A Younger You: 10 Anti-Ageing Food to Add Into Your Diet

Depending on your skincare routine—whether it’s a 10-step Korean or minimalist skincare routine—it may involve cleansing, exfoliating, prepping, moisturising, and hydrating our skin in the mornings and evenings everyday, in hopes of achieving clear, flawless, and younger-looking skin.

However, these toners, lotions, serums, creams, and masks can only do so much. The skin is the body’s largest organ and is often the first part of our body to show internal trouble. Instead of skincare products, the first thing that we need to take a closer look at is our diet.

For us to look younger, we need to maintain a balanced diet that has water, antioxidants, healthy fats, and essential nutrients. Studies have shown that fruits and vegetables are efficient at combating dull complexions and fine lines.¹

Ready for better-looking skin? Here are 10 anti-ageing foods you should add into your diet for a natural and healthy skin.

• Avocado

This well-loved fruit, often seen eaten for breakfast and on toast, is packed with healthy unsaturated fats which can help nourish your skin and prevent dryness. Research also shows that avocado can help protect our skin from UV damage.² Avocados are also great nutrient boosters, which help enhance the body’s absorption of vitamin A and other fat-soluble nutrients.

• Blueberries

Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and fiber. It is rich in an age-defying antioxidant called anthocyanin. Anthocyanin helps protect the skin from sun damage, stress, and pollution. Blueberries are also anti-inflammatory and can help prevent collagen loss. 

• Cantaloupe

This big, juicy melon contains a lot of vitamin C, vitamin A, and an anti-ageing antioxidant known as carotenoids. Carotenoids help your body form vitamin A which helps maintain cellular health and protects your skin from oxidative stress. Cantaloupes are also nutrient-packed and low in calories—which is a huge plus!

• Papaya

Papaya is a superfood rich in vitamin A, C, K, and E as well as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. There is a wide range of antioxidants in papaya that helps prevent damage from free radicals and delay the signs of ageing. Papaya can keep your skin elastic and minimise the appearance of fine lines. It also has one of nature’s best anti-inflammatory agents—papain.

• Pears

This crunchy and refreshing fruit contains flavanol, which is said to have benefits against the development of dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Pears also have folate and niacin, which are important for cellular function and energy production, as well as provitamin A, which supports skin health and wound healing.³

• Curcumin

This vibrant spice is not only full of flavour, but also antioxidants that can protect our body from free radical damage (including accelerated ageing) and stimulate the body’s antioxidant defenses, preventing oxidative stress from happening. When paired with black pepper, this combo can help relieve nausea, headaches and poor digestion as well.

• Fermented soybean

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are typically found in fried or grilled high protein, high fat animal food. AGEs accumulate as we age and are usually found in the development of many degenerative diseases, including diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Fermented soybean effectively inhibits glycation and reduces the formation of AGEs in our bodies.

• Green tea

Instead of making a cup of coffee in the mornings, switch over to a glass of green tea. Not only is green tea rich in fucoidan, a complex polysaccharide with proven anti-cancer effects, but also polyphenols, which protect collagen needed for our skin and joints. Green tea also offers calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin E.

• Rose petal extract

This fragrant extract is highly beneficial for our bodies as it helps slow down skin ageing, improves skin elasticity, combats metabolic syndrome, and contains powerful antioxidant effects.

• Leafy greens

Vegetables are generally good for our health. Certain types of leafy greens like watercress and spinach are super hydrating and full of antioxidants. Rich in vitamin A and vitamin K, these leafy greens can help support a healthy immune system and keep inflammation at bay.

For our bodies to stay young, we need to start prevention early. Here’s a quick tip for anti-ageing care at home: instead of preparing dishes using these ingredients, you can enjoy them all in a glass with Asodi or NeeFlex.

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583891/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19168000/
3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-pears#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3