Can what you eat help you age gracefully?

By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature

It seems we're all trying to find the "magic bullet" that delays the natural aging process. Put an antiaging label on most any product, and it flies off the shelves.

Yet if you're trying to look your best without going under the knife, a secret ingredient might be right under your nose. Some experts say one answer to aging gracefully can be found in the grocery store -- in fruits, vegetables, green tea, and a host of other healthful foods that are rich in antioxidants and other potentially age-deterring compounds.

See Foods to Boost Your Metabolism

What Is Aging?

Of course, the signs of aging include not only wrinkles, but also memory loss, decreased brain function, and an increasing risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. Healthy aging is also defined as living a longer, healthier life. And many studies have documented the link between a healthy dietand prevention of age-related or chronic diseases.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, adequate rest, avoiding tobacco, and a diet full of healthy foods and beverages can be the best defense against aging.

"Dietary choices are critical to delay the onset of aging and age-related diseases, and the sooner you start, the greater the benefit," says Susan Moores, RD, a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association.

Antioxidants and Inflammation

Some foods and beverages contain powerful substances called phytonutrients that some believe are capable of unlocking the key to longevity. Phytonutrients, which are members of the antioxidant family, gobble up "free radicals" -- oxygen molecules that play a role in the onset of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease.

As we age, we become more susceptible to the long-term effects of oxidative stress (a condition where the body basically has too many free radicals) and inflammation on the cellular level. The theory is that antioxidants and other age-defying compounds help cells ward off damage from free radicals and minimize the impact of aging.

Beyond antioxidants, some other compounds in foods can affect aging. They can be classified according to their impact on inflammation at the cellular level, experts say.

"All foods fit into three categories: pro-inflammatory, neutral, or anti-inflammatory," says dermatologist and best-selling author, Nicholas Perricone, MD.

Perricone says you can help to slow aging at the cellular level by choosing foods that are anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants.

"Age-related changes may be reversed by consuming foods and beverages that are rich in a variety of compounds, including antioxidants, and are anti-inflammatory, such as cold-water fish and richly colored fruits and vegetables," he says.

On the other hand, foods classified as pro-inflammatory can accelerate aging, Perricone says.

If "we eat large amounts of saturated or trans fatty acids, sugars, and starches, insulin levels surge and trigger an anti-inflammatory response and accelerate the aging process," says Perricone.

While the benefits to eating healthy are many, Perricone notes that diet is certainly not the only factor that affects the aging process.

"Stress, hormones, ultraviolet light, and a weakened immune system also contribute to aging," he says.

Still, making smart lifestyle choices are within your control, and are among the best things you can do to help prevent disease and retard aging.

Food for Healthy Aging  

For maximum benefits, experts say, you should load up on a variety of healthy foods.

"We know about antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activities of foods, but we suspect there could be so much more going on beyond attacking free radicals that promote health and ward off disease," says Moores.

Moores suggests adding these foods and beverages into your eating plan for good health and to reduce the signs of aging:

• Fish. Follow the guidelines of the American Heart Association and eat twice weekly, especially the fatty kind that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This is a powerful anti-inflammatory food that offers a multitude of health benefits.
• Fruits and vegetables are powerhouses of antioxidants. Aim for a variety of colorful produce. Enjoy at least 5 servings per day for the maximum benefits.
• Whole grains provide soluble fiber to help lower blood cholesterol levels, and also have phytonutrient content equal to any fruit or vegetable. Strive for at least 3 daily servings.
• Legumes are unsung heroes, packed with nutrients similar to fruits and vegetables and with very few calories. Add them to your diet 3 to 4 times a week.
• Yogurt has all the benefits of dairy foods, plus probiotics that help add healthy bacteria to the intestines. Moores recommends eating a yogurt with active cultures as one of your 3 dairy servings each day.
• Nuts are a great source of B vitamins that are good for your heart and your brain. The healthy fats in nuts benefit the elastin and collagen in skin, helping to maintaining skin's structure and keep it resilient. Small portions are advised, as nuts are high in calories.
• Water is essential for hydration of the skin, muscles, circulation, and all organs in the body. Enjoy 3-4 glasses of pure water in addition to other liquids and watery foods.

In addition, Perricone suggests these 10 "super-foods," chosen because of their anti- inflammatory activity:

1. Acai fruit (found in health stores)
2. Allium vegetables: garlic, onions, leeks, scallions, chives, and shallots
3. Barley
4. Green foods, such as wheatgrass
5. Buckwheat, both seeds and grains
6. Beans and lentils
7. Hot peppers
8. Nuts and seeds
9. Sprouts

10.  Yogurt and kefir

What Else Can You Do?

Micronutrients from food and beverages offer a wealth of health benefits. But when it comes to preserving the skin, some work better as topical applications such as creams.

"Drinking 6-10 small cups of green tea daily adds health-promoting catechins … but no matter how much green tea you drink, your blood level will never be high enough to retard or reverse skin changes," says researcher Stephen Hsu, PhD. His research found antiaging benefits when green tea polyphenols were applied directly to skin, and "protected the skin by absorbing ultraviolet light and eliminating free radicals." To read more click here

Doctor D. Schwab’s high quality botanical skin care products contain herbal extracts, natural vitamins, and other extracts from foods that help improve skin health, enhance skin moisture and encourage the proliferation of new, healthy cells.

Skin is the body’s largest organ that acts as a protective covering and helps regulate temperature through sweat glands. A healthy skin gives you a natural, youthful look and makes you feel gorgeous.

Aging affects the youthfulness and attractiveness of your skin, causing age spots, laugh lines, wrinkles and crow feet. Other factors that can hurt your skin include pollution, stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, and ultraviolet radiation. Skin aging is caused by the reduced production of hormones and a reduction in the length of telomeres which are found at the end of each and every DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in every single cell. Moreover, human skin contains a natural substance known as “ceramide” that helps maintain the good health and youthful glow of the skin. As you grow old, your skin also begins to experience a natural loss of ceramide.

It’s not enough to get a facial to keep your skin glowing and clear. You need to follow a healthy dietary routine, perform exercise, avoid smoking, and adopt an anti-aging system to slow down the natural process of skin aging.

Anti-aging systems combat the signs of aging and help you regain the youthful skin you once had. Anti-aging systems are comprised of three major components:

1) Anti-aging systems diet
2) Anti-aging systems supplement
3) Anti-aging systems skin care products

Certain diets such as cherries, blueberries, acai berries, avocados, broccoli, cauliflower, ginger and green tea can be categorized as anti-aging diets. Numerous researches have revealed that a regular consumption of these food items supplies your skin with nutrients particularly vitamins and antioxidants that help rebuild collagen and nourish skin cells.

Anti-aging systems supplements are comprised of nutrients like vitamins, coenzyme Q-10 and omega fatty acids that are difficult to obtain through your normal diet. B-vitamins and omega-3 supplements help repair damaged cells and reproduce DNA. Coenzyme Q-10 is needed by your body for mitochondrial synthesis.

An anti-aging skin care system is comprised of products that help replenish your skin’s lost attractiveness and youthful glow.

Certain products such as Doctor D. Schwab Alphasomes RC Rejuvenate and Correct, and Doctor D. Schwab Cell Renewal Day Cream help a user look younger by reducing blemishes, wrinkles, expression lines, age spots, and discolorations of the skin. These skin care products contain certified organic ingredients that aim at restoring natural levels of ceramide in your skin and help protect skin from free radicals that can speed up aging.

Check out our customers' favorite natural skin care products here!

Are you a reformed sun-worshiper? Or someone who is starting to see the lighter side of life after a lifetime of worrying? Do you have fine lines in between your eyes, crow’s feet, or laugh lines? (We’ll pause here while you run to the mirror.)

Many people are starting to notice that their skin doesn’t have that “bounce-back” ability they used to. Frown and your brow wrinkled. But the wrinkles were gone as soon as your mood lifted. Now, though, two hours after a bad mood passes, people are still asking you what’s wrong. You’ve got wrinkles, that's what!

The solution? Ginkgosome. This hydrating daytime serum contains Ginkgo Biloba, a powerful herb that's used to fight the signs of aging. By incorporating Ginkgosome into your anti-aging routine, you can dramatically improve the look and feel of your skin and reduce the look of wrinkles.

Ginkgosome helps to not only reverse the current signs of aging, but also works to prevent future aging with special extracts. Your skin experiences stress when it is exposed to tobacco smoke, UV radiation (like the sun or tanning beds), or other environmental pollutants. It is this repetitive stress that accounts for 80% of skin aging, which causes wrinkles.

Ginkgosome also contains a time-release delivery system to your skin (peptides called alphasomes) which enhances firmness and smoothes out fine lines. These peptides act like a time-release sprinkler system for your skin, releasing moisture throughout the day and feeding your skin all day long.

In addition to enhancing your skin’s already existing moisture system, Ginkgosome supports new cell turnover and the growth of healthy cells; the result is a brighter, healthier looking skin and improved skin elasticity.

Ginkgosome also has skin-rejuvenating benefits: natural antioxidants and free-radical fighters packed inside which help to rejuvenate the skin.

For those of you who have lost that dewy glow, Ginkgosome improves skin tone, giving skin a fresh, dewy look and evens out skin tone. This can be particularly of interest to those of you who have age spots.

Add Ginkgosome to your daily routine today and reveal a younger you tomorrow!

Women are never supposed to tell their age, we're told. And now, with new facial cleansing products, new dietary guidelines, and new ways of cleaning, we don't have to. We can lie, lie, lie about our age all day, and if you do it right, they'll believe you.

Here are five age-defying secrets every woman can use to keep your skin looking healthy and young.

Practice overall wellness.

For a healthy, glowing body on the outside, you need a healthy, glowing body on the inside. Exercise will also increase your overall wellness level and give you a glow. A bout of exercise will also bring some rosy color to your cheeks, giving you a natural flush.

Be mindful of what you put into your body.

You need to eat a variety of local, organic fruits and vegetables that are in season, and add a handful of nuts now and then. Limit your consumption of alcohol. Sugar is another substance you need to limit; in fact, limit your consumption of sugar to natural sources, such as honey and fruits. Eat a balanced breakfast to start the day off in a positive direction.

Start a good skincare program early.

While it’s never too late to start taking care of your skin, those of you who are younger, take advantage of your skin’s youth and start a good skincare regime now. After 40, you begin to show the signs of aging in the form of lines and wrinkles. Starting a regular skincare routine sooner in life rather than later can delay the signs of aging.

Avoid cosmetic surgery like facelifts, fillers, stretchers, etc.

If you start your skincare regimen early enough in life, you won’t have to worry about invasive procedures to achieve a youthful appearance. By avoiding these kinds of procedures and operations, your skin will age more gracefully and naturally. Cosmetic surgery will actually make your skin look worse in the end. Once or twice a month, we’re giving you permission to get a facial. This kind of non-invasive treatment can increase blood flow and cellular turnover, which results in a younger looking you.

Never, EVER go to bed with makeup on…

unless you like pimples, blackheads, and clogged pores. Not to mention raccoon eyes and Bozo lips. Unfortunately, 90% of women tend to hit the sack without first cleaning off makeup and the day’s pollutants. Even if you are a firm believer in regular facials, keeping your face clean while the skin works on repairing itself will do wonders in keeping your skin healthy and happy.



Doctor D. Schwab Anti-Aging Group: Super Repair, C.S. Citrusome, Retinol Rejuvenate, Gingko Lift.