From Botox to micro-needling, Dr Michael Mosley has revealed he tried a variety of anti-ageing methods “in the name of science”.
Despite the buzz around expensive skincare and skin treatments, the doctor shared there’s something much cheaper and far more effective.
Speaking on his Stay Young broadcast on BBC Radio 4, he explained that brightly coloured fruits and vegetables offer more than a kick of flavour to your dishes.
In fact, Dr Mosley said that his own youthful looks were down to eating this “superfood”.
He said: “Now I’m 66 years old and I’ve tried all sorts of ways to look younger, including Botox, micro-needling, creams.
“I once even had my face burnt with a device which looked like a red hot iron.
“All in the name of science, obviously, and none of these approaches were impressive enough to make me want to go back for more.
“At my age and after a lifetime of regularly getting sunburnt, you might expect me to look really wrinkly.
“But I’m not. It could be because of my skin type or it could be because of something I’ve just pulled out of the oven.
“It’s something I eat a lot of and which it’s claimed can reduce wrinkles, thicken collagen, boost mood and protect me from a host of illnesses.”
Dr Mosley was explaining the benefits, as he was pulling out a tray of bright-coloured roasted vegetables out of the oven.
While it might sound unlikely that your dinner could provide such impressive skin benefits, science says otherwise.
The doctor said: “Research has shown that your collagen levels and wrinkles can be greatly improved with diet.
“Several large-scale studies have found that those who eat more vegetables have far fewer wrinkles and plumper skin.
“One study found that eating lots of colourful veg – around 250 grams a day – was key to looking young.”
That’s why the doctor prepared a spread of tomatoes, red peppers, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots.
While all fruit and veg offer some impressive health benefits, those that contain carotenoids are the ones responsible for younger-looking skin.
These plant compounds give the likes of carrots, mangoes and tomatoes their bright red and orange colour.
The doctor said: “Carotenoids are chemical cousins of retinol, considered to be the anti-ageing compound when it comes to wrinkles.
“They’re highly effective anti-oxidants which can protect your skin at the cellular level.
“In lab tests, carotenoids have been shown to protect collagen-producing skin fibroblasts from damage caused by UV radiation and oxidative stress – both big drivers of skin ageing.”
Carotenoids can also prompt skin cells into producing higher lauric acid, which is the ingredient in many anti-ageing creams and fillers.
In a nutshell, these brightly coloured foods do most of the things you’d expect from a good skincare routine.
They boost your skin’s collagen and moisture, improve wrinkles and skin plumpness as well as the texture of your skin.
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