Natural ways to prevent premature ageing

London-based beauty therapist Geraldine McCulgan shared some helpful tips on natural choices for anti-ageing and the small changes that one can effect in one's lifestyle to help slow down ageing.

Ageing begins from when a child is born. However, there are other factors that can lead to premature ageing, including the usage of incorrect skincare products and gorging on unhealthy foods. One can achieve a perfect skin by including turmeric, ginger and green leafy vegetables in the food intake, says an expert.

Speaking at the Anti-Ageing Health and Beauty show, held at the London Olympia recently, Geraldine McCulgan of the College of Naturopathic Medicine said, "What you eat today... you wear tomorrow."

The beauty therapist shared some helpful tips on natural choices for anti-ageing and the small changes that one can effect in one's lifestyle to help slow down ageing.

Accelerating ageing is affected by the following

Glycation (the process of sugar and it affects joints)

Inflammation

Lack of nutrients

Overload of toxins

Free radical damages

Stress

Loss of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) which regulates cellular energy

Lack of oil and water

Read:Wonder ways to slow down ageing

So if you want to slow down ageing, McCulgan recommends following a diet made up of whole grains, vegetables, legumes, mild-sweet and non-sweet fruits. One can also try the following things:

Avoid refined sugar

Eat protein with every meal

Swap refined sugar products with wholegrain alternatives

Eat plenty of fibre rich vegetables

Include cinnamon - lowers blood sugar levels

Consult the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) scale - which identifies the anti-oxidants in foods

Read:Household bleach: the latest anti-ageing remedy?

Inflammation is behind many degenerative diseases, so here we have some advice from Geraldine on how to reduce it:

Eat organic

Turmeric

Ginger

Green leafy vegetables

Fermented foods

Acid/Alkaline balancing

Omega 3 fatty acids