the wrong side of 30

I'm dreading tomorrow morning. It's my birthday you see and even though I'm the height of the average 13 year old I'm going to be twice that age (and a good deal more). I've started obsessing about wrinkles and even had a dream about getting (bad) botox the other night.

The only thing that puts my mind at rest is that I'm doing everything I can slow down the ageing process, fingers crossed. The answer to this doesn't lie in a magic jar of face cream but in your fridge and kitchen cupboards. There's a few nutrition essentials for your skin and I didn't learn this from studying nutrition but from my peachy skinned Mum (thanks Mum).

My top 5 foods for skin health -

1. Blueberries and oranges - vitamin C is really important for your skin as it plays a central role in collagen production, the protein found in skin. Vitamin C is also an anti-oxidant so it mops up the free radicals which cause cell damage.

2. A handful of almonds - if you suffer from dry skin like me the vitamin E in almonds will help with the natural moisturisation of the skin.

3.Carrots and mangoes - contains vitamin A  which helps maintain and repair skin cells. It is also an anti-oxidant.

4. Flaxseed oil - omega-3 oils are great for skin (especially in  the winter months with the heating on at full blast) and this oil is a brilliant source.

5. Avocado - the niacin (vitamin B3)  in avocado can act as an anti-inflammatory and can soothe irritated skin. I spent a whole year picking and eating them on a farm in my 20s and I'm rather glad I did.

So I'm off to make myself a blueberry, carrot, almond and avocado salad with flaxseed oil dressing. On the otherhand I might just grab a smoothie and be  rest assured that I'll wake up tomorrow looking 29 (and a bit) again.

Let me know if you have questions

Bye for now

dr shilps

Comments

[Bim]

You're absolutely gorgeous, I would say around 24.

Is there anything I can take for thickening the skin (if at all)? If feels too a bit loose like I've already got wrinkles.

And what else is good for dry skin? I can't eat almonds. I feel after a day at work (in London), my face feels a little greasey? Anything I can do?

Great blog. Ciao

[Sam]

Happy birthday Shilpee!
Thanks for all the great advice.

I've always wondered, is an apple and a yogurt a suitable amount for breakfast?

Have a good day,
Sam