Post by debbie on Jan 25, 2008 13:57:08 GMT
. . . apparently chocolate, strawberries and red wine are the secret of youth! Oh happy day!
Strawberries
One reason for wrinkles is that the fibres that give our skin its elasticity and “bounce” – collagen and elastin – are damaged over the years by sunlight, pollution and other factors. Strawberries and raspberries contain flavonoids that help to slow down this process, and lots of vitamin C, which also helps to keep skin fibres in good condition. Not only that, but the particular cocktail of supernutrients in strawberries may even help to slow ageing in our brains, so we feel younger, too.
Chocolate
The flavonoids in chocolate seem to have a mild blood-thinning effect, helping the circulation. This is good for our hearts and also means that more nutrients can reach the skin, hair follicles and nail beds. Chocolate also gives us some copper, which is needed to make the skin pigments that help to reduce sun damage and keep hair from going grey. It seems that you can obtain the good effects of flavonoids by regularly eating a few squares of chocolate that contains 70 per cent cocoa.
Red wine
Both red wine and red grape juice are full of hundreds of antioxidants, including flavonoids, which work together to help keep our blood vessels in great shape and blood pressure in check. This could help to reduce the risk of little broken veins under our skin and in our eyes. Remember, though, that women are advised to drink no more than 1-2 units of alcohol a day, and that one unit is equivalent to a 125ml glass of wine that is 9 per cent alcohol by volume.
Tea
While certain flavonoids in “normal” black tea seem to help lower cholesterol, others found in green tea apparently help to prevent tooth decay and gum problems.
Apples
The flavonoids in apples sit just under the skin (so don’t peel the fruit). They seem to help to fight inflammation, which is a major factor in ageing, and the pectin they contain helps to keep blood sugar levels steady – another factor in skin ageing.
Oranges and grapefruit
These and other citrus fruits give us hesperetin, a flavonoid that helps to regenerate vitamin C, allowing it to play its part in deactivating free radicals produced through exposure to ultraviolet light and pollutants.
Strawberries
One reason for wrinkles is that the fibres that give our skin its elasticity and “bounce” – collagen and elastin – are damaged over the years by sunlight, pollution and other factors. Strawberries and raspberries contain flavonoids that help to slow down this process, and lots of vitamin C, which also helps to keep skin fibres in good condition. Not only that, but the particular cocktail of supernutrients in strawberries may even help to slow ageing in our brains, so we feel younger, too.
Chocolate
The flavonoids in chocolate seem to have a mild blood-thinning effect, helping the circulation. This is good for our hearts and also means that more nutrients can reach the skin, hair follicles and nail beds. Chocolate also gives us some copper, which is needed to make the skin pigments that help to reduce sun damage and keep hair from going grey. It seems that you can obtain the good effects of flavonoids by regularly eating a few squares of chocolate that contains 70 per cent cocoa.
Red wine
Both red wine and red grape juice are full of hundreds of antioxidants, including flavonoids, which work together to help keep our blood vessels in great shape and blood pressure in check. This could help to reduce the risk of little broken veins under our skin and in our eyes. Remember, though, that women are advised to drink no more than 1-2 units of alcohol a day, and that one unit is equivalent to a 125ml glass of wine that is 9 per cent alcohol by volume.
Tea
While certain flavonoids in “normal” black tea seem to help lower cholesterol, others found in green tea apparently help to prevent tooth decay and gum problems.
Apples
The flavonoids in apples sit just under the skin (so don’t peel the fruit). They seem to help to fight inflammation, which is a major factor in ageing, and the pectin they contain helps to keep blood sugar levels steady – another factor in skin ageing.
Oranges and grapefruit
These and other citrus fruits give us hesperetin, a flavonoid that helps to regenerate vitamin C, allowing it to play its part in deactivating free radicals produced through exposure to ultraviolet light and pollutants.
