You probably know the most popular fountain-of-youth supplements by heart. Maybe you’re already taking omega-3 fatty acids and have been increasing your daily dose of vitamin C to help synthesize new collagen. These are great supplements to take and you’re well on your way to more healthy, glowing skin. But Doctor Janine Bowring, ND, has a few new tips you probably haven’t heard — and these include trying three “secret” vitamins that women over 40 can take to “look younger.”
Curious to find out more? Whether you feel as if you’ve done everything and your skin has stalled and isn’t getting better, or you want to be your healthiest and prevent new signs of aging when possible, here are three not-often-spoken-about supplements to consider adding to your regimen. Remember to always check with your doctor before beginning a new supplement to make sure it’s right for you and that you take the correct dosage.
1. Vitamin K-2
The first vitamin that Dr. Janine singles out is vitamin K-2, which she says is plentiful in Japanese diets and in foods like natto, and could be one of the reasons why many Japanese women have flawless skin. This supplement can reduce dark circles and bruising, calm inflammation and redness in the skin, and help support your skin’s elasticity and collagen production for smoother, healthier skin. If you’d rather get this supplement from foods, you’ll find it in fermented soybeans (natto), fermented foods, some cheeses, egg yolks, and beef and chicken livers.
2. Magnesium
Magnesium helps prevent too much calcium from “flooding” in to cells, according to Dr. Janine. It also reduces inflammation and helps protects your skin against oxidative stress, while repairing and regenerating skin cells. Magnesium is easier to obtain from North American diets and can be found in foods such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, and fish.
3. Grass Fed Bovine Hydrolyzed Collagen
This supplement is “fantastic for building your own collagen,” according to Dr. Janine. It can help boost collagen and elastic production as well as intensify hydration levels so that your skin stays moisturized, and thus looks smoother and healthier. This supplement can be purchased as a powder that you add to liquids like water, juice, and coffee, or in capsule form.
