A health expert has urged people to ditch creams, serums and Botox in favour of a more natural approach to combat signs of premature ageing. Dr Eric Berg DC, who specialises in healthy ketosis and intermittent fasting, suggests tackling the issue from the inside out by consuming vitamin and mineral-rich superfoods.
In his latest YouTube video, 'How to reverse ageing', which has been viewed by his 12 million subscribers, he shares several anti-ageing hacks that could be more effective than cosmetics. The author of best-selling book, The Healthy Keto Plan, and Director of Dr Berg Nutritional, explains that wrinkles and lines appear as we age due to a loss of collagen in our connective tissue.
"By 40, we've lost around 25% of the collagen in our connective tissue," he said. "Certain antibiotics, ultraviolet radiation, high sugar consumption, and poor diet can contribute to collagen breakdown and speed up premature aging."
Collagen is a crucial protein that maintains the structure and strength of various connective tissues such as skin, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It is produced by the body from amino acids taken in through food.
However, this ability starts to decline after the age of 20. Besides diet, Dr Berg believes exercise is the most potent stimulus of collagen, reports Gloucestershire Live.
He recommends focusing on plank exercises, eccentric exercises, and sprinting. "Not only will these exercises make you look younger, but they’ll also improve the health of the vessels, valves, and tissues around your heart," he added.
In terms of what you should eat, the expert dishes out advice on several anti-ageing vitamins and minerals that are a must in your diet to fend off the signs of ageing. Dr Berg says the best vitamins and minerals to 'reverse ageing' include a good dose of vitamin C, which is crucial for collagen production. He rates raw sauerkraut as a top pick for its high vitamin C content.
Vitamin K2 is another hero for maintaining youthful skin, the expert says, pointing to liver, egg yolk, and butter as prime sources. "It also helps give your skin a youthful glow", he adds.
Dr Berg also highlights the importance of vitamin D in guarding against collagen loss and premature aging. To keep your body's collagen levels high, magnesium is your ally, with dark chocolate, almonds, and spinach being the go-to options.
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Getty)Zinc is also on the list for its skin-preserving and wound-healing properties, found aplenty in oysters, red meat, and liver. Copper gets a nod from Dr Berg too, with oysters, red meat, shellfish, liver, and dark chocolate being rich in it.
And when it comes to protein, it's not just any kind that will do. "High-quality protein is crucial in keeping you healthy and helping you look younger," he insists. "Grass-fed beef is the best source."
Protein is good for collagen because it provides the amino acids that your body needs to make collagen. Some foods exist that already contain collagen including all animal muscle tissue (not organ tissue), bone broth, egg whites, spirulina, chicken feet and tougher cuts of red meat like pot roast, chuck steak, and brisket.
Dr Berg says there are anti-ageing benefits of intermittent fasting too, a practice that can trigger a process in the body known as autophagy, which he claims has powerful 'youthful' effects. Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern where you go without food for several hours each day.
It's often lauded for its potential benefits, including weight loss, disease prevention, and even slowing down the ageing process. By going without food for 10 to 16 hours, your body uses its fat reserves for energy, leading to the production of ketones - fatty acids that enter the bloodstream.
These ketones could enhance memory and learning while also helping to slow down certain disease processes in the brain. However, intermittent fasting isn't suitable for everyone, and some people might not be able to do it - it's always best to consult your doctor first.
"You must also prioritise sleep to reverse aging and have a youthful glow. Oxytocin is one of the most powerful anti-stress hormones," Dr Berg concluded. Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is key to maintaining good health.
While some vitamin and mineral-rich foods may help increase your body's collagen levels, it won't completely stop you from ageing, but can help reduce signs on your skin.
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