Eat Your Way to Looking and Feeling Younger

If we want to improve our life, we have to change our eating habits. We open ourselves up to health problems by eating the wrong kinds of foods. Thankfully, with just a few diet changes we can not only improve our health, but we'll look and feel younger.
The top three rules for eating right are:

1. Eat organic. Organic foods are chemical and other contaminant free.
2. Eat raw foods. Cooking can destroy the vitamins and nutrients in food.
3. Avoid processed foods like sugar.

Dr. Fredric Brandt(the dermatologist used by Madonna and Cher), credits sugar as the culprit behind pre-mature aging. In his opinion, if you want to look ten years younger simply reduce the amount of sugar you consume. In the process, you'll notice an improvement in the texture, tone and radiance of your skin.

The next big three are:

1. High fiber diet.
2. Eat whole grains.
3. Plenty of antioxidants.

We know, for the most part about fiber and whole grains, but how many of us really know what antioxidants are? Antioxidants are vitamins and nutrients. It's believed they help protect the heart, arteries and other tissues against damage. Some believe it can even repair damage that has already occurred in cells.

The top fruits you should eat that are high in antioxidants are:

1. Blueberries
2. Kiwis
3. Apples
4. Cherries
5. Plums

Next in line for antioxidants are vegetables and legumes.

1. Dark green leafy vegetables
2. Beans
3. Artichokes
4. Broccoli

Omega 3 fats are also essential to feeling and looking younger. They're great for the heart Most people think of fish when it comes to omega 3 fats, but they can also be found in:

1. Pecans
2. Hazelnuts
3. Almonds
4. Walnuts

For snack lovers - dark chocolate! Chocolate lifts the spirit, which in and of itself is a health benefit. Just remember to eat only a little, not the entire bar, box or truck load. It's tempting, but not that good for us.

Lastly, hydration is essential in warding off pre-mature aging. Your body needs water. Water washes toxins out of our bodies. It also keeps us from feeling lethargic and tired. If you'd like to prove that last line, drink a glass of water when you're feeling tired and notice the difference.

It's simple to eat healthy. And isn't it worth it knowing that something so simple can keep you feeling and looking younger?

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Where skin cells go to die.

Tis the season for sneezing, drippy noses, coughing, and for you, your kids, your neighbors kids, your co-workers and strangers on the street to help spread the merriment by contaminating one another.

Most people's first response to the season is to increase their vitamin intake, start taking echinacea, drink barrels of orange juice and use seventy-two gallons of antibacterial soap a month until the season is over.

It all makes sense, right? Maybe the vitamins, echinacea and orange juice, but not the antibacterial soap. Why? According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, “...it not only kills bacteria, it also has been shown to kill human cells (Eur J Oral Sci 1998 Apr; 106:628-36).”

Men may not care if their skin cells drop dead, but for us women it's a royal nightmare. Think about it, dead skin cells equals prematurely aging skin – the one thing we spend hundreds to thousands of dollars a year to avoid like the plague!

Aside from drying out your skin till you look like an iguana, damaged skin makes you susceptible to possible infections and releases free radicals. The only way to stop free radicals is the use of antioxidants.

If you have to use antibacterial soaps in your job, you can save the life of your hands by using a hand cream that contains vitamins A, C and E. Vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants that work together to disarm, protect and neutralize the damage free radicals cause.

If possible, you should apply it after every wash, especially at night time before bed. Keep a mini-size lotion in your pocket, desk, car or purse so you don't forget to protect your hands.