There are two processes in the body that can seriously speed up the visible signs of aging on our skin.
These two processes are Inflammation and Oxidation
So what are these processes?
How do they age us and what can we do about it?
Inflammation
“Inflammation is your immune system’s response to any problematic substance that has entered the body”
~ Dr Libby Weaver, Beauty from the Inside Out
Inflammation is the normal, natural response of your immune system to damage, infection or the presence of problematic substances in the body.
Problematic substances like:
- Inflammatory foods
- Pathogenic microbes
- Partially digested proteins from food or microbes
- Environmental toxins and pollutants
These problematic substances can come into our bodies through our skin, our gut and the air we breathe.
When we’re exposed to these problematic substances over a long time it can lead to chronic, whole body inflammation and increase our risk of disease.
Chronic inflammation in the body can also show up on the skin.
This is because we have an abundance of immune cells in our skin that help to protect us from the outside world. These immune cells can be hyper-responsive to inflammation from the inside, leading to red, inflamed and easily irritated skin and also skin issues like eczema, acne and rosacea.
Inflammation can also damage collagen in our skin. Collagen proteins in skin help keep our skin soft and supple, but inflammation can damage collagen and speed up the formation of lines and wrinkles.

Oxidation
“Free radicals cause all living things to age and decay. They are the reason an apple left on your bench turns brown and shrivels up”
~ Dr Libby Weaver, Beauty from the Inside Out
Free radicals occur naturally in the body and cause oxidative damage to anything they come into contact with, like cells, DNA or collagen. This leads to the body’s tissues aging prematurely, forming scar tissue and dying.
Free radicals are created by:
- Stress
- High intensity exercise
- Cigarette smoke
- Environmental toxins and pollutants
- Over exposure to sunlight
These stressors create free radicals and lead to oxidative stress in the body.
Oxidative stress can cause skin’s collagen to dry out, shrivel and shrink, reducing elasticity and speeding up the formation of lines and wrinkles.

To find out why sun exposure is good for us and how you can stay safe in the sun with minimal UV damage, watch or listen to our Mind Body Beauty episode with Dr. Anastasia Boulais
SO GO FOR

Then if you really want to super charge things…
Here are 10 Anti-aging Super Foods that might be surprising to you
They all support one or more of the 5 internal processes that promote healthy skin – the gut, liver, hormones, blood sugar balance and the skin itself –
They’re also anti-inflammatory and many of them contain antioxidants
10 Anti-aging Super Foods

#1 BONE BROTH or HIGH QUALITY GELATIN
Bone broth and grass fed gelatin are both dietary sources of collagen. Eating or drinking collagen boosts the body’s own collagen production, helping to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin elasticity. Gelatin also helps to support the gut and healthy digestion, which is often the starting place for inflammation in the body.
PC Pete Evans

#2 OILY FISH
Including salmon, tuna, trout, sardines, mackerel and anchovies. Oily Fish are a rich, whole food source of Omega 3 fatty acids – EPA and DHA. These are essential fatty acids that reduce inflammation in the body and the skin.
Fresh salmon contains antioxidants, CoQ10 and astaxanthin, which protect cells from oxidation and premature aging, support collagen production and improve skin elasticity

#3 TRADITIONAL FATS
Including grass-fed tallow and ghee, grass fed beef and lamb. Traditional animal fats supply cholesterol and fatty acids needed to keep skin cell membranes healthy and supple, helping to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Grass-fed animal fats contain anti-inflammatory fatty acids and are a rich source of fat- soluble vitamins A, D, E, & K. All of which are critical for good skin health.
Vitamins A & E are also powerful antioxidants that protect cells from oxidation and premature aging

#4 FREE RANGE EGG YOLKS
Including chicken, duck or goose egg yolks – or whole eggs if you tolerate them. Egg yolks contain fat-soluble antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure. Egg yolks also contain anti-inflammatory fatty acids and Vitamin D (when free range or pasture raised) as well as sulphur, which is needed for collagen synthesis and synthesis of our body’s own antioxidant enzyme, glutathione.

#5 LIVER
Including grass-fed beef liver, free range chicken liver or desiccated liver pills. Liver is a rich source of zinc, which helps to regulate skin’s oil production and balance the hormones that can drive acne.
Liver also contains fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E & K, all critical for good skin health. Vitamins A & E are also powerful antioxidants that protect cells from oxidation and premature aging
PC Pete Evans

#6 FERMENTED FOODS
Including kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented carrot or beetroot, kefir or probiotic supplements. These can help reduce systemic inflammation and oxidative stress as well as prevent blood sugar spikes, balance hormones and reduce insulin driven outbreaks of acne and other inflammatory skin conditions.
PC Pete Evans

#7 LEAFY GREENS
Including dark leafy greens in particular – kale, spinach, collard greens, lettuces, watercress, beet leaves, chard, silver beet and herbs. The darkest leafy greens contain the most antioxidants, important for preventing free radical damage and protecting against signs of aging. Leafy greens also contain magnesium, B vitamins and chlorophyll, which support hormone function and liver detoxification, important for radiant, healthy looking skin.

#8 SHELLFISH
Including oysters, mussels, prawns and crayfish. Shellfish are a rich, whole food source of omega 3’s.
Omega 3’s are anti-inflammatory and help skin’s moisture retention and firmness, improving the appearance of dry skin, acne, eczema and psoriasis.

#9 TEA
Including green tea, matcha green tea and herbal blends. Different blends contain different antioxidants and can support dfferent bodily functions.
Burdock, nettle, milk thistle and dandelion teas are anti-inflammatory and detoxifying, helping to calm skin and improve conditions like eczema and acne. Green Tea contains EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) a powerful antioxidant that helps to reduce UV damage, slow collagen breakdown and improve skin cell regeneration for more youthful looking skin. Matcha green tea is highest in antioxidants.

#10 TURMERIC
Can be fresh turmeric or powdered, either way turmeric is best warmed and taken with natural fats or black pepper for best absorption. Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant which helps to boost the activity of the body’s own antioxidant enzyme, glutathione. It also contains Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps to reduce any free radical damage from sun exposure.
Vitamin C also helps with collagen production and preventing the signs of premature aging.
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10 Surprising Super Foods for Healthy Skin with recipes by Pete Evans
Includes a run down on the 2 Processes that speed up visible signs of aging, the 5 internal processes that can impact skin health, the beauty benefits of my top 10 super foods, their key nutrients and suggestions for preparing them ...as well as a specially selected recipe by Pete Evans for each of the 10 Super FoodsWishing you silky smooth skin,
SOURCES:
- http://organicbeautyandskin.com/what-is-my-skin-type/benefits-of-hyaluronic-acid.html
- The Gelatin Secret eBook, Sylvie McCracken
- The Skintervention Guide eBook, Liz Wolfe
- Nutrition for Healthy Skin, Chris Kresserhttp://organicbeautyandskin.com/what-is-my-skin-type/benefits-of-hyaluronic- acid.html
- The Healthy Skin Diet, Karen Fischer
- The Eczema Diet, Karen Fischer
- Dr Libby’s Beauty from the Inside Out, Dr Libby Weaver
- Know your Fats, Mary Enig
- http://lindaprout.com/nodietblog/2013/01/08/low-fat-diets-dry-out-skin/
- http://lindaprout.com/nodietblog/2013/08/27/reverse-skin-aging/
- http://muktiorganicskincare.com/green-smoothies-natural-skincare-in-a-glass/
- http://authoritynutrition.com/11-most-nutrient-dense-foods-on-the-planet/
- http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric/
- http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/nutrition/nutrition+tips/why+you+should+eat+turmeric,8123
- http://bodyecology.com/articles/4-vegetables#.VGlLzYf8zGs
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_immunity
- http://www.detoxandbodycleanse.com/human-body-systems/facts-about-skin/
- Going Paleo, Pete Evans