Step #1: Cut Out the Sugar
The average American consumes a whopping 3,550 pounds of sugar in their lifetime! Sugar is a major contributor to obesity and consuming it regularly is sure to sabotage your attempts to lose weight. Sugar is the enemy of all diets because it is high in calories and void of nutrients. Also, when you consume sugar or sugary foods it causes your blood sugar levels to rise and fall rapidly which results in strong food cravings and fatigue (which may make you less inclined to stay active).
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Sugar and sugar containing foods also accelerate aging and contribute to high blood pressure, hardened arteries, diabetes, aching limbs, depression and cancer. When it comes to the health of your skin, sugar can cause acne and skin irritation, make your skin more vulnerable to free radical damage from the sun, reduce collagen production and quicken the formation of wrinkles.
Step #2: Reduce or Eliminate Refined Carbohydrates and Junk Food
You should vastly reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates such as white bread, bagels, pasta, white rice, and most boxed cereals and only consume junk foods such as cookies and chips as a rare treat. These foods are highly processed and stripped of nutrients that are essential to healthy, youthful looking skin. Similar to sugar, these foods also cause problems with your blood sugar levels, which sabotages your weight loss efforts and increases your risk for diabetes.
Step # 3: Stay Hydrated with Water
Water helps you to combat obesity and lose weight, because it helps to fill up your stomach and reduce your appetite for food. Water is essential to dual aspect diets because it not only reduces appetite without adding calories; it also helps to slow down aging by flushing out toxins from your system. Also, sipping on water throughout the day will help to moisturize your skin from the inside out and plump up wrinkles to make them less noticeable. For added anti-aging and anti obesity benefits, try adding some fresh lemon juice to your water, the lemon juice helps to enhance digestion and reduce the absorption of sugars. Lemons are also high in vitamin C which is a well know wrinkle reducer.
Step # 4: Emphasize Dual Purpose Super Foods
If you really want to lose weight and reduce the signs of aging, make the following anti-aging super foods the staples of your diet:
– Fruits and Vegetables: They are filling and low in calories, which helps you lose weight. They are also high in nutrients and antioxidants, which helps to beautify your skin.
– Spices: They are essentially calorie free, many of them help to reduce your appetite and they contain special chemicals which help to fight inflammation and the aging process.
– Lean Proteins: Lean proteins found in chicken, turkey, lean beef, seafood and cold-water fish, as well as eggs, soy and legumes are excellent dual purpose foods. Protein fills you up and helps to prevent blood sugar fluctuations. Protein also contains essential amino acids, which help to keep your hair beautiful and your skin wrinkle free.
– Healthy Fats: Healthy fats such as those found in avocados, nuts and seeds, as well as cold pressed oils such as olive oil and coconut oil, grapesead oil and Shea butter will quash junk food cravings and do wonders for your waistline and your skin.