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How to Fight Aging with These 5 Edible Beauty Products

The number one question I ask those who come to me begging for anti-aging advice is: What are you eating?

 

And if the answer isn’t what I’m hoping for, I ask a follow-up question: What supplements are you taking?

 

Here’s why: Through the advancements of science, we’re learning something very important…

 

What you put into your body is just as important—if not more—as what you put on your skin.

 

So if you’re spending heaps of money on every anti-aging serum, under-eye cream, and wrinkle repair you can find, you’re missing HALF of the equation.

 

In the following article, you’ll get a carefully curated list of 5 edible beauty products your body needs to ward off wrinkles, reverse sun damage, and keep your complexion looking bright—giving you the plump, clear, smooth skin you’ve been dreaming about.

Are Edible Beauty Products Just Another Trend?

Before we dive into the 5 edible beauty products, let me address another question I frequently receive: Are edible beauty products just another trend?

 

My answer: No, they’re not.

 

Studies have repeatedly shown that skin is in dire need of certain nutrients to stay healthy. In fact, your skin is your body’s largest organ—an organ that’s constantly exposed to physical, chemical, bacterial, and fungal elements (1).

 

In order for your skin to have a fighting chance against those elements, it must be nourished with the right proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants on a daily basis.

5 Edible Beauty Products that Enhance Skin Health

My #1 tip for healthy skin: Be mindful of what you put into your body.

 

Your body is a temple. Rather than feeding it packaged, processed, sugary foods and beverages, focus on nourishing it with real, whole foods. In specific, the 5 following edible beauty products...

1. Collagen for Skin Health

If I could recommend just one supplement that’s essential in reversing signs of aging, I’d recommend collagen.

 

Collagen is known as the “glue” that holds your body (and skin) together. When it comes to skin, collagen’s main job is to keep it elastic, plump, and youthful.

 

Here’s why this is important: As you age, your collagen levels take a hit.

 

By the time one reaches 50 years of age, their collagen levels have been cut in HALF (2). An easy way to tell if you’re deficient in collagen is if you have sagging skin, crepe-like skin, and/or crow’s feet.

Graph Showing the Decline of Collagen Per Year

One study found that taking a daily collagen supplement noticeably reduced wrinkles, improved elasticity, and increased hydration (3).

 

To ensure that your collagen levels are right where they need to be, add grass-fed collagen powder to your daily ritual. In addition to reviving your skin, it healthifies your hair, nails, joints, gut, and more.

 

Not sure how much collagen you should take? Check out this article: This Is How Much Collagen You Need Each Day to Experience Profound Results

2. Collagen Care+ for Skin Health

Because collagen makes up such a large portion of your body’s protein, it’s clear that it’s an essential, worthwhile supplement to invest in.

 

A collagen supplement is transformational on its own, but when paired with collagen-boosting nutrients like the ones in our Collagen Care+ formula, you can rest easy knowing that you’re giving your body what it needs to keep making collagen.

 

With zinc, magnesium, hyaluronic acid, boron citrate, and vitamins A, B7, and C, you’re able to support your body’s natural collagen-making abilities, while preserving higher levels of collagen. Now that’s healthy aging.

3. Antioxidants for Skin Health

The job of antioxidants is to shield your skin from the sun.

 

When you spend time in the sun, its UV rays trigger the production of free radicals in your body. Those free radicals go on to damage your cells’ DNA, proteins, and lipids.

 

In short, antioxidants are free-radical fighters. When you have too many free radicals and not enough antioxidants, you develop oxidative stress, which leads to premature aging (4).

Graphic Showing the Cycle of Oxidative Stress

Antioxidants needed for wrinkle repair include (5, 6, 7, 8, 9):

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin B3
  • Zinc
  • Resveratrol
  • Coenzyme Q10
  • Curcumin (from Turmeric)
  • Astaxanthin (from Krill Oil)

 

NativeNote: Did you know that the antioxidant found in krill, astaxanthin, is one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants? So much so that it’s 550X stronger than Vitamin E, 800X more powerful than CoQ10, and 6000X more potent than Vitamin C!


Other places you can find antioxidants: Spices, green tea, nuts, herbs, whole grains, and seeds.

4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Skin Health

Omega-3 fatty acids block the breakdown of collagen through their anti-inflammatory properties.

 

In addition to this, they repair skin damage while keeping your skin hydrated (10, 11).

 

NativeTip: Don’t take just any omega-3 supplement. Quality ensures that there are no heavy metals and that there’s a healthy balance of both EPA and DHA (the two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids).

 

The best, purest source of omega-3 fatty acids is Antarctic Krill Oil, which also contains Astaxanthin—a strong antioxidant that fights the harmful effects of free radicals (12, 13).

 

And as an added bonus, there’s no fishy aftertaste.

5. Probiotics for Skin Health

Probiotics are live microorganisms (think: Lactobacillus Plantarum, Bifidobacterium Longum, and Lactobacillus Acidophilus) that are praised for their positive effects on gut health, but did you know that they can also improve skin health?

 

When your gut health is balanced, your skin is balanced. This is because the bacteria in your gut are responsible for preventing toxins, partially digested food, and bad bacteria from leaking out of your gut and into your bloodstream. If this occurs, skin inflammation is triggered (14).


In order to harness the power of your gut health, you need a quality probiotic. Once you have that, you have the potential to prevent and treat skin diseases like eczema, acne, allergic inflammation, UV damage, and more (
15).

In addition to probiotics, you need their sibling—prebiotics. Prebiotics are found in plant fibers and fuel the good bacteria in your gut (16). This ensures the probiotics you ingest are fed and nourished so they can do their job effectively. Prebiotics work similarly to fertilizer on a yard—stimulating the good bacteria to grow.

 

You can find prebiotics in foods such as:

  • Yams
  • Garlic
  • Bananas
  • Onions
  • Asparagus
  • Oats
  • Apples

Best Anti-Aging Foods for Glowing Skin

Antioxidant-Rich Dark Chocolate and Blueberries

There are dozens of skin-loving foods that play a significant role in anti-aging. Examples of these foods include:

Foods Rich in Antioxidants

  • Dark chocolate
  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries
  • Beans
  • Spinach
  • Kale

Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fats

  • Salmon
  • Albacore tuna
  • Mackerel
  • Sardines
  • Chia seeds
  • Walnuts

Foods Rich in Probiotics

  • Kefir
  • Kombucha
  • Yogurt
  • Brine pickles
  • Kimchi

Foods that Boost Collagen Production

  • Eggs
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Tomatoes
  • Garlic
  • Berries
  • Fish
  • Broth

Foods Rich in Antioxidants

  • Dark chocolate
  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries
  • Beans
  • Spinach
  • Kale

Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fats

  • Salmon
  • Albacore tuna
  • Mackerel
  • Sardines
  • Chia seeds
  • Walnuts

Foods Rich in Probiotics

  • Kefir
  • Kombucha
  • Yogurt
  • Brine pickles
  • Kimchi

Foods that Boost Collagen Production

  • Eggs
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Tomatoes
  • Garlic
  • Berries
  • Fish
  • Broth

Skin-Sucking Foods to Avoid

Many foods and beverages actually speed up the aging process, contributing to fine lines and a loss of skin elasticity. Some of these foods include:

1. Alcohol

Drinking alcohol is extremely dehydrating (17). Anyone who has ever had one too many drinks can tell you all about the dry mouth they experience the next day. Imagine how the rest of your body feels?

 

In addition to this, alcohol depletes your body’s store of vitamin A (a powerful antioxidant), reduces your quality of sleep, and leads to broken blood vessels in your face (18).

2. Simple Carbohydrates and Processed Foods

Simple carbohydrates trigger advanced glycation end products (AGEs) to develop. AGEs cause the collagen fibers in your skin to become weak and stiff, causing your skin to lose its firmness and sag (19).

3. Processed Meats

Processed meats like hot dogs, sausages, and bacon are high in nitrates, sodium, and saturated fats. These are linked to increased inflammation which dehydrates the skin and weakens collagen (20).

The Bottom Line

Your skin is your body’s largest organ. And because of that, it’s crucial to give it the nutrients it needs—daily.

 

Consider these 5 edible beauty products your new (and very much improved) skincare routine. Get ready to hear, “Wow, you never age! What’s your skincare routine?”

 

And when they ask that, be sure to send them this article ;)

As a doctor of Physical Therapy, Senior Wellness Expert, and co-founder of NativePath, Dr. Walding has helped millions of people improve their quality of life from the inside out—by speaking, writing, and educating others on how to live life a little more #OnThePath.

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Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Chad Walding nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program.

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