The association recently asked more than 1,200 professional chefs in the United States to list the trendiest items on their menus. Out of almost 200 items, pomegranate was 16th, fresh fruits were 61st and scallops were 100th - these are all foods rich in antioxidants.And these preferences aren’t confined to your favorite dining destination. More and more restaurants are springing up with the purpose of being a healthy body-mind haven. The chef at a spa cafe called Sprouts in Arizona believes diners are drawn to the pomegranate salad for its sweet taste and the health benefits.

Even if you’re not indulging in a spa-themed meal, you can still integrate anti-oxidants into your daily diet.

Read more at my Anti-Aging Blog.

Michael emphasizes in his report that before we can select the best anti-aging regimen, it’s important to have a clear picture of how our bodies are currently functioning. He emphasizes that the solution to anti-aging isn’t to go out and blindly take the trendiest anti-aging supplements. Before taking any supplements, it’s important to know which supplements are actually needed based on the results of a blood profile. This is a wonderfully simple idea that most anti-aging practitioners fail to address. Not everyone needs the same supplements or even the same diet for optimal health. It’s important to know first what deficiencies exist.

To this end the author recommends taking a simple blood test to assess levels of a variety of important metrics that can affect the process of aging. For example, for men he recommends checking a complete blood count, testosterone level, DHEA, homocysteine, estradiol, C reactive protein, and PSA levels. For women, he has a separate list of tests to be performed. Knowing these values will tell you where a deficiency or excess exists which will allow you to design a nutritional, exercise, and supplement program based on the results. This kind of approach makes a lot of sense. It gives a sort of roadmap to follow along the path to aging. He suggests constructing a chart so you can track the different metrics you’ll be following over time and alter your regimen accordingly. He also suggests getting the same blood tests done six weeks apart before designing your anti-aging plan.

One of the most important aspects of this book is that the author encourages each person to take responsibility for his or her health by designing an anti-aging program based on the results of their blood tests. There is no one right program that will address the needs of each and every person. The author goes into some detail on the anti-aging supplements he uses in his own regimen but emphasizes that this program works for him and may not be suited for other people with different blood metrics.

Another important point the author emphasizes is the concept of moderation and common sense. It’s not realistic to expect that you’ll never treat yourself again to foods that aren’t part of your program. After all, what fun is staying healthy if you can’t enjoy life? To this end he recommends treating yourself to your favorite foods in moderation.

He goes into brief discussions on factors that can influence the aging process in this ebook and tells you where you go to read in more depth about these processes. He also goes into some details discussing the supplements he takes on a daily basis. Although I don’t agree with all the supplements he takes, the majority of them are based on preliminary research data that suggests their effectiveness.

The author ends the book by giving twenty-five quick and easy anti-aging ideas. These are well thought out and if done on a daily basis might have a remarkable effect on overall health and the aging process.

All in all, I appreciate the author’s emphasis on taking control of your own health and designing an anti-aging program to meet your individual profile and needs. Although he wasn’t able to cover the anti-aging principles of diet, exercise, and supplementation in extensive detail, he does refer you to several excellent resources for educating yourself further. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to enhance health and slow down the aging process.

How often have you hard the much quoted phrase, “You are what you eat?” This trite, old phrase may be more accurate than you think. There’s no doubt that diet playsan important role in who you are, how you look, and how fast you age. Diet not only provides the fundamental components necessary to build a strong and healthy body, if chosen wisely, it can also provide you with protection against disease and premature aging. If you’re looking for ways to alter your diet to slow down the aging process and prevent disease, here are six anti-aging foods you should add to your diet.

Cocoa or dark chocolate

Cocoa is an anti-aging food that has been shown to have a high level of disease preventative biochemicals known as flavonoids. Flavonoids are strong antioxidants and actually beat out red wine and green tea in terms of their ability to eliminate free radicals. Not only does cocoa have strong antioxidant potential, it may also reduce the risk of heart disease and lower blood pressure through its ability to increase production of nitric oxide which helps to dilate blood vessels and prevent platelets from sticking to one another. Although cocoa is healthy, don’t over do it. Keep your consumption to around an ounce or two of dark chocolate a day to avoid adding excess calories which can cause weight gain.

Nuts

Eating one to two ounces of nuts per day has been shown to cut the risk of heart attack by more than half. Increased nut consumption has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes and stroke. One study even showed that regular nut consumption increased longevity by up to two years. Which nuts are best to snack on? The nuts with the most benefits in studies were almonds, walnuts, and peanuts. Just don’t overdo your nut intake since they’re high in calories.

Broccoli

Fruits and vegetables are known for being rich in antioxidants and other vitamins that help to reduce the risk of disease, but broccoli outshines them all in terms of health benefits. Broccoli is an abundant source for a group of compounds known as isothiocyanates which are powerful weapons against cancer. Even if you don’t like the taste of this vegetable, you can get health benefits from adding broccoli sprouts to your salad. The young sprouts have up to one hundred times more of an isothiocyanate called sulforaphane than does the mature plant. This is one anti-aging food that needs to be in your diet.

Pomegranate

Although the pomegranate has a long history, its remarkable health benefits have only recently begun to be discovered. The juice of the pomegranate may play a role in preventing heart disease and lowering LDL cholesterol levels and even slow down or stop the growth of prostate cancer cells. This remarkable fruit and its super healthy juice also have anti-inflammatory properties which may help to relieve the joint inflammation of arthritis. Eight ounces of juice per day should be enough to reap the benefits. If you take other medications, check with your doctor before drinking pomegranate juice since it can alter the breakdown of some prescription medications

Fish

Fatty fish such as salmon is a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids which have been shown to have multiple health benefits including reduction in the risk of heart disease as well as decreased joint inflammation and pain in those suffering from arthritis. This anti-aging food also appears to have positive benefits to those who suffer from depression. Eating two servings of fatty fish per week should provide you with the omega 3 fatty acids you need. If you don’t like the taste of fish, consider taking two to three grams of a fish oil supplement each day.

Green tea

Green tea is a rich source of catechins which are thought to have anti-cancer properties. In addition, green tea may help you to hang onto your trim figure as you age. In studies, people who drink five or more cups of green tea per day have been shown to burn between eighty and one hundred extra calories per day. Plus, topical green tea has been shown to reduce the effects of photoaging and can help you maintain younger looking skin.

Adding some of these anti-aging foods is a natural way to reduce your risk of chronic disease and promote better health as you age.

Softens and Beautifies the Skins Surface Layer

What differentiates Sothys Lift Defense Age-Defying Silky Cream from so many other similar face cream products on the market is what it doesn’t do. This is because, while so many skin treatment products contain powerful chemical additives to penetrate the skin and promote cellular activity, Sothys does none of this. This is because, this product functions on a layer of skin that so many other skin care product developers have completely forgotten about. The surface layer!

Sothys Lift Defense Age-Defying Silky Cream

Silky Cream Makes for Super Soft Skin

Thats right. Sothys Lift Defense Age-Defying Silky Creams active ingredients consist of antiglyskin, proteasyl, photopreventine and vitamin C. These are all mild active substances that function on the skins surface by saturating and infusing it, resulting in skin that is flexible, moisture laden and super soft to the touch.

Excellent Age-Defying Results Immediatly

No harsh chemicals, means no redness or adverse reactions. Also, unlike so many other newer skin care products that instruct you to wait weeks or even months for results, Sothys Silky creams deliver excellent results immediately. Of course there are other products that function in the skins lower layers on a cellular level but in the mean time, don’t forget that your skin has a top layer too that can use a little help.

Bioelements Pumice Peel

A Dead Skin Cell Layer is Dry and Krinkly

The cosmetic market is loaded down with any number of peels and defoliants that promise to deal with the surface issues that may be effecting your skin. Dead skin cells do, in fact, cover the surface of everyones body but do they really make any difference? The truth of the matter, is that on the face of someone with sun or age effected skin, a layer of dead skin cells can and will make a huge difference in the way that that that person looks. This is because a dead skin cell layer is stiff and krinkly and will cause wrinkles.

Results That Morning

Bioelements Pumice Peel is the only defoliant cream on the market that promises to not be gentle on your skins dry surface. Virtually all other defoliants promise to deal with your dead skin cell layer with kid gloves. However; this pumice crystal laden product is marketed as the “real deal” for people that want results that they can see and feel the moment they walk out of their bathroom.

Strips Away Dead Skin Cells / Treats the Fresh Skin Layer

Bioelements Pumice Peel immediately strips away dead skin cells and then its antioxidants, ginseng extract and hydrogenated polydecene skin emollient then go immediately to work treating and helping to rebuild the fresh new skin that has been exposed by the treatment. The results are soft glowing skin that is noticeably different from what is was just minutes before.

Not wearing a sunscreen

It should come as no surprise that many of the signs of skin aging are directly related to exposure to the sun’s rays. The sun not only causes wrinkling and increased skin laxity, it also causes changes in pigment resulting in the appearance of pigmented brown spots. Skin cancer is also a potential side effect of long term sun exposure. The sun’s rays weaken the elastic structure of the skin which results in the increased wrinkling and sagging seen in aging skin. To prevent photoaging, invest in a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 that blocks both UVA and UVB rays and wear it religiously. If you’ll be out in the sun for any extended period of time, add a straw hat and sunglasses.

Smoking

Smoking has a multitude of unhealthy effects on the skin. It decreases oxygenation of the skin and depletes levels of vitamin C, which play an important role in the synthesis of collagen, the basic support structure of your skin. In addition, smokers frequently develop wrinkles around their mouth from “puffing” on their cigarettes. If you observe long term smokers, they almost always appear older than their age.

Sleep Habits

There are two ways sleep habits can play a role in prematurely aging the skin. The first is lack of sleep. Although the role sleep deprivation plays in long term aging of the skin isn’t clear cut, skin certainly takes on a more aged appearance when you’re sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation can also increase levels of a stress hormone known as cortisol which may have an effect on skin health. The second way sleep habits can affect skin aging is through sleep positioning. If you sleep in the same position over many years, wrinkle formation is likely to occur where your face presses into the pillow. These are known as sleep lines. One solution to this problem is to train yourself to sleep on your back at night.

Overindulgence in Alcohol

Alcohol has negative effects on the skin in two ways. One way is that it tends to cause dehydration which alters the critical moisture balance needed for good skin health. Secondly, it causes facial veins to dilate which increases facial redness and increases the risk of broken facial veins. Reducing or eliminating alcohol from your diet can have positive effects on your skin as well as your general health.

Poor dietary choices

The importance of diet in preserving youthful skin is just starting to come to light. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in October of 2007 showed that higher intakes of linoleic acid and vitamin C along with lower intakes of carbohydrates and fats had a positive effect on the rate of skin aging. People who consume a diet high in fruits and vegetables also appear to have a slower rate of skin aging independent of other factors. This may be due to the ability of fruits and vegetables to offset free radical formation which contributes to aging.

Now that you know the five main factors that promote skin aging, is it time to make some changes?

Cellex-C Enhancers Hydra 5 B-Complex

Hyaluronic Acid is the Skins Moisture Sponge

Cellex-C Hydra B-Complex contains possibly the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid of any skin care product that is currently on the market. Hyaluronic acid does basically one thing in your skin and that is that it functions to allow your skin to accept and retain fluids (moisture). Your skin naturally produces this substance but age and sun exposure can diminish its ability to do so over time.

B-5 Complex Softens the Skins Surface

The more moisture in your skin, the thicker and more flexible it is and these two things equal one thing and that is shallower, shorter wrinkles and less of them. The B-5 Complex in this clear, oil free product simultaneously works on the surface to render your skins epidermal layer soft and silky smooth. So, the combined effects of these two active ingredients is thicker glowing more flexible skin with fewer wrinkles.

Faster More Pronounced Results

There is one down side to this highly potent skin care product that you should be aware of and that is that it can cause minor skin irritation. However; due to it’s high level of potency, it will deliver visible results much faster then other similar product that you may have used in the past.

And they’re tasty, too – and sometimes easier to eat than their garlicy and oniony relatives! Chives go well with cream cheese, cottage cheese, cream sauces, butter sauces, fish, chicken, broths and cream soups such as potato or asparagus soup.

If you’re growing them yourself, you can cut and freeze chives. Before the plant blooms, cut the plant down to about three inches. Chop up and freeze the greens for later use. The plant will soon grow back.

The power of foods to prevent and cure disease is truly amazing, and often something taken for granted. Those anti-cancer compounds found in foods in the garlic and onions family have the unique power to protect against cancer. Chives can enhance almost any savory dish with their delicate flavor, while potentially making your healthier at the same time.

I’m a huge advocate for the idea of anti-aging from the inside out. Foods and vitamins are a great way to do this, and I talk about many other ways in my anti-aging Report.

Use Once Daily

Murad Essential-C Daily Renewal Complex is the perfect skin treatment product to have on your side during your personal battle against the elements and the damage that they cause to your skin. Simply massage a thin layer into your skin once daily after it has been cleansed to infuse your skin with powerful antioxidants and also to leave it soothed from the effects of its Vitamin E.

Murad Essential-C Daily Renewal Complex

Stimulates Collagen and Elasatin

Other vital active ingredients contained in this skin renewal treatment product, include Retinyl Palmitate and Retinol. Both of these active ingredients are proven powerful collagen and elastin production stimulants. It is important to bear in mind though that once stimulated, it takes the skin at least a month before there is any noticeable increase in the level of collagen.

Repairs and Prevents Skin Damage

Clinically tested and proven, this product is fast becoming one of the most popular skin treatments currently on the market, with literally millions of users worldwide. One of the main reasons for this, is that not only does it repair skin damage but it is highly effective at preventing further skin damage when it it is used regularly.

An effective sunscreen

If you could have only one product in your anti-aging skin care program, this should be it. Photo aging from the powerful rays of the sun is the number one cause of skin wrinkling and aging. Simply wearing a sunscreen on a daily basis can offset much of the damage that causes your skin to wrinkle and sag. It’s important to use a sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15 and one that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Learn to apply it correctly and reapply it every two hours or anytime you get wet or sweaty. If you’re worried about harmful chemicals in sunscreen, choose one that’s PABA and paraben free.

Exfoliating pads

These simple, inexpensive, little pads you buy at your drugstore can do wonders for revitalizing the appearance of skin. Regular exfoliation using facial exfoliating pads helps to remove dead surface skin cells that can cause skin to look dull, dry, and aged. Choose exfoliating pads specifically designed for the face since ones for the body can be too abrasive. To use them, simply dampen the exfoliating pad with warm water and a small amount of moisturizing cream. Wet your face and gently rotate the pad around your face in a circular motion several times. Don’t apply too much pressure or you could cause a facial abrasion. Rinse with cold water and admire your fresh, more youthful complexion.

An all natural face moisturizer

Forget the savvy sales messages that try to sell you an overpriced moisturizing cream. One of the cheapest and most effective anti-aging facial moisturizers is glycerin which can be found at your local health food store. Why is glycerin so effective? When you apply it to your skin, it draws moisture from the air to keep your skin soft and well lubricated. To make a simple spray-on moisturizer using glycerin, add one part glycerin to one part distilled water and place into a spray bottle. Shake the bottle to ensure proper mixing. You can also add Vitamins C and E for even more skin care benefits. Spray this mixture on your face several times a day. It’s inexpensive, effective, and non-toxic.

Dried herbs and steamed water

A quick way to refresh your skin and make it look younger is to do a steam facial using all natural herbs. Bring a pan of water to a boil. Add herbs of your choice and allow the pan to simmer on low heat for five minutes. After pulling your hair away from your face create a tent out of a towel and lean over the pan allowing the steam to hit your face. Stay in this position for ten minutes. Splash your face with cool water and add moisturizer. Your skin should look rejuvenated.

Anti-aging skin care doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to be effective. Give these safe, effective, all-natural skin care remedies a try and enjoy younger looking skin.