A SUREFIRE PLAN TO LOOKING ( AND FEELING) YOUNGER

By Dr. Joseph Mercola
with Rachael Droege

While you can"t prevent getting older, there are some steps you can take that will drastically affect the way you look and feel as you age. There is a big correlation between how you look and how you feel--when most of us think of looking younger we picture someone with a glowing complexion, firm skin and a youthful energy, in other words we picture someone who looks healthy. Well, looking healthy comes from the inside out, so the most important thing you can do is improve how you feel by fortifying your body with nutrients and rest. When you feel good on the inside, you will naturally look healthy on the outside too.

We"ve all seen those people who we know are "older" but yet they still "look great." Well, here is how you can become one of those people--and you don"t need cosmetic surgery to do it. Plus, since you"re addressing your health from the inside you will not only look great, but you"ll feel great as well.

There is a reason why the phrase "you are what you eat" became popular. I cannot stress enough how important diet is in the way you look and feel. If you choose to eat primarily junk food and processed food, not only are you not giving your body the nutrients it needs, but also you are consciously ingesting toxins that your body will have to work to remove.





You Are What You Eat

On the other hand, if you eat a diet full of pure, whole foods, your body will be healthy and will have the nutrients to devote to things such as skin and hair. If you want the details of a diet that is truly anti-aging, check out my nutrition plan.

There are many factors that come into play in respect to diet and aging. Some scientists believe thatcutting calories is an effective anti-aging strategy. I do believe that eating less is likely to be healthier for us in the long run. This is largely related to reductions in insulin levels, the major accelerant of aging. Insulin levels can be kept to a minimum by reducing or eliminating grains and sugar in your diet.

Consuming sugar and grains will increase your insulin level, and that is the equivalent of slamming your foot on the aging accelerator. There is simply no more potent way to accelerate aging than eating sugar and grains.

Along with the healthy diet described in my nutrition plan, there are certain foods that are particularly helpful to looking younger, such as blueberries. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants that have anti-aging effects. Most fruits and especially vegetables contain antioxidants, but blueberries have been ranked #1 in antioxidant activity by the USDA when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables. We now carry delicious and convenient Wild Blueberry IQ Softgel Capsules in our store that are made from whole fresh blueberries -- and contain 40mg of potent disease fighting anthocyanins per capsule -- more than any other available supplement!

Another excellent anti-aging food is coconut oil, and this one is doubly beneficial because it can be eaten and applied directly to your skin. Coconut oil can be used in place of oils, margarine, butter or shortening and used for all your cooking needs. It can help you lose weight, or maintain your already good weight, reduce the risk of heart disease and lower your cholesterol, among other things.

Plus, coconut oil can be used as a face and body lotion to reveal younger looking skin. Since it prevents destructive free-radical formation and provides protection against them, the coconut oil will not only bring temporary relief to the skin, but it will aid in healing and repairing. It can help to keep the skin from developing liver spots and other blemishes caused by aging and over exposure to sunlight, and it helps to prevent sagging and wrinkling by keeping connective tissues strong and supple. In some cases it might even restore damaged or diseased skin.

If this sounds surprising, I encourage you to read "The Truth About Coconut Oil: Why it Got a Bad Rep When it"s Actually Good." Also, be sure you only use a healthy and safe coconut oil, such as the premier virgin coconut oil we offer on this site.

Routine consumption of omega-3 fats through fish oil is another highly recommended method to feel and look younger. Fish oil contains high levels of the best omega-3 fats--those with the EPA and DHA fatty acids--and, as it is in pure form, does not pose themercury risk of fresh fish. Fish oil will help you to normalize your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.  I personally take and recommend krill oil for your source of omega-3 fats.

Also, make sure that you drink plenty of pure water throughout the day, as this will help to hydrate your skin and flush toxins from your body.

Smile During the Day and Get Your Beauty Sleep at Night

There is quite a bit of truth behind the term "beauty sleep." That"s because when you sleep your body is able to repair cells and rest your heart and mind. It"s imperative that your body has a chance to revitalize itself overnight. Too many nights of missed sleep will show up on your face and will take a toll on your body too.

While you"re awake make sure that you take some time to enjoy life. It"s no illusion that stressful events seem to make wrinkles and gray hairs appear overnight. Stress will wear you down both inside and out--it has been estimated that up to 90 percent of illness and disease is stress-related.




If you feel that stress is taking a toll on your health, consider using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), a type of psychological acupressure. EFT is remarkably effective in relieving stress associated with all kinds of events, from work to family to trauma. You can check out my free, 25-page EFT manual for some guidelines on how to perform EFT.