How to Look Younger Without Plastic Surgery

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With the cosmetic world in a frenzy to create newer, less invasive plastic surgery techniques and longer lasting injectables to make aging faces look younger, a study of identical twins confirms that stress, strain and poor lifestyle choices can make the difference between a fresh, youthful looking face and a haggard, wrinkled one.

The study, conducted by the Department of Plastic Surgery at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals, Cleveland, examined the wrinkles on the faces of 186 pairs of identical twins. Given that twins would be genetically programmed to age the same way, researchers hoped to determine external factors that caused differences in aging. Each person filled out a detailed lifestyle questionnaire and digital images of their faces were studied.

Here’s the rundown of some of the factors that the researchers found can make you look older, faster:

• Divorce: Those who went through a divorce looked on average, two years older than their identical twin, whether or not that twin was married, single or widowed.
• Anti-Depressants: Since these medications contain muscle relaxants, docs felt they might be responsible for sagging skin. But on reflection, some said it might be that depression itself was the cause. Lack of sleep, poor eating habits, smoking and drinking might all increase in a depressed person. And all those problems have long been associated with accelerated aging.
  
  
  
• Weight Fluctuations: Interestingly, if you’re overweight before 40, you’re perceived as looking older. If you’re overweight after 40, your face often looks younger, a result of the “plumping” factor under your skin. While no one suggests avoiding needed weight loss to have a wrinkle free face. Losing weight slowly and in a healthful way can help avoid excessive facial aging.

Study author, Bhaman Guyuron, MD, says non-genetic factors are major contributors to wrinkles, lines and blotchiness. In addition to poor lifestyle choices, anything  that contributes to a person’s stress will show up later sooner or later on their faces, whether it’s your marriage, your job, your kids or you finances.

If you’re concerned about maintaining a youthful glow and minimizing wrinkles as you get older, consider first things first:

1. Make healthy food choices. Eating the right antioxidants, vitamins and fats can keep your skin looking great. Opt for fruits, veggies and whole grains, and avoid sugars and refined flours.

2. Don’t smoke.

3. Avoid excessive sun exposure and use sunscreens.

4. Limit your consumption of alcohol.

5. Get a good night’s sleep.

6. Exercise regularly.

7. Find stress reduction techniques that work for you, whether it’s meditation, talk therapy, progressive relaxation, yoga, etc.

8. Use supplements for an even better edge. These supplements can help prevent the aging of your skin:

• Vitamin C is used to make collagen, the connective tissue that plumps up the structure underlying your skin. It, too, helps reduce sun damage, used internally or externally. Get 1,000 – 3,000 mg daily.
• Vitamin E helps protect your skin from damage caused by sun exposure.  It’s best used as both a vitamin supplement  (at least 400 – 800 IU daily) and as a lotion.
• Carotenoids can help protect your skin against sunburn — they provide an SPF of about 4. It takes at least 10 weeks of supplementation before you build up to sun-protective levels, so it is best to use carotenoids along with sunscreen. Beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene can all help shield skin from sun damage.
  
• Standardized, high antioxidant berry extracts provide concentrated amounts of a unique compound shown to fight wrinkles.
• Omega-3 fatty acids are used in your body to make the oils that help keep your skin moist and supple, and that reduce inflammation and allergy-related eczema. Fish oil is the most concentrated source of omega-3s.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Optimal nutrition has a positive impact on your health and the health of your skin. Healthy weight loss is always best achieved slowly, with nutritional support and exercise. Topical creams that contain antioxidants can support healthy, well-nourished skin, minimizing the effects of aging with invasive techniques.

Tags: antioxidants, healthy aging, holistic nutrition, natural health, skin care, skin health