As we grow older, how our bodies look and work starts to concern us. We all want to look and feel younger than our years, but neither is possible without proper nutrition.
We can’t stop the passing of time, of course, but there are definitely ways of delaying and reducing the impact of time’s effects on our looks and health.
Many of us spend more time worrying about our looks than our health for most of our lives. We’re more likely to change our diet or lifestyle out of vanity than out of a desire to be fitter. Which is why anti-aging creams and serums are so popular.
We figure we can fight the effects of aging on the surface rather than worry about all that bothersome health rubbish.
But, the two are actually deeply connected: the things we consider beautiful, like smooth and clear skin, strong hair, and white teeth, are actually markers of health. So we can kill two birds with one stone by focusing on eating for inner health, and the results will be visible externally in no time.
Vitamin A is our first vitamin for anti-aging and it is amazing for fighting free radicals. It has been found to halt and reverse the process of oxidation. This means that cells which have been damaged by oxidation will recover, making us look and feel years younger, when we get enough vitamin A.
But it is also amazing for another reason: color. Vitamin A (and beta carotene which our bodies turn into vitamin A) adds a certain vibrant glow to our skin, eyes, and hair, making us look much younger and healthier. Not only that, but this glow is actually an indication of real changes, because vitamin A helps us to develop healthier, more sun-resistant skin, brighter and more focused eyesight, and stronger hair.
Vitamin B3, otherwise known as niacin, is great for promoting cell regeneration. It helps to provide the energy our cells need to multiply, as well as the energy our body needs to digest, recycle, and get rid of damaged and dead cells. This is important because the dryness or oiliness of our skin, lifelessness or thinness of our hair, or brittleness of our teeth and nails can all be linked back to an excess of dead or damaged cells. By eating enough niacin, we are encouraging our bodies to do a full clean up and make more room for new, healthy cells.
Vitamin C is a great antioxidant, which means it will really help reverse the damage done to our cells by free radicals. This will not only make sure our skin looks younger and our hair grows fuller, but it will also fight against degradation of our internal organs, promoting all round health which will reduce puffiness, redness, and bloating.
Vitamin C is also an important part of metabolizing iron, making sure our body gets the oxygen it needs to keep going. And finally, it is also a sort of networking antioxidant, persuading the other antioxidants you eat to work harder.
Vitamin E is a very important nutrient when it comes to staying as healthy as possible, for as long as possible, and looking great whilst doing it. Vitamin E is an antioxidant which fights against both free radical damage and UV damage, reversing the two most dangerous factors when it comes to aging.
Vitamin E is also responsible for fat distribution and hydration, so if you want to keep a youthful silhouette and plump, hydrated skin, then you need to make sure you are getting enough of this vitamin. It is stored in our fat cells, so beware that you can go a while without it before realizing you weren’t eating enough.
Vitamin K is another great nutrient for promoting youthful looks and beauty, as well as health. Vitamin K is a blood regulator, which encourages our body to clot around wounds and to break up and process clots when they have done their job.
This means that any condition associated with poor blood flow, such as varicose veins, acne, bloating, inflammation, dark circles under the eyes, and rosacea, can be fought by vitamin K. It is so good for our skin, that many beauty products add it.
