For those of us who just don’t want to look older, avoiding sun damage is the number one way to stay wrinkle-free. That means wearing your sunscreen every time you’re outdoors. The body actually makes its own vitamin D from sun exposure, but wearing sunscreen cuts vitamin D production almost entirely. So, what’s a wrinkle-phobe like me supposed to do? Take a vitamin D supplement. I take at least 2,000 IU per day.
I’m going into this aging thing kicking and screaming. Here are 6 simple, sometimes surprising, things that you can do to make sure that you age gracefully:
1. Don’t smoke. In addition to ruining your heart and lungs and increasing your risk for almost every disease, smoking also causes nasty wrinkles and makes you look far older than your years.
2. Wear your sunscreen.
3. Eat plenty of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. The antioxidants in fruits and vegetables fight inflammation and its aging effects. Having all of those antioxidants on board is like an internal sunscreen. It basically decreases inflammation and can help fight the inflammation caused by eating the wrong things. I eat LOTS of fruits and vegetables.
4. Avoid sugar and white flour. I avoid them like the plague! They cause inflammation that comes out in the skin in the form of wrinkles. I have a lot of really skinny friends, but I can tell in a nanosecond just by looking at their skin if they’re eating the right things. If not, they look 10 years older than they actually are. If I’m going to eat something sweet, I go with dark chocolate covered almonds—I’ll have three (you can get them at Costco). Never milk chocolate, always dark chocolate. If you’re going to do the wrong thing, remember: think of your skin, and use my 3-bite rule.
5. Water. You must drink it. Your skin LOVES to be hydrated from the inside out. You can use all of the expensive moisturizers and creams you want, but skin loves to be hydrated with water. At least 6-8 glasses a day–I don’t care how you twist it. You just have to do it!
6. Eat prunes, or dried plums (Ha ha! We all know it’s a prune, but they’re trying to improve the image and have started calling them dried plums—but, we all know a prune is a prune and it’s good for you). Really! Not only will prunes keep your digestive system running well, but they may also help keep your skin soft and supple.
In Good Health,
Joan O'Keefe, RD
Photo credit: Pixabay Creative Commons