Back To Basics: How What you Eat can Determine if you get wrinkles or not

4 foods that prevent collagen from breaking down

It seems everywhere you look these days there are new anti wrinkle creams and facial rejunvenators. Lots of them are very high priced. What makes it even worse are that some of them are no different than snake oil.

So maybe  the answers lie outside the department store. I recently read a book called "The Wrinkle Cure" by Dr. Nicholas Perricone who has been featured on Oprah.

A key piece of advice I gleaned from the book  was that an anti-inflammatory diet is the key to wrinkle-free skin. He says that inflammation speeds up the rate at which collagen(think glue for the skin) is broken down.

4 foods he recommended that protect collagen from breaking down are:

1. Green Tea: The antioxidants in green tea help fight free radicals which accelerate aging. It also contains a compound called Theanine which can elevate your mood.
2. Cinnamon: There are several active ingredients that increases the cells defense against aging. All you need is 1/4 tbsp. a day to prevent winkle formation.
3. Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Cold Pressed is best since it changes the chemical structure of it. It contains lots of an antioxidant called Polyphenol and the essential fatty acids in the oil feed the skin providing anti-inflammatory activity.
4. Salmon: Wild Salmon is the best. It is arguably the best source for heart healthy protein and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

A few other lifestyle tips that you can implement into your daily regiment that can immediately reduce your wrinkles include.

1)Exercise: Through various studies it has shown that people who exercise regularly contain healthier collagen.
2) Smoking: Avoid it like the plague! Not only is it bad for lung health but increases the production of an enzyme that breaks down the supply of collagen.

3) Diet: Sugar in all forms, processed foods, pasta, bread, pastries, and snacks like chips and pretzels are very pro-inflammatory creating a highly destructive response.

4)Sun exposure: Extended periods of sun exposure over time reduces collagen levels. This is caused by the UV-A rays which generate free radicals that oxidize proteins, lipids and DNA in the skin. All this creates a shortage of a molecule used to make collagen. 

5)Short Naps: They give you extra energy and make you more alert throughout the day.

For many more tips and strategies into all-natural anti aging advice you can check out Dr. Perricone's book:
The Wrinkle Cure: The Formula for Stopping Time