drinking lots of water also flushes out the toxins in your body, boosting your health and your appearance.

2. Eat your vegetables Some people run at the mention of veggies, believing they are tasteless side dishes your mother used to make you eat. In fact, veggies can be delicious, especially when they are prepared well. Some experts recommend preparing veggies Japanese-style: buy a variety of veggies, chop them, and stir-fry in a light amount of grapeseed oil over medium heat. Frozen veggies are okay too: freezing fresh veggies locks in many nutrients, which remain upon proper preparation. Veggies and fruits provide us the gift of phytochemicals, which can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, protect the eyes and memory, control weight, and make you look healthier. Meet a five-a-day goal for veggie intake and you are sure to notice a difference.

3. Be aware of silicon intake No, this is not the material breast implants are made of. Silicon is a trace mineral found in a variety of foods such as tea, whole grain cereal, and some fruits and veggies. New research indicates that the presence of this mineral at optimal amounts is essential for making the skin’s collagen and elastin. These two skin constituents make the skin smooth, bouncy, and stretchy. When they are diminished, wrinkles invade.

4. Focus on abs. If you are interested in eliminating you middle-age spread, some fitness experts recommend working out your abdominal muscles for ten minutes four times a week. This can be done at the top of your workout and should focus on your abdominals (mid-tummy), transverse abdominals (the deeper layer of muscles), and your obliques (love handles).

5. Improve posture. If you do not have correct posture, your muscles are not working they way they are intended. This can result in a “middle-age spread.” Poor posture can also make you look older.

6. Go raw Some health experts believe firmly in the following five-day regiment for increased beauty. Stop eating convenience foods, coffee, wheat, anything made from flour, and dairy products (except for yogurt). Replace these foods with raw foods (at least 75 percent of your food intake should be raw foods) such as nuts, lots of fresh fruit and veggies, and high-grade raw fish (think sashimi sushi). This gives your body a break from the difficult-to-process foods typical of Western diet. The effects on your skin and health are immediate, according to health and beauty guru Leslie Kenton.

7. Get your omegas Omega-3 essential fatty acids can make your skin look fabulous, offset free radical damage and repair the membranes of your cells. Oily fish is a good source of fatty acids, as well as certain supplements. It may be wise to speak with a health care professional about the types of fish and frequency of intake they recommend, as too much fish or the wrong fish can expose you to too much mercury.


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