How a Better Diet Can Make You Look Five Years Younger

The fountain of youth might not be a myth after all. In fact, it might be found right inside your refrigerator.

OK, so it’s probably a little more complicated than that. But according to WebMD, what you eat can play a big factor in how old you actually look. It’s broken down like this: Trans fat and other ingredients of poor nutritional value can cause inflammation, and as Dr. Timothy Harlan puts it, “aging is basically a chronic inflammatory state.” (Dr. Harlan is assistant professor of medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine.)

There’s that saying that when you look good, you feel good. Dr. Harlan’s words are pushing a new one: When you eat good, you look good (and by extension, you feel good). So, how complicated is it to avoid the junk and grab hold of a diet rich in nutritionally beneficial components? It’s just as easy as one-two-three.

1. Avoid the salty snacks.

Chips, fries, hot dogs, bacon cheeseburgers — all delicious, but all bad for your appearance. Since most of these foods are either fried or full of fat, they can leave your body inflamed and older looking if they’re consumed in excess. That’s all on top of the data that shows how too many fatty and fried foods can contribute to high blood pressure and heart problems. Instead of reaching for the comfort foods, it’s really much better (and simpler) to instead…

2. Load up on fresh, crisp foods.

Remember: salads over shakes and sushi over tacos. Mediterranean diets tend to be high in lean meats like fish and fresh vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes. These are the whole, natural foods you should be aiming for. Cook up some nice salmon and enjoy the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, which are fierce fighters of inflammation.

3. Maintaining a healthy weight

Of course, even if you’re eating the right foods, there’s always the possibility of eating too much. Portion control is key, but for some folks, that might not be enough. Try dietary supplements and find more about raspberry ketones for weight loss and see if there’s any difference in your weight. Pure raspberry ketones in particular may help boost your metabolism, breaking down more food and leaving you looking slimmer in the process.

So whether it’s choosing raspberry ketones for weight loss or simply choosing grilled chicken over the Hawaiian burger, it’s easy to look younger when you’re eating right. All it takes is a little attention to detail.