You may hear more now than ever, that most people have some sort of vitamin deficiencies.
It’s no surprise because we are a society who lives on processed food, gmo foods, sugar-loaded recipes, meats from antibiotic fed animals and pesticide and herbicide ridden produce. More than 23.5 million Americans are living with autoimmune diseases and chronic illness which often lead to deficiencies of many vitamins also. With all of that going on, there’s little to no chance that we’re getting all of the vitamins we need to function at our best. It doesn’t stop there, but as we grow older we become even more vulnerable to deficiencies.
So, you probably think this blog is going to be a rambling list of all the vitamins you should be taking, but instead, I’m going to tell you the some things you can do in order to keep a youthful look. Are you ready to look younger by making some simple daily changes to your lifestyle?
Why do these begin to happen once we hit our 40s and sometimes even sooner?
As we age, more vitamins and minerals are required to stay healthy and looking young. Just know, once we pass the age of fifty our cells begin to degrade. Our chromosomes have some arms, called telomeres that protect our chromosomes from damage. However, as we grow older our telomeres shorten, making us vulnerable to mutations. And a higher intake of vitamins can protect us against mutations by both preventing and fighting them.
Also, we do not store, use, or recycle vitamins as well any more. Normally our bodies do not absorb more vitamins than they need. If we do not eat enough vitamins, our bodies then need to get them from somewhere.
Sometimes we don’t even realize that we are vitamin deficient, so it will help to know some of the symptoms to beware of. Assuming that we are getting enough vitamins can be an easy way to becoming deficient, as we may not be absorbing them, recycling them, or we may simply need much more than before. Knowing the signs of vitamin deficiency and going for a blood test when we suspect a deficiency is the only sure way of telling if we are deficient.
Some of the signs aging that may be caused by vitamin deficiency include:
- dull and dry skin
- brown spots
- fine lines & wrinkles
- sagging skin
- hair loss
- less bone density
- loss of cognitive function
- weakness and fatigue
Don’t be worried, there are some things we can do to slow this aging process down!
Raise your intake of collagen
Collagen is naturally produced by cells in your skin, but it begins to decline as you age. By supplementing with collagen, you can help reduce wrinkles and slow down signs of aging. You can pick up collagen powder sold in health food stores or even your local grocery store. Some of my favorite ways to boost collagen intake are through bone broth or through plant-based foods such as blueberries, dark leafy greens, garlic, eggs, mango, carrots and white tea. You might also add some collagen powder to you morning smoothie. Just make sure it’s organic and grass fed!
Lather up the coconut oil
Coconut oil acts as natural lubrication when your skin gets dry and well moistened skin keeps wrinkles away. Coconut oil also stimulates collagen production. I like to call coconut oil a magic solution to almost everything – it even has antioxidants that also help slow down appearance of wrinkles and delay the aging process.
Get some sun – natural vitamin D
That’s right – the sun is your friend. Just don’t overdo it. Try to get outside in the sun daily for a half hour without sunscreen. Low levels of Vitamin D have been associated with diseases associated with aging such as cognitive decline, depression, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
More minerals, please!
Minerals can’t be produced by our bodies, so we need to be sure that we are adding them into our diets. Minerals contribute to bone health, energy production, balancing sodium, cell signaling and many other functions of the body. 6 major minerals that are a must, especially for anti-aging include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, and magnesium. You can find these minerals in dark leafy greens, wild-caught fish, fruits, vegetables, legumes, sea salt, avocado, pumpkin seeds and even dark chocolate.
Clean up your gut with Probiotics
Disease starts in the gut, no matter your age. As you get older, there is a higher chance of it, especially if you’re not following the necessary protocols. Let’s clean that gut up to avoid infection and disease!
If candida is not an issue, you can also add in some fermented foods like:
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchi
- Kombucha
- Kefir
- Miso
- Tempeh
- Yogurt
Aging can actually be an enjoyable experience if you make it that way. Start making the difference today by making sure you’re getting your vitamins and minerals.
If you would like to learn more about how you can get healthy and stay healthy at any age, contact me below to book a free discovery session!
