Foods to Avoid

Posted on: 15.12.2022 Posted by: Drlark Comments: 0

June 10, 2004

Aging Beautifully

Foods to Avoid

Many foods have a dehydrating effect on our skin

and internal tissues and should be avoided. Examples of these foods

include spicy foods like ginger and chili peppers, caffeinated beverages,

and alcohol. Women who are at midlife and older and have already

noticed increased drying of their skin due to menopause-related

hormone deficiency should be especially cautious in eating these

foods. I also recommend avoiding refined sugar due to its vasoconstrictive

effects, which causes decreased circulation to the skin. Replace

these foods with other choices high in water and mineral content,

such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, soups,

and salads.

Finally, make sure you are getting plenty of antioxidants,

like vitamins C, E, and A (as beta-carotene). Sunlight has been

shown to slowly destroy the dermis, causing it to lose its resilience

and become thin and weak, thus creating sags, creases, and wrinkles.

Research has shown that these antioxidants will provide you with

added protection beyond sunscreen to prevent ultraviolet light-induced

inflammation, dryness, and damage to the skin. One study found that

volunteers who took vitamin C and vitamin E every day for 50 days

were able to protect themselves from sunburn more effectively than

those volunteers taking one or no antioxidants.

I recommend taking 6003,000 mg of vitamin

C a day, in divided dosages; 4002,000 IU of vitamin

E a day; and 5,00025,000 IU of beta-carotene per

day.

Read More on Aging Beautifully:

Getting Started

Nutritional Therapies

Complementary Therapies