7 Dietary Methods for Skin as White as Porcelain

Do you love eating meat? Those large, fat-filled, sugary foods may not only leave a sense of happiness in our brains... they may also leave their marks on our skin. When too much sugar rushes into our cells, the body produces metabolic byproducts called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). It has been proven that AGE, also known as glucose plaques, can cause collagen to harden and lose its toughness, which will cause the skin to lose elasticity and softness as we age. The best way to prevent excess glucose production is to eat small, regular portions of low-glycemic-index foods, such as whole grains, green leafy vegetables, and other high-fiber fruits and vegetables. However, when Grandma is nagging you and begging you to have another serving of her signature cornbread, it’s hard to say no. Here are a few ways to minimize the damage. Keep watching!

Healthy eating method 1: low heat and slow work

Slow cooking does not require as high a temperature as an oven or microwave. The cold temperature reduces the release of sugars, so your body doesn’t produce as many advanced glycation products during digestion. What's more, a 2006 study by the American Botanical Society found that vegetables retain 80 percent of their antioxidant capacity when steamed, but only 30 percent when boiled. So less cooking = more antioxidant protection + less AGEs – which helps you look younger!

Healthy eating method 2: Stay away from sugar glaze

Corn or maple syrup glazes contain high levels of sugar, which in turn increases the sugar level in the blood.

Logically, the more blood sugar there is in the body, the more sugar molecules will form advanced glycation end products.

Healthy eating rule 3: Stay away from white bread and pasta

According to an article from the Harvard School of Public Health, foods with a high glycemic index (like white bread) cause blood sugar levels to spike rapidly, while foods with a low glycemic index (like whole oats) are digested more slowly and the change in blood sugar levels after eating is milder.

Healthy eating method 4: Eat more colorful vegetables high in antioxidants

Antioxidants inhibit the formation of free radicals and may even help repair some of the damage already done to your skin.

The 2006 study mentioned in Healthy Eating Method 1 found that after comparing the antioxidant capacity index of 27 kinds of vegetables, it was found that artichokes, beetroot, cabbage, broccoli, red chicory, red peppers, yellow peppers, etc. had the highest antioxidant capacity index, so they have the greatest antioxidant potential.

Healthy eating method 5: Eat more herbs and spices

After testing 15 specific herbs and six spices, sage, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, cumin, lemon balm and ginger were found to have the highest antioxidant capacity.

It was also found that salad dressings containing 1.5% lemon balm or marjoram increased their antioxidant capacity by 150% and 200% respectively.

What a cool way to cook a healthy and wholesome meal!

Healthy diet method 6: Drink green tea

Studies have found that green tea has many benefits for the skin, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and radiation protection.

While a study in the Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics showed that green tea's real anti-AGE benefits are in the heart, numerous independent scientific studies have proven that drinking green tea is extremely beneficial for your skin.

Healthy eating method 7: Drink red wine - just a little

There is evidence that red wine, grapes, prunes, peanuts, and other plant fruits containing resveratrol can increase the activity of sirtuins, the enzymes suspected of extending the lifespan of collagen-producing cells.

However, the amount of resveratrol needed to exert its anti-aging effects has not yet been determined, and large amounts of alcohol can cause inflammation and capillary dilation, so stick to one drink a day.