What do I mean by natural anti aging skin care?  I am speaking about the simple lifestyle choices we all can make that can have a remarkable effect on the quality of our skin, especially the choices we make concerning diet and exercise.  Since diet and exercise play a vital part in all areas of health, it only makes sense that healthy skin is dependent upon proper nutrition and an adequate degree of physical fitness. 

Let’s talk about diet first.  Few of the choices we make have the potential to positively impact our skin as do our dietary choices. A diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as foods rich in omega 3 acids, antioxidants, and vitamins A and C, are essential to reducing the signs of aging and promoting healthy skin.  Additionally, foods that rate low on the Glycemic Index are also very beneficial.  Of course, drinking plenty of water is a must as well. 

The benefits of adequate exercise cannot be overstated either.  Exercising regularly serves to improve blood circulation and remove toxic substances from the body, leading to a feeling of general well being that goes a long way towards improving the condition of your skin.  For most, adding some physical activity to their daily schedule is as simple as walking to the store instead of taking the car. 

Other important factors contributing to a program of natural anti aging skin care include getting eight hours of sleep each night, as well as staying out of the sun as much as possible.  Overexposure to the sun damages the skin and causes it to age faster.  Wind and extreme cold are negative factors as well.  If you must spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun or other harsh conditions, be sure to use sunscreen and moisturizers.  But avoid those that contain alcohol.  It will dry out your skin. 

Finally, this brings us to the most important thing you need to know – and the most important change you need to make – when it comes to natural anti aging skin care.  And while it won’t apply to all of you, it does apply to enough of you to make it worth mentioning.

Very simply, the most beneficial change anyone can make with regard to the health of their skin is to stop smoking.  Smoking ages your skin like nothing else.  It has been proven to cause premature wrinkling of the skin, even in young smokers.  It does this by helping to destroy collagen, which is so important to your skin’s elasticity and wrinkle free appearance.  Additionally, smoking restricts blood flow through the capillaries in the skin, reducing the tissue’s ability to absorb vital nutrients.  All of this serves to prematurely age your skin, which is why smokers so often appear to be older than they really are.  If you smoke, there is no anti aging skin care product you can use that will prevent its damaging effects, and you are literally aging before your time.  The damage is reversible, however, and if you stop smoking today your skin’s healthy appearance can be restored in just a few years.  Any program of natural anti aging skin care must begin with the decision to stop smoking.

Tip #1 – Avoid excessive exposure to the sun. 

The sun damages the skin and causes it to age faster by decreasing the skin’s natural ability to repair itself.  If you must spend a lot of times outdoors in the sun, be sure to use sunscreen and moisturizers, but avoid those that contain alcohol because alcohol will dry out your skin. 

Tip #2 – Avoid (or quit) smoking 

In another post entitled Natural Anti Aging Skin Care Essentials, I described some of the reasons for this.  Basically, nothing ages your skin like smoking does, which is why smokers often appear older than they really are. 

Tip #3 – Drink plenty of water 

Adequate water intake is essential to good health in general, and to healthy skin in particular.  The best anti aging skin care program includes drinking about eight glasses of filtered or purified water throughout each day. 

Tip #4 – Eat a diet rich in green, leafy vegetables 

Aging of the skin is the result of highly destructive molecules known as free radicals.  Vegetables such as broccoli and spinach contain powerful antioxidant properties that reduce the production of free radicals and help keep your skin looking young and healthy. 

Tip #5 – Buy only all natural skin care products 

I elaborate more on this in a post entitled Choosing The Best Anti Aging Products.  Basically you are looking for products free of chemicals and alcohols and that contain proven and active ingredients.

I hope these tips assist you in finding the best anti aging skin care treatment and products for your needs.