Sometimes all it takes to turn back the clock is eating the right things and soon you could have a dewy complexion to rival Blake Lively.
The ‘you are what you eat’ philosophy not only applies to good health, but also how our skin looks and feels.
Just look at Katy Perry – when she knew she was going to be on the cover of Vogue she went on a three month detox to make sure she looked her absolute best.
Katy said: "I kind of went on a cleanse…I did a lot of stuff like vitamins and supplements, I changed my coffee to green tea, I didn't drink any alcohol for three months. So I was really in the zone; I just wanted to be glowing for that cover."
As well as eating the right foods, there are certain ones to avoid.
Too much sugar has an ageing effect on the skin – reducing its elasticity – so avoid the white stuff, sugary drinks like Coca-Cola and Red Bull and processed foods including crisps and takeaways which are full of calories but lack nutrients, to keep wrinkles at bay.
For healthy hair, a palm-size portion of protein per meal is key.
Make sure your diet is rich in oily fish, lean meats like chicken or pork loin, eggs and nuts.
According to one study, people who start the day with a protein-rich breakfast consume 200 fewer calories a day – so not only will you look younger you will be slimmer too.
It's a win-win!
When it comes to supporting strong nails, your iron intake is important – plenty of dark leafy green vegetables and occasional lean red meat.
If you are vegetarian, make sure to eat a healthy combination of protein-rich pulses, tofu and nuts.
Here's a youth-boosting high-protein recipe, created by Inner Me’s resident nutritionist Amanda Hamilton, to get you started:
Cajun Chicken and Crispy Slaw
Ingredients:
480 g lean chicken breast
320 ml low fat natural yoghurt
1 lemon, medium
1 carrot, medium
1 red cabbage, small
4 tomato, medium
1 cucumber, medium
20 sprigs fresh parsley
4 tsp Cajun spice
4 tsp wholegrain mustard
4 tsp paprika
Method:
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Cut the chicken breast into thin slices and toss with a little oil.
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Mix the paprika and cajun spice and coat the chicken in the spice mixture.
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Place the chicken slices onto a hot grill pan, or frying pan and grill for 3-4 minutes each side until fully cooked.
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Meanwhile make the coleslaw by mixing the yoghurt and mustard together.
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Chop the onion, carrot, cucumber, tomato and red cabbage into very small chunks or thin slices and mix with the yoghurt mixture and chopped parsley.
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Serve the chicken with the coleslaw and a wedge of lemon to squeeze over if desired.
Make a batch of crispy slaw and have tomorrow’s lunch sorted too!
This recipe was created by Inner Me’s resident nutritionist Amanda Hamilton as part of a meal plan designed to help you maintain peachy, youthful, clear skin when taken alongside the Inner Me supplement Beautify Me.
More information about Inner Me can be found here.
For a personalised diet plan why not visit Closer Diets. Just click here to get started.