Have you ever heard the phrase: “you are what you eat?” While most people understand that eating healthy can improve their health, food is not often thought about in relation to aging.
When it comes to choosing the best diet and nutrition for pro-aging, individual factors matter. After all, each of us has different genes that may require different dietary recommendations. To take matters one step further, personal preferences, dietary preferences, and health goals should all be considered.
General Anti-Aging Diet Tips
Regardless of which specific type of diet you choose to follow, there are a few basic biohacking standards that apply to every person.
Protein & Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Consuming enough protein is essential to allow your body to effectively build and repair tissues. This directly applies to beauty, as protein can help repair tissue in your skin, hair, and nails. Pay close attention to your consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids to help reduce inflammation of the skin and enhance skin elasticity.
Hydration
Adequate hydration is one of the simplest ways to help combat the aging of your skin. Your body needs water to eliminate toxins and ensure your skin appears hydrated. Research suggests that drinking at least two liters of water daily is important for skin health and aging.
Probiotics
Choosing a probiotic should be done with your health goals in mind. With so many different strains available, some specific strains may be better suited to help support anti-aging of the skin.
Antioxidants
Certain “superfoods” found in nature contain antioxidants which may help support anti-aging efforts. For example, green tea, avocados, and even extra-virgin olive oil contain healthy substances that support anti-aging.
These are just a few of the many basic ways you can biohack your aging process. So many other factors contribute to aging too, such as antioxidants, caffeine consumption, and sleep habits.
Anti-Aging Diets
With specific preferences and differences in genes in mind, there is not one “anti-aging” beauty diet. Instead, it’s important to consider the best diet for your genes and health goals. Not only is it important to choose the diet that best aligns with your goals, but different diets come with other considerations, such as diets for those with GI concerns or other specific medical conditions.
Check out some of the most popular anti-aging diets used by biohackers:
Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet focused on the consumption of lean protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and some whole grains. Research has found that this type of diet can produce many great health effects, including decreased inflammation throughout the body, improved skin elasticity, and improved markers of aging.
Low-Glycemic Diet
Given that sugar is an oxidative stressor (a substance causing an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body), avoiding sugar is often linked to anti-aging. Consuming a low-glycemic diet involves consuming foods that do not have a significant impact on blood sugar levels, focusing on improving skin health and reducing the risk of acne.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Aging of the skin can be a result of inflammation. With this in mind, those on an anti-inflammatory diet focus on consuming foods that are anti-inflammatory, such as lean proteins, fatty acids, and whole grains. In addition, this diet avoids foods that cause inflammation in the body such as fast food, processed frozen foods, sugar, etc.
Combining Anti-Aging Diets with Other Biohacking Techniques
Once you’ve found a diet that works for you, even more opportunities for biohacking your beauty and anti-aging routine appear. Anti-aging diets can be used in combination with other techniques, such as intermittent fasting, to help maximize anti-aging effects.
When combined with other techniques, such as journaling, meditation, or incorporating anti-aging supplements into your routine, you’ll set yourself up for the best possible success with your anti-aging efforts.
