A Healthy Lifestyle Will Benefit Your Skin
It depends on diet
A well-balanced diet should be low in fat, and high in protein and roughage. It should also be varied. Vitamins (like vitamin C, vitamin E, betacarotene) and minerals (like calcium, magnesium, selenium) work to maintain the cells and the bones. In order to have a healthy, well-balanced diet , a person should eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Low-fat milk products, fish and poultry can be added to the list, as can wholemeal products. Sweets should be enjoyed in moderation. Some people may find it advisable to take a multi-vitamin as a supplement.
Being overweight affects the production of essential hormones. To lose weight, some anti-ageing medical practitioners recommend what is known as the "dinner cancelling" method, in addition to a regular diet. This involves doing without an evening meal on two days in the week. Starting at 4.00 pm on each of these two days, the person is only allowed to drink herb tea and water. The most recent discoveries in molecular biology have shown that the body can best regenerate and reconstitute itself when the organism is required to use a minimum of energy, i.e. when a person sleeps, the body temperature is low and there is no digestion process going on. In addition, fasting also stimulates hormone production.
A glass for the occasion
Several studies have demonstrated that moderate alcohol consumption is not detrimental to health. One glass of wine a day can even be regarded as healthy, as it encourages the defences of the immune system. But it is also known that immoderate alcohol consumption does have an effect over time, including advancing the ageing process. Alcohol is a factor contributing to the occurrence of various diseases, as it attacks the cells, hastens their breakdown and has a toxic effect on the entire organism.
Beware of nicotine
Following the sun, nicotine is public enemy number two for the skin. Smokers generally look older. The formation of wrinkles in smokers can be as much as five times more advanced than in non-smokers of the same age. This is due to an enzyme that reduces the collagen, which is responsible for the elasticity of the skin throughout the body. In addition to skin damage, smoking affects the sensory cells, accelerates the ageing of the brain and puts a person's health at risk: there is a greater risk of cancer (especially lung cancer).
Exercise keeps you fit and youthful
To maintain physical fitness, both vigorous athletic exercises and endurance training are required. It has been proven that vigorous athletic exercises alone are not enough to maintain good health: it needs to be supplemented with an exercise system that benefits the heart and circulation. According to experts in sports medicine, exercises which avoid putting any undue strain on the joints, are most suitable, such as energetic walking, jogging in the woods, swimming, bicycling or gymnastics. Training sessions should last 20 to 30 minutes at least, and should take place at least four times a week.
Stress makes you age
Stress is another ageing factor. To cope with stress, the body and mind should be given sufficient opportunities to relax. Yoga, autogenous training or relaxing baths help to cope with stress and to "switch off" for a while.