Want to outsmart the ageing process?
The answer is easier than you’d think.
From anti-wrinkle creams to collagen
capsules and enzyme peels, we’re constantly on the lookout for new ways to fend
off the ravages of time. But, working from the outside in may not be the best
approach. According to the skin experts, there’s no better place to start an
anti-ageing offensive than your kitchen.
Eat
Chocolate To… Save Your Face
Everybody’s free
By now we all know that free radicals are
bad news for our health, but what about the role they play in the ageing
process? Well, whenever our bodies use oxygen, tiny little molecules – or free
radicals – are produced. These free radicals have unpaired electrons, so they look
for other electrons to pair up with to complete them. To do this, they attack
your healthy molecules to essentially ‘steal’ an electron, which can alter the
healthy molecule’s structure, resulting in damage, mutation and – you guessed
it – ageing.
‘Free radicals and oxidants attack healthy
cell membranes and DNA,’ explains nutritionist Sarah Flower. ‘As cells
reproduce, the damage reproduces with them, so as time goes on the cells become
more and more damaged. Our bodies are under attack constantly – the food we
eat, the air we breathe, chemicals in our environment – they all contain
damaging free radicals.’ So, what’s the answer?
The power of food
Environmental factors like cigarette smoke
and sun damage can seriously increase the number of free radicals in our
bodies, contributing to illnesses such as heart disease and cancer as well as
ageing – but what about the stuff we’re putting in our bodies every day – food?
‘When it comes to what we’re eating,
oxidants originate from anything burned,’ says Sarah. ‘So, fried and charred
foods, particularly barbecued meats, all give off harmful by-products which
ultimately damage our bodies.’
When cooking or heating food, you also need
to consider the oils you’re using – opting for coconut oil rather than olive oil,
or even butter over margarine, could have a huge impact on how quickly you age.
This is because all oils and fats have different smoke points, which refers to
how stable they are under heat. Saturated fats are stable and tend to have the
highest smoke points, while polyunsaturated fats are the most susceptible to
oxidation. ‘These oils become rancid if exposed to heat, light and oxygen,’
Sarah adds. ‘Always buy them in dark bottles and use a little at a time to
avoid overexposure to oxygen.’
The
power of food
Sugar can also alter our DNA in ways that
are incredibly damaging when it comes to ageing. ‘Sugar can shorten telomeres
which sit at the end of chromosomes to protect the DNA,’ explains Sarah. ‘When
they shorten, the cells can deplete quicker, speeding up the ageing process.’
If telomeres continue to shorten, the cells
eventually die. And you don’t need us to tell you that cell renewal is vital
for looking younger.
Stop the clock
So if food is part of the ageing process,
how can it work to stop the clock? It all comes down to that mighty buzzword
‘antioxidants’. Superfoods are packed with them and health-conscious types live
for them. Why? Antioxidants counteract the damage caused by oxidation, a
process that occurs when free radicals get to work. When you cut an apple in
half, exposing it to oxygen, it begins to brown. This deterioration is actually
similar to what happens to healthy cells when free radicals cause oxidation to
occur in our bodies.
‘Fruit and vegetables contain some of the
highest levels of antioxidants,’ says Sarah. ‘In particular, garlic, plums,
prunes and most berries are really good. Other foods high in antioxidants are
dark chocolate (if it has at least 70 per cent cocoa solids), broccoli, green
tea, turmeric, cinnamon, walnuts, pecans and even red wine.’ Yep, that means
chocolate and red wine really are good for you, and your skin!
Generally, the foods highest in
antioxidants are the bright and colorful kind: think beta carotene-rich
carrots, dark green leafy veg that’s packed with vitamin C, nuts and seeds, and
selenium-rich fish. These vitamins and minerals will help to boost your immune
system, protect your body from outside stress and even produce natural collagen
to plump your skin from within.
