5 simple secrets to staying young

Nutritionist and naturopath Stephen Eddey shares his tips on how to hold back the hands of time. 

1.Get some beauty sleep

There's not much worse than being told you look tired. As we know, looking 'tired' equates to looking 'older'. Poor sleep, or lack of regular, quality sleep (at least 7 to 9 hours a night), may accelerate the ageing process.

Put good sleep practices into place by going to bed at the same time every night, make sure your room isn't too warm or too cold, and if you have trouble falling asleep, try some chamomile tea before bedtime. 

2.Feed your face

Our skin reflects our lifestyle, and shows the effects of sunbaking, pollution, smoking or poor nutrition. Boosting your beauty foods can make a big difference to your appearance and the rate at which you age by contradicting the effects of these lifestyle or environmental factors.

Foods rich in Vitamin C (think citrus fruits) may help boost the collagen in your skin, Vitamin E-rich foods (such as avocados, sunflower oils, nuts and seeds) could prevent pollution causing havoc on your skin, and orange-hued foods (carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes) have been shown to give your skin a healthy 'glow', usually associated with younger-looking people.

Add in a diet loaded with fresh fish, green leafy vegetables, and you're well on your way to a healthy you, inside and out.

3.Up your Ubiquinol levels

Ubiquinol, otherwise known as Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble nutrient found in nearly every cell in our body. It's an important part of keeping you looking and feeling youthful as Ubiquinol is found in the epidermis of our skin, which may be affected by environmental issues such as pollution, poor diet and stress.

You can find CoQ10 in foods such as oily fish, organ meats and whole grains, although supplementation is a simple way to ensure you add a daily dose to your beauty regime.  

4.Get moving

We've always known that exercise is good for us, but research has found that high-intensity interval exercise (HIIT) helps your body ward off ageing, inside and out.

HIIT may also help you sleep better, lose weight and fight off illness, according to the study.

5.Laugh yourself young

Not only does a happy smiley face make you look younger and more attractive, but leading a joyful life could also help you live longer.  A study by London University found that being happy and cheerful could reduce your risk of premature death by 30%.

So, turn that frown upside down!

Stephen Addey is a nutritionist and naturopath.