‘You are what you eat.’ If only we had a dollar for every time, we heard someone say that line. All the advice dolled out from our parents, neighbourhood aunties and even the watchful eye of your health-conscious BFF will all agree that there is no escaping adding the right nutrition for nourished skin. This becomes all the more important as you age. Bidding goodbye to that can of crisps, that unhealthy chocolate bar or the fast-food pizza from last night is essential – eventually it adds up and reflects on your skin causing premature aging, breakouts and inflammation. You get the hint. Here are some of the best anti-aging foods for younger looking skin that you need to include in your diet stat.
12 Best Anti-Aging Foods for Younger Looking Skin
Ranging from ingredients like water and leafy greens up until something more complex in vitamins like avocados or olive oil here is our guide to the 12 best anti-aging foods for younger-looking skin.
1. Water
Beginning with the holy grail of human survival. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. No matter how many times we hear it, drinking enough water will never go out of style. Sip your way through to healthy looking and feeling skin. Be it carrying nutrients and oxygen to your cells or aiding digestion, the benefits are umpteen, and this is one anti-aging food that just cannot be ignored. Infuse freshness into plain old water with fresh ingredients like lemons, cucumbers, and mint for that added boost of vitamins.
2. Avocados
A Gen-Z favourite superfood! The one plant based anti-aging food that has recently made its way to every cafe and rightly so. Not only is it the talk of town but did you know that it is a good source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats? These have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, providing you with minerals, including Vitamin K, Folate, Potassium, Vitamin C and E for tissue growth and repair.
3. Berries
Is there anything better than the punch of a berry to your palate? The blueberry, blackberry, strawberry trifecta is a powerhouse of nutrition that you must add to your diet. The humble blueberry is rich in Vitamin A and C, one of the most reliable sources of collagen production – the crowning glory ingredient when it comes to anti-aging. Strawberries contain vitamin C that is known to brighten skin. Raspberries happen to be one of the highest food sources of fiber, according to nutritional journals.
4. Leafy Greens
These are the one anti-aging foods that cannot be ignored. Whether you choose to eat them raw in the form of a salad or as part of a smoothie they contain Beta-carotene that can help your skin maintain a young look. Dark leafy greens are a great source of folate, which helps your body make happy neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin that regulate your mood.
5. Tomatoes
Forming the base of the majority of Indian cuisine, tomatoes contain lycopene responsible for not only their bright red color but also for protecting skin from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. It helps protect cells from damage and is filled with potassium, vitamins B and E, that can aid dull skin, making it radiant and rejuvenated.
6. Nuts and Seeds
Nuts are packed with nutrients such as proteins, vitamin E, essential oils, minerals, and antioxidants. Almonds and walnuts are full of vitamin E which are helpful in protecting skin from UV rays and strengthening skin.
7. Fish
Fish are known for their long-chain omega-3 fats that are beneficial in combatting heart disease, inflammation, and other chronic diseases. Research has also shown that omega-3 fatty acids are linked to a strong skin barrier and may help decrease inflammation that can cause damage to the skin.
8. Greek Yogurt
The Greek cousin of Indian dahi, this variant is creamier and is a rich source of probiotics and healthy gut bacteria. It provides several nutrients and is particularly rich in protein, vitamin B12, riboflavin (B2), and selenium. After all, a healthy gut forms the basis of good health and has a direct effect on the way your skin can look.
9. Olive Oil
A Mediterranean diet staple and highly lauded for containing good essential fats that assist the body fight against inflammation and oxidative damage brought on by an imbalance of free radicals. A diet rich with Olive Oil has also been known to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties that can slow down the skin aging process and thereby are a great anti-aging food.
10. Dark Chocolate
Probably one of the last ingredients that one would imagine containing anti-aging properties. Dark chocolate contains Polyphenols, which serve as the body's antioxidants and flavanols, which have been linked to several health advantages. It is believed that consuming a diet high in flavanols antioxidants can help shield the skin from UV damage and slow down the ageing process. Opt for a type of dark chocolate that has at least 70% cocoa solids and low added sugar.
11. Green Tea
Get in your caffeine fix with this anti-aging food that is anti-inflammatory and contains anti-microbial properties that can aid in treating acne prone skin. Drinking green tea has also been shown to improve skin elasticity and help your skin deal better with the anti-aging process.
12. Papaya
The fruit contains Chymopapain and papain that enhance the digestive and gut health, resulting in healthier skin that stays young for a long time.
It is imperative that you consult with a dietician and dermatologist before you consume any of the foods. While the way to healthy, young skin is definitely through anti-aging foods, remember that what might work for someone may not work for you. It’s also important that you focus on external formulations that can recapture the youthful radiance of skin. The POND'S Age Miracle Range, formulated with intelligent pro-cell complex, is a combination of 6 powerful anti-ageing bio-actives that works deep inside the layers of skin to reduce lines, wrinkles, and age spots, resulting in smoother, younger-looking skin in just 2 weeks.