Which are the best anti ageing foods?

Whether you find yourself staring into the mirror and bemoaning your fine lines and wrinkles, or you roll out of bed feeling tight and achey, ageing is part of our every day life.

Yet, we don’t have to accept the dreaded ageing process – there are plenty of things we can do to keep ageing at bay! 

Rather than going under the knife or investing in pricey face creams, there are all kinds of foods which can help us to age better, both inside and out.

If you want to ease those wrinkles or spring out of bed in the morning feeling on top of the world, then here are our favourite foods to keep you young:

Watermelon

Beautiful, refreshing watermelons are (as their name suggests!) full of water, which can help to hydrate the body and the skin. By keeping our bodies hydrated, we can boost skin elasticity, which is good for collagen production and keeps faces looking plump and fresh and reduces signs of ageing.

Watermelon is also full of the amazing antioxidant lycopene, which helps to protect the skin from sun damage. They are even thought to contain their own, natural SPF – a fairly humble factor three. Lycopene is also found in other red foods, including tomatoes and red peppers.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The Mediterranean diet has long been thought to be one of the healthiest on earth, and is renowned for reducing signs of ageing and boosting longevity. In particular, olive oil is full of healthy fats and is one of the staples of the Mediterranean diet. Research has shown that it can help to ease ageing within the body (reducing the risk of heart disease, easing inflammation and lowering blood pressure), while the monounsaturated fats found within it can improve skin elasticity and firmness, and even protect from sun exposure.

Oily Fish

Another key part of the Mediterranean diet is delicious, oily fish, such as sardines, mackerel and salmon. Oily fish  is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are thought to protect against heart disease, inflammation and other diseases. Salmon also contains a special antioxidant called astaxanthin (this is what gives salmon that wonderful coral hue), which can help protect the skin from sun exposure and also boost skin elasticity and hydration. Our Skin Perfecting Complex contains a vegan-friendly omega-3, while our H3O Night Repair capsules also contain astaxanthin. 

Green Tea

For centuries, people have sworn by green tea as an ancient remedy to treat all kinds of ailments. And, even now, we know that sipping on green tea regularly can help us to feel healthier, stronger and younger.

This is because green tea is high in antioxidants, which can protect against free radicals. In particular, green tea is rich in polyphenols, which can protect against diabetes, inflammation and heart disease. These polyphenols may also boost collagen, and help to slow down signs of ageing.

Meanwhile, the caffeine in green tea is slow-releasing (unlike your typical shot of espresso!), which helps to give us sustained, lasting energy throughout the day. Perfect rocket fuel to keep you feeling on top of the world!

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate (think rich chocolate that contains 85% cacao solids or above) contains an antioxidant profile which is thought to be even more impressive than that found in blueberries and acai berries. In particular, the flavanols in dark chocolate are thought to protect from sun damage (some studies have shown that it doubles the amount of time people can stay in the sun), as well as stimulating blood flow and boosting skin hydration and smoothness. Next time you’re tempted by a visit to the vending machine, why not try a few squares of dark chocolate instead…?

Leafy greens

It’s true that we need to eat our greens to stay healthy – especially if we want to feel younger, too! Leafy greens such as kale, spinach and chard are rich in fibre, which makes them wonderful for detoxifying the body and eliminating waste to leave us feeling lighter and brighter. They’re also full of skin-loving goodness to give us that youthful, vibrant glow – spinach, for example, contains the antioxidant beta carotene, as well as chlorophyll (thought to promote healing in the skin, as well as detoxifying), potassium, fibre and folate.

Pomegranates

Jewel-like pomegranates are more than just a pretty face. In fact, their antioxidant profile may even be higher than that found in green tea. Thanks to this, ruby red pomegranates are thought to ease inflammation, prevent blood sugar spikes (this means fewer mood swings!) and also protect against the sun. Some studies have even shown that pomegranates can repair damaged skin and boost collagen.

Avocados

Creamy avocados are one of the most popular health foods on the planet – and for good reason! They are rich in healthy fats, as well as fibre and potassium (they contain more potassium than bananas). This unique combination of ingredients helps to nourish the skin from within, and can also work wonders on tired, aching joints, too. What’s more, the healthy fats found within avocados also feed healthy, balanced hormones. 

Collagen

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and boosts skin elasticity, holds together your bones and muscles, protects the organs and helps joints and tendons. Unfortunately, as we age, our collagen levels start to deplete, which can result in ageing across the body – aches, pains and less-than-vibrant skin!

Thankfully, our award-winning Collagen Shots can help to boost declining collagen levels within the body, helping our bodies to feel stronger and fitter, and to give us fresher and brighter skin.