For the first 20 years of your life, your face is given to you by nature. By the age of 30, life has begun to sculpt itself onto your features. At 50, it is a given that you must earn beauty yourself. The famous Coco Chanel claimed this to be true. Unattractiveness does not just happen. If you are lazy, you will let it creep up upon you. This is the type of folk wisdom that does not lose its relevance over the years. With premature aging, ladies should only blame themselves because it is undeniable that beauty after 40 years involves making real changes to your way of life, diet and physical activity. You also must commit to rejecting those tempting bad habits.

Having reached an advanced age, many realize that life does not end and “the train is just gaining momentum”. There can be a lot of vibrant energy, as you reflect on your many life experiences, goals and desires that are clearly understood. Of course, when we are over forty, the level of female hormones begins to decline and the body begins to undergo cardinal changes. The first wrinkles appear, the elasticity of the skin is lost and the complexion changes. However, if you correctly use everything that is given to you by nature and support the body with the help of existing means, you can delay the visible results of withering for a long time and significantly prolong your youth, both externally and internally.

According to scientists, the process of aging begins with active of free radicals, which damage healthy cells of the body and can cause cancer and accelerate the aging process. They are formed due to oxidative processes occurring under the influence of oxygen, from the moment of our first breath. While we are young, the body successfully copes with these free radicals and the skin remains soft and healthy, but free radicals accumulate more and more and, in order to deal with them, the body becomes more stressed. Natural antioxidants, namely those “vitamins of youth”, such as vitamin A, B12, C, E, and F, are effectively able to “preserve” the body; preserving not only the youth of the soul, but also a certain internal feeling and appearance.

Vitamin B12 is actively involved in the metabolism and helps to combat mood swings. To Vitamin D is responsible for peace of mind, sound sleep and a strong nervous system, as well as for the healthy condition of the bones, joints, hair and nails. In foods, it is very sparse, so you can get it with the help of sunbathing, which is not difficult living on our sunny island. In the winter, add more mushrooms, chicken egg yolks, fatty fish or vitamin complexes to your menu.

Vitamin E stimulates the production of new cells, making the skin look more elastic and toned. It is contained in all vegetable oils and, especially, unrefined, dairy products, flax seeds and sprouted wheat germ.
Vitamin F, or the beauty vitamin, expels excess cholesterol, stimu­lates blood circulation, burns fat and eli­minates puffiness. When not in sufficient amounts, the skin loses elasticity. Vitamin F also helps the body to remain within normal limits. There is quite a lot of it in avo­cado or any vegetable oil.

For rejuvenation of the body, include, in your menu, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, flax, sesame, sprouts of barley, oats and rye. They all contain lignite, which is an antioxidant. Tomatoes and watermelons contain lycopene and eggs, garlic and onions contain cysteine. The coenzyme Q10, in its natural form, is contained in sea and river fish, legumes, flaxseed, olive and unrefined sunflower oil.

Useful spices of cloves, cinnamon and turmeric normalize the process of digestion and ginger is a powerful antioxidant that strengthens the immune system. Black peppers, roots and leaves of parsley are also beneficial. Bread from wheat flour should be replaced by rye for rolls and cakes. Oatmeal cookies, dried apricots and prunes, raisins, honey, barley cakes and rye bagels are your best choices. Essential to preserving the health and youth of the body are nuts: walnuts, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts. Nuts not only contain antioxidants, but also improve the condition of blood vessels and strengthen memory. In the category of seafood, there is kelp, mussels, scallops and sea cucumbers that extend not only youth, but life itself.

In order to support the skin and body, you need to maintain the body’s water balance and prevent dehydration. So, drink at least 1.5-2.5 litres of water a day and, in summer, when there is an intense dehydration, take in at least 2.5 litres. Train yourself to drink only water, including those waters infused with silver or pink quartz, water purified and enriched with minerals or mineral water without gas.

As Samantha, the heroine of the film “Sex and the City 2”, said: “I pave the way in the maze of menopause! I make the body believe that it is younger!”
Youthfulness of the skin depends on the level of estrogens and phyto-estrogens that pick up the “torch of youth”. They help to reduce wrinkles and prevent their occurrence in future, making the skin more elastic. Phyto-estrogens help maintain hormonal levels and activate the synthesis of collagen to firm and hyaluronic acid in order to moisturize the skin. Phyto-estrogens help to restrain the growth of adipose tissue, maintaining a stable weight and allowing you to maintain a slim figure. Most importantly, as mentioned by Samantha, they will help to keep you sexy!

Moving is not only Life, but Youth
Don’t limit yourself in movement and do not sit in place. The more we move, the more energy goes through our body. Consequently, the more energy that we can use, the better off we will be. Stretching and yoga are great for developing flexibility, maintaining harmony, raising our overall tone and mood and allowing us to effortlessly preserve youthfulness of the body after 40 years.

Fall in love. After all, relationships with loved ones give us positive emotions and many thrills. Happiness, relaxation and the release of “happy hormones”, like endorphins, can do nothing but help us. Sincere love returns a shine in our eyes, brings skin elasticity and offer greater flexibility, allowing us to look much younger.