I get a lot of questions from our Beauty Detox community along the lines of: “What can I take to prevent aging?” Though beauty products are important, your personal habits and vitamin intake can go a long way towards keeping you looking youthful and vibrant for years to come.
What Causes Aging?
In The Beauty Detox Solution, I go into great detail about built-up toxicity (sludge) that amasses in the body from eating improper foods and poor digestion. This sludge reduces space in the body as well as oxygen flow, and is a major cause of aging.
Also, many scientists have advanced the hypothesis that one of the primary causes of aging is oxidative stress. According to a journal article review printed in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause oxidative stress may damage DNA, fats, and proteins in the body, thus leading to aging.
So what are ROS? They are molecules that are a natural byproduct of metabolism and are extremely reactive in the body. In balance, your body is quickly able to repair any damage caused by ROS. When behavior or health conditions cause your system to get out of stasis, however, your body loses its ability to keep up with the necessary repairs and damage results. Many behaviors and health conditions may lead to these circumstances, including smoking; excess intake of chemicals, sugar, and alcohol; air pollution; broken metabolism; inflammation; chemicals in our food and water supply; excessive and prolonged exercise; intake of large amounts of processed foods; and many others.
Oxidative stress not only ages your skin and outsides, but can also cause aging on the insides, as well. In severe cases, unmanaged oxidative stress can even lead to disease such as atherosclerosis and cancer.
Vitamins to Prevent Aging
Many vitamins can help your body fight aging. Those containing antioxidants are particularly effective, because the antioxidants help your body manage ROS before damage occurs. The Beauty Detox System is a plan that is high in these antioxidant vitamins, which is one of the reasons it is so effective at fighting aging and promoting a vibrant and youthful appearance.
I am a strong believer in getting the essential vitamins your body needs from healthful foods rather than swallowing a pill. Our bodies are better equipped to process and utilize the natural vitamins found in food as opposed to synthetic vitamins that come in a bottle. One scientific review looked at more than 70 randomized studies on the effects of supplements and concluded there was no evidence to support vitamin supplements promoted longer life or better health. In fact, it showed taking some vitamins in supplement form may even shorten life. Therefore, I think it’s really important that you get the vitamins you need from food, where they are extremely bioavailable and your body can utilize them. However, that being said, taking a whole-food based multivitamin supplement can be good insurance. Choose one that contains D3 and the B complex family of vitamins, instead of taking a dozen different pills.
With that in mind, let’s look at some of the top anti-aging vitamins, as well as the foods you can eat to get them.
Beta carotene
Foods containing beta carotene:
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Spinach
- Kale
- Turnip greens
- Dharma’s Kale Salad
Benefits:
Beta carotene converts to retinol, which is an active form of vitamin A. It has immune-enhancing properties that can prevent damage from illness and inflammation and is high in antioxidant activity and anti-aging compounds, which prevent cell damage and promote health.
Vitamin A
Foods containing vitamin A:
- Sweet potato
- Carrots
- Dark leafy greens
- Winter squash
- Glowing Green Smoothie
Benefits:
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. It plays a role in maintaining healthy vision, strengthens your immune system, and help maintains cell growth and renewal. It is also an antioxidant that fights oxidative stress.
Vitamin C
Foods containing vitamin C:
- Citrus fruits
- Bell peppers
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Kiwi
Benefits:
Vitamin C is a great antioxidant, and can provide protection against free-radical damage. It can also help with iron absorption to maintain your blood, as well as assisting with vitamin E regeneration. Vitamin C is also protective against many health conditions, including certain cancers and cataracts.
Vitamin E
Foods containing vitamin E:
- Sunflower seeds
- Almonds
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Tomato
- Hazelnuts
Benefits:
Another fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin E is an antioxidant that can protect your skin from UV damage, fight free-radical damage both topically and internally, and protect you against disease.
Vitamin K
Foods containing vitamin K:
- Dark leafy greens
- Romaine lettuce
- Broccoli
- Parsley
Benefits:
Vitamin K helps blood clot, and can help prevent one of the visible signs of aging: dark circles under your eyes. These are often caused by leaky capillaries, so consuming vitamin K-rich foods is a great way to clot the blood before it creates puffy, dark circles. It can also help you maintain bone strength, which is important for osteoporosis prevention.
B complex vitamins
Food sources of B complex vitamins:
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Sunflower seeds
- Potatoes
- Nutritional yeast
Benefits:
There are several B-complex vitamins, but those that can really help you with aging include niacin, which helps your skin retain moisture, and biotin, which helps keep your hair and nails healthy and strong.
Thanks Kimberly, great info! Your book is amazing and I reference it often! You mention oral contraceptives are toxic but do not discuss the issue in depth. What do you suggest regarding this topic?
How can I incorporate this in my diet without eating all day, while getting the proper servings in these foods
Yet another great reason to slurp a green smoothie or two everyday! Thanks Kim, 3 months on the smoothies and I’ve given up pain killers for RA! You’re a smartie!
Me too… RA in remission for two years since reading Kim’s site and drinking GGS!
Thank you for this wonderful article!! Just wondering, I thought beta carotene was same thing as Vitamin A (once we convert it in our bodies)….no?
just a minor comment – you can’t prevent aging except by dying. We’re all going to age, a little more every year. I think what you mean is, how to stay healthy and vigorous and beautiful as we age. yes?
How can you fight Candida
Hi Kim
I am 51, and well on my way to improving my health and well-being since I happened across your website. I now have a Glowing Green Smoothie for breakfast most mornings and am feeling all the better for it. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the world.
In regard to your article about absorbing vitamins, every day after my shower, while I am still wet, I oil myself with a combination of cold pressed certified organic oils: sunflower, camelia, jojoba & sweet almond oil, with additional essential oils of my choosing eg lavender, rosemary, etc. This keeps my skin soft and hydrated, and is not oily at all as it emulsifies with the water on my body.
My question is after reading your article on Vitamins is: Would rubbing these oils on every day go some way to providing my body with the essential vitamins I need, as well as ingesting the vitamins through my food as you suggest?
Thanks again Kim
Hi Julie,
Thats a great idea, rubbing certain oils on our skin after showering:) Good question as well! I’m looking forward to Kims response also:)
Kimberly, I take a plant based liquid multi-vitamin every night. Also Dr Ohhira’s Probiotic, Mag-07 Digestive Cleanser, & Raw Enzymes. I also do Colon Cleanse 2 times a week. Is that a n acceptable regimen?
Thanks, Cindy
P.S. Love your GGS, have it faithfully every morning & have now lost 30 lbs!!!!!
What liquid multi do you take because I’ve been searching for a good one?
Yes Cindy this is acceptable. So glad to hear of your success on the program and your love of the GGS. Keep It up!
Hi Kim 🙂
I noticed the dark chocolate bar (72% cacao) that I bought has 53% saturated fat per serving (3 squares). Is this ok?
Great post- I am reading as I drink a GGS. 🙂 I am a big believer that what we put inside our bodies is so much more effective than any lotions or potions we can put outside our bodies.
Hmm. Why not iron? I know the GGS contains spinach but if you dont drink it everyday and you eat a primarily vegetarian diet as you advise in your book, how do you get enough iron? Especially as women with the monthly cycle we can be prone to developing anaemia. I have read that taking iron supplements (as so many do to combat this) can lead to early death so what other foods do you recommend women who are meat-free eat to maintain iron stores?
Thanks
Lili
Why are we supposed to prevent aging???
HI Kim,
I just picked up your book and am really excited about it! I’ve had it two days and have already read over half. I have a question though, I’m a nursing mother and want to do a detox but I don’t know if it’s safe for my little one? I would hate to have my toxins expressed through my milk to him. I eat a whole food plant based diet however I do eat dairy and eggs and drink caffeine. Also, I’m wondering if you have any thoughts on Kombucha, I’ve been brewing it for a couple years now and love it. Its another great source of probiotics.
Ellyse
Kimberly,
Your book changed my life! I’ve been following a raw food vegan diet for almost 8 months. However, I have not gotten my period since I started. My blood test results revealed that my cholesterol is too low and that is the reason for my absent menstruation. My doctor told me that adding salmon into my diet would be very beneficial, but I don’t feel comfortable eating it anymore. How can vegans, or, more specifically, vegan females, make sure their getting enough fatty acids into their diet without including animal products? Your response would be very appreciated! Thank you!
Walnuts and flax seeds are the best vegan sources. Throw them into smoothies! My favorite is ice, bananas, and walnuts plus a little cinnamon. It tastes just like banana bread, but it’s gluten free (I have an allergy and Kim doesn’t promote gluten either) and gives you energy instead of making you feel bogged down and sleepy.
P.S. I also follow the blood type diet which does not include coconut oil or certain nuts and seeds.
Can you blog on Aloe Vera Juice please??? I love your insight and opinions. Thank you.
Hi Kimberky,
I have got a question regarding copper toxicity.
I am following a vegetarian/vegan (almost raw) diet and I believe I am suffering from copper toxicity. I feel brain fog, mood swings etc.
Could you possibly write a blog on this issue?
Thank you,
Susana
Thank you for this post Kimberly.
What I would like to know is that if one (like myself) have been a smoker for 18 years and signs from smoking can be seen on skin; are all the damages permanent or can you fix some of them by eating your diet?
So grateful for your answer.
Heli from Finland
Forgot to add that I have stopped smoking 6 months ago and now hoping to fix some damage I have done to my skin by having that ugly habit for so long
Carrots are in the first faze of the program, they have sugar, are they ok for those who have candida. Thanks
Hi Kimberly, I live in Sydney and have been reading your book all weekend. I am so excited. I could not believe it when I read PAt’s story on p71. I am exactly the same and feeling quite low. I am 35 and I have a 20mth old son and while naturally slim, i now feel under weight (56kg) and 178cm and I am 17.5bmi. I feel like i have aged 10yrs We are trying for another baby but I don’t have a period as yet so I am trying to put on a few kjs. I can se now that I have been eating all carbs and things in the wrong combos. I am so sluggish, poor circulation, dark circles etc I Would like to follow your principles and am wondering do you have any tips/amendments so I don’t lose too much weight. I had the smoothie this morning and the red cap dressing on my salad, and loved it.
Thanks for the great book, very inspiring.
Eat more nuts and seeds. Try to add 2 extra servings per day. Throw them in your smoothies with bananas so you don’t have get exhausted from chewing them 🙂
Hi Kimberly,
I signed up for your email list and am receiving your Beauty Detox Tips. I am still breastfeeding my 8-month old baby boy. I am wondering, is it safe to take Dr. Ohira’s Probiotics while breastfeeding, or should I wait until I am through breastfeeding?
Thanks so much,
Melissa
This was extremely informative. Thank you for giving everyone more motivation to eat healthfully. In regards to one of the users questions, try making pre-made soups with several of these ingredients. That way, you can have something nutritious on hand to feast on through out the week.
SIBO diet for vegans is an article id love to read from you!!!!
Hi Kimberly,
I recently purchased your book and cant put it down!
i wanted to ask regarding consuming cod liver oil? ive done some research and found mostly positive comments but no one really talks about if its beneficial with a good diet routine or its recommended only if your food habits are poor.
im also pregnant so im being careful with what i put in my body and unfortunately i dont find the doctors to be too helpful with these kind of subjects.
also can CLO be consumed with coconut oil daily? or is it too much to put the body through?
Hope to get your opinion on it!
Thanks,
Valeria
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The program is described here: http://lemonadedietinfo.com/
Please comment and let me know if it also helped you to take control over your eating.