Researchers have known for a long time that how we treat our bodies has a profound effect on the way that they ultimately look.
We’re not just talking about weight gain either. The foods that you eat can have a profound impact on your complexion.
Take the woman, for instance, who decided to drink alcohol every night for a month straight. Before the experiment, she was an ordinary-looking woman with regular features. By the end of it, she looked drawn and tired as though the alcohol had had a massive effect on her body.
You can do the same but in reverse. Take somebody who is eating a standard western diet and then feed them a diet closer to what our ancestors would have eaten. All of a sudden, their faces look healthier and more vibrant – as if they are years younger.
Here are some small lifestyle changes that you can implement right now to improve your look.
Start Brushing With Whitening Toothpaste
Over time, teeth can become stained. It’s partly aging, and partly the accumulation of plant chemicals called tannins on the surface of the teeth. Dental whitening effectively bleaches these compounds, helping them to appear to be the same color as the rest of your teeth.
Increase Your Intake Of Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are among the healthiest foods in the world. The reason for this is their high concentration of beta-carotene, a special kind of plant compounds.
Researchers now think that our bodies use the same chemicals that make sweet potatoes orange in our skin. As you eat more of these carotenes, your body shuttles them to skin cells, bolstering their defenses against UV. A subtle side effect is that these chemicals also give your skin a healthy glow.
Don’t Drink As Much Alcohol
As we discussed in the introduction, drinking alcohol is a big no-no if you want supple, young-looking skin. Not only does alcohol dry out the skin, but it also leads to high blood sugar levels, which damage the blood vessels that serve it. The more damaged the blood vessels are, the fewer nutrients are available, and the worse the skin appears.
Start Using Plant-Based Serums
Researchers are increasingly coming to believe that the reason fruits and veggies are so healthy is that they contain a set of compounds that put our bodies into survival mode. When you eat healthily, you signal to your body to repair and rejuvenate your cells, making them act younger, preventing disease.
Interestingly, the same process appears to get underway when you put plant compounds on your skin. They work their way through the epidermis into the skin cells beneath, providing health benefits.
Today, you can get loads of serums that contain plant compounds that help improve the quality of your skin. Examples include rosehip oil and jojoba oil. Not only do these oils moisturize, keeping the skin supple, but they also help it act younger too.
Make Happier Facial Expressions
Throughout our lifetime, the facial expressions that we make can impact the way that we look. Try smiling more and frowning less.
