When you’re under 21, you’re eager to get into a club with a fake id and bribe the bartender with your smile and “wisdom beyond your years.”
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However, what most of us don’t realize is once we finally do reach 21, we’re going to wish we still needed that fake id to enter the club of our dreams. Once you reach your 20s, you start to notice the dark circles under your eyes, or the couple white hairs that begin to appear.
You instantly regret wishing you were older when you were a freshman.
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Not to worry, fellow foodies. Here some are delicious and healthy foods you can start incorporating into your diet to slow the aging process.
Watermelon
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According to nutritionist Keri Glassman, watermelon contains a great amount of lycopene, which is a great antioxidant when it comes to protecting the skin from UV damage from the sun. Watermelons also contain about 92% water, so it’s also a great way to stay hydrated.
Watermelons are awesome to eat after all those late nights of binge drinking, and during all those summer days when you would tan all day. Interested in more ways to add watermelon into you diet? Check out these 13 ways to eat watermelon.
Blueberries
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If you start to notice your skin lacking brightness and glow after nights dedicated to studying or partying, then eat more blueberries. Health magazine points out how blueberries contain both vitamins C and E. Blueberries not only brighten skin, but these antioxidants also help the appearance of an even skin tone.
Eggs
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Your fingernails and toenails are made of proteins, and eggs are an excellent way to keep your nails feeling thick and looking healthy. Dr. Frank Lipman, director of Eleven-Eleven Wellness Center in New York City explains how eggs contain biotin, a B complex vitamin, which helps metabolize amino acids. Biotin is the building blocks of protein. Eat more eggs, so your nails can be manicure and pedicure ready.
Walnuts
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Eating more walnuts allows your body to intake omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, which are great for maintaining healthy hair. Dr. Lipman suggests eating ¼ cup a day of walnuts will give you all the nutrients you need to maintain the natural oils to keep your hair hydrated.
The fatty acids and the vitamin E will also help repair any hair damage. What’s even more amazing about walnuts, is that it’s packed with copper, which helps you keep your natural hair color from going gray. Eating walnuts means less hair appointments when we’re older. I’ll take some walnuts to go, please.
Avocado
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If you want to keep your skin from drying out, then eat more avocados! Avocados are rich in oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid that helps keep skin soft and plump. Another plus for avocados is that they are the main ingredient to make guacamole. No one can resist a good cup of guacamole, and you shouldn’t either with all the benefits it can provide our skin with. Check out these creative ways to incorporate avocado into your dishes.
Kale
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Kale is a great leafy green to eat and include in your meals. Kale has vitamin K, which promotes healthy blood clotting and a good amount of iron. According to Howard Murad, associate clinical professor of medicine at UCLA, if you don’t consume sufficient levels of iron, your skin will look pale and blood vessels will become easily visible under your skin. Trust me when I say, none of us want to look like the walking dead.
You may not be able to go back in time to look like your teenage self, but you do have the possibility of living a healthy lifestyle now to prevent any further damage to your body. Trust me, these foods with help you look good and feel good at the same damn time.
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