Summary
- It is possible to support the natural process of ageing by staying hydrated and including healthy drinks packed with nutrients and vitamins. Whatever age you are, it is never too early or late to start making some improvements to the drinks you choose as part of your daily diet.
- At the top of the anti-ageing drinks list is water. No matter what you choose to drink throughout the day, getting sufficient water intake will help you look and feel younger for longer. Most scientific research indicates we should follow the '8x8 rule' - drinking a recommended minimum of eight 240ml glasses (just under two litres) of water daily.
- Juices packed with antioxidants and vitamins include grapefruit, tomato and beetroot. These vibrant fruits not only help keep you hydrated but also have the added benefit of stimulating collagen production, improving skin elasticity and reducing some of the major signs of ageing.
- If you like to treat yourself from time to time, cacao and red wine can also be included in your list of potential anti-ageing drinks. Cocoa is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and red wine is packed full of a powerful antioxidant called resveratrol. If you are simply looking for an alternative to water, green tea is a great option with its hydrating properties.
Introduction
If you have read any of our other articles, you will know by now that there is no way to pause the natural ageing process or magically turn back the clock. However, there are ways you can help give your body the nutrients and hydration it requires to look and function at its best, whatever your age.
Making smart choices makes it possible to support anti-ageing so you can appear and feel younger for longer. One of the main areas to focus on is choosing what you put into your body, and this includes what you drink. There are plenty of beverages out there that are nutritious and packed with antioxidants.
Whether you are a man or woman, in your thirties or heading into your sixties, it is never too late or early to start making healthy, anti-ageing lifestyle changes. Read on to learn about some of the best anti-ageing drinks to slow down the years and keep your wrinkles at bay.
Anti-Ageing Drinks For Women and Men
Water
Perhaps the most obvious drink to start this anti-ageing beverage journey, water does not only help regulate your temperature through sweating – it is also essential to maintaining your skin's natural moisture and elasticity. If you do not drink enough water, your skin will appear dull, and your wrinkles and fine lines will become more prominent. This is never a good look, so stay hydrated with water to plump up the skin and keep you looking fresh-faced.
The majority of scientific findings state that we should follow the '8x8 rule', meaning drinking a recommended minimum of eight 240ml glasses or just under two litres of water daily. Consuming the recommended amount of water will help you hydrate your skin from the inside and the outside. In addition, you can provide further support by eating water-rich foods, including cucumber, watermelon and peaches.
Green Tea
When completing a rundown of the best healthy drinks for anti-ageing, green tea should be near the top of the list. Research has shown that green tea can help delay the signs of ageing, including expression lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. Green tea is also a great way to stay hydrated if you are not the type of person who finds themselves craving water. It is important to remember that if your body is hydrated, then so will your skin.
There is also a theory that drinking green tea can be great for detoxifying your body and providing some much-needed antioxidants. These antioxidants help reduce inflammation, promoting a more even skin tone, softer skin, and decreasing blemishes. If you enjoy getting your dose of vitamin D from the sun, green tea could help reverse the effects of sun damage and support your skin with faster healing.
Grapefruit Juice
Are you searching for the best drink in the morning? Start your day off with a refreshing glass of grapefruit juice. Grapefruit juice is one of the best vitamin drinks out there, especially if you want a boost of vitamin C. Research has shown that vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is great for evening skin tone, reducing skin pigmentation, renewing damaged skin and reducing inflammation.
Grapefruit juice also contains minerals like potassium which can help smooth out wrinkles and provide added skin protection against harmful UV rays (although this does not substitute necessary sunscreen application). There is also the added benefit of the fruit juice stimulating collagen production. This means there is potential for increased plumpness and suppleness of your skin and improved skin elasticity – helping reduce some of the major signs of visible ageing.
Tomato Juice
One of the most popular beverages enjoyed worldwide is tomato juice. Not only does it taste delicious – it is also packed full of a variety of minerals, vitamins and powerful antioxidants, including one of the most sought-after anti-ageing antioxidants, lycopene. Research, such as that of the combined efforts of scientists in 2020, has shown that lycopene protects your cells from free radical damage, resulting in reduced inflammation in your body.
Similarly to grapefruit, tomato juice is also high in vitamins, including vitamins C, A and K. Drinking one 240ml cup of tomato juice almost covers your daily needs for vitamin C. This magic vitamin does not only help with the external signs of ageing, but it can also boost your immune system.
Beetroot Juice
Another anti-ageing juice you may want to include on your nutritious drinks list is beetroot juice. This vibrant vegetable is high in folate, fibre, potassium, vitamin C and antioxidants. It also helps stimulate blood flow which is not just great for your skin – it can also help promote brain health.
To get the most out of your daily glass of beetroot juice, drink it before you exercise. Studies have found beetroot juice can significantly improve exercise endurance and blood pressure. This means that you could get more from your fitness regime, which is also a major contributor to staying more youthful and mobile in your senior years.
Milk
The sad truth about ageing is that our bodies will start to become weaker. According to scientists, the average adult loses up to 1% of lean muscle mass every year from their early 30s, and muscle mass can decline up to 15% every decade. To make things worse, we also lose bone mass as we age, which can cause our faces to change shape and lead to sagging and wrinkling.
One of the best ways to add more amino acids to your diet (which helps build muscle) is to drink milk. The calcium found in milk can also keep your bones strong and slow down bone loss, which can change your face shape and make you look older than your years. If you are not a fan of drinking milk on its own, you can always add it to your breakfast smoothie or add it to your sauces and soups.
Cocoa
Good news for the chocolate fans out there. A hot cup of cocoa before bed has been found to improve skin elasticity and the appearance of those pesky crow's feet. It is also packed full of flavanols which help dilate blood vessels and allow blood to circulate more freely around the body, making your skin healthy. This improved blood flow also helps with brain health and cell growth and can improve exercise tolerance.
Dark chocolate, in particular, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and high iron and copper content. When choosing your cocoa powder from the shop, go for an organic and low-sugar option. However, sugary hot chocolate can have the opposite effect, causing inflammation, dry skin and even premature ageing.
Red Wine
If you are prone to a glass of red wine now and again, it could do more than help you unwind after a long day. According to a number of studies, drinking red wine could combat signs of ageing with its high antioxidant content. One of the most common antioxidants in red wine is resveratrol, which is great for supporting skin health – making it appear brighter and younger.
Red wine is richer in antioxidants than other types of grape juice, but this does not give you the go-ahead to overindulge. It is best to limit alcohol intake of any sort and to drink no more than two glasses. Drinking too much red wine can have the reverse outcome, leading to premature ageing.
Closing Thoughts
It is in our human nature to want to keep looking our best as we age. So besides limiting sun exposure, staying well hydrated is a great way to fight premature ageing. Including some or all of the drinks listed above will give your body the hydration and added nutrition needed for positive ageing.
If you are unsure of your current lifestyle choices and want to discover what can be done to improve your natural ageing process, look into getting a biological age test. GlycanAge is here to support you with understanding how well your body is functioning and how you can make improvements to help secure a healthier future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which drink is best for anti-ageing?
There is no getting away from it – one of the best drinks for anti-ageing is water. We know it is not everyone's favourite beverage, but there is plenty which can be added if you are not the biggest fan of its mineral taste. For example, you can infuse it with slices of cucumber, lemon, orange or mint to help make it a bit more exciting.
What is the most powerful anti-ageing?
The key to staying younger for longer is living a healthy balanced lifestyle. This means staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a good sleep and exercise routine, and limiting your sun exposure. If you are worried about getting sufficient vitamin D, there are even some drinks with vitamin D, such as orange juice, which will help keep your levels topped up. To check that you are making the right choices to support ageing well, take a GlycanAge test with tailored advice.
How can drinking water make you look younger?
Drinking water can help you look younger as it is great at keeping the body and skin hydrated. This allows for your skin to become plump and improve in elasticity. Having elasticity will mean your skin is less prone to cracks and blemishes. Without enough water, your face will likely look dull and prematurely aged.
Can alcohol age you?
Many find that drinking alcohol can make them feel younger as it helps people lose their inhibition and gain some energy. However, the resulting hangover can lead to a sick, sluggish feeling which can make you feel old. Heavy drinking can also make you very dehydrated, which saps your skin of moisture and elasticity – leading to sagginess, dryness and wrinkles.
What are anti-ageing foods?
It is understood that glowing skin starts with what we eat and drink. No amount of expensive skin products will make up for a poor diet and dehydration. Anti-ageing foods can help support you with glowing skin. Aim to fill your diet with vibrant foods full of antioxidants, healthy fats, essential nutrients and water.
References
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190403-how-much-water-should-you-drink-a-day
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7464847/
https://joe.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/joe/234/1/R37.xml
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2017.00019/full
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269598311_Beetroot_Juice_and_Exercise_Performance
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6099584/
https://glycanage.com/price-and-plans/
https://glycanage.com/how-it-works/
YouTube Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6gpZjX2RIU