HEALTH foods to keep us young!

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Eat Right to Avoid Wrinkles By Michael O'Reilly, M.D. ThirdAge Reproductive Expert

You are what you eat, goes the old adage. Now, an international study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition indicates that the saying may be more than just a cliché.

Doctors from Australia's Monash University examined 453 subjects enrolled in the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) "Food Habits in Later Life" study. All participants were residents of Australia, Greece or Sweden.

The researchers aimed to discover if food and nutrient intakes could retard the wrinkling process. To this end, subjects had their wrinkles measured, and filled out a questionnaire assessing their eating habits.

The Swedish had the least wrinkles, not surprising given their residence in northern latitudes. They were followed by the Greeks, while the Australians were the most wrinkled. However, within each nationality, those who ate specific groups of foods -- and avoided others -- had significantly fewer wrinkles.

So, what foods may foster great-looking skin? Researchers stated that a high intake of vegetables, legumes and olive oil -- foods abundant in the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E -- seemed to protect against sun damage. The Australians in particular also appeared to benefit from a diet high in prunes, apples and tea.

Alternately, a high intake of meat, dairy and butter products seemed to be associated with skin damage.

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You can lower your cholesterol, fight disease and maybe even slow the aging process with these good-for-you foods.

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2001

Answers

One of my neighbors, in her late seventies, had a yard sale today. I've known her for about eight years. No big surprise, she's been heavily wrinkled as long as I've known her. Today my neighbor's daughter was helping her at the yard sale, the first time I've seen her outdoors for a long time. In the unforgiving morning light, I was astonished to see that she too is heavily wrinkled--and she's a good five years younger than I. I don't have nearly that many wrinkles, except for the usual laugh lines and crow's feet; I don't have many of the "fill-in" wrinkles yet.

I thought at the time that it surely must be genetic, but then I wonder if daughter, like mother, eats the "wrong" sort of food. From what I've seen, they both eat a mainly "southern" diet--definitely no olive oil, certainly fried chicken, hot dogs and burgers, vegetables cooked in bacon fat, that sort of thing.

I think, though, that sun is the biggest culprit in wrinkled skin. Wear that hat! Don't sunbathe! Older English women have relatively unwrinkled skin for the same reason Swedes do--northern latitudes, not that much sun. Incidentally, after two weeks of trying DHEA, there has been a noticeable smoothing of my skin; it feels, well, kinda silky!

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2001


I think you are right..I DO wear a big ole sun bonnet outside when I am going to be out there awhile.

I took your advise, and have been on the DHEA, for 5 days I think,,,,,I can already notice a softening around my eyes, where the "Laugh" lines crinkle!

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2001


Absolutely it's the sun. Compare the skin on your face and hands with that on your butt.

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2001

Peter, at my age I'm lucky if I can see my feet, lol. Nowadays I wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants when I go out and usually a hat (I find some beautifully eccentric ones at those estate sales). One of the vulnerable parts, especially for women, is the throat area. It can look kinda like red leather real fast if you don't protect it.

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2001

That would be 'redneck.'

A common affliction, not necessarily political in nature.

LOL

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2001



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