The appearance of fine (or not-so-fine) lines on the face. Crepey skin on the legs. Hands that look like somebody’s grandma.
Have you experienced this? I’m seeing it more in myself and today was a wake-up call as I caught my reflection in the mirror.
As women age, our hormone levels decline. Estrogen is what makes young women look radiant. But for us older gals, especially post-menopausal women, our bodies have naturally transitioned to a new phase of life. Additionally, collagen production declines as we age. This leaves us open to wrinkly skin.
The skin care industry would have us believe that external application of their product will reverse the hands of time. And for sure, there are products out there that can help.
But really, healthy skin is an inside job. What matters most is what goes in your mouth. And it turns out – no surprise – the diet that makes for healthy skin also makes for better overall health.
So what can you do? Here’s a brief rundown:
- removed highly-processed foods. These are hard on all of our body systems.
- stay well-hydrated with pure water. Water from sugary or caffeinated drinks does not count. Water helps rejuvenate skin cells.
- that said, green tea consumption is helpful. It is rich in antioxidants that help protect cell membranes. It has been found to reduce sunburn damage. Green tea is also high in polyphenols, which is good news in reducing the risk of skin (and other) cancers. Green tea is also high in vitamins C, D, and K, calcium, magnesium, iron, riboflavin, and zinc.
- dark, richly-colored vegetables and fruits. The deeper the color, the higher the presence of may vitamins and antioxidants needed for good skin health. Blueberries, acai berries, mangos, sweet potatoes, avocados, grapefruit, peppers, tomatoes, leafy greens, prunes, pumpkin, carrots, pomegranates… so good, and so easy to love!
- walnuts, flax seed
