Badly scratched surfaces should usually be re-finished, but to hide one or two very deep scratches, you may be able to stain the raw area to match. Combine granola, raw nuts and seeds, and dried fruits for a basic trail mix. Deficiencies in vitamin A sometimes result in skin problems such as dry, flaking skin, but this antioxidant is pretty easy to come by via fruits and vegetables. And vitamin C is found in a lot of fruits and vegetables, so it’s easy to get an adequate serving every day. You’ll find retinol, a vitamin A derivative, in many anti-aging face creams. For good health while losing weight, you need the recommended amounts of vitamin A, numerous B-vitamins, and vitamins C, D, E, and K. Important minerals include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, selenium, and potassium. Both guides provide specific amounts of food to eat depending on the amount of calories you need to lose weight.

As for what you should avoid, the list is simple: Foods high in saturated fats — such as red meat and pastries that are full of shortening and butter — are clearly those you should only enjoy in small amounts. While these may give you some benefit, the anti-aging impact of them is still small compared to actually eating foods that contain those same antioxidants. This may be one of the most important antioxidants of all, because in addition to making free radicals inactive, it can actually protect cells from damage. Sandwiches can be a quick and easy way to keep hunger at bay while adding some good protein and hearty grains to your daily nutrition. Nuts — Adding nuts to your morning cereal or lunch salad is an easy way to get important minerals like potassium, which helps maintain a healthy blood pressure. That’s a significant finding considering the well-established connection between high blood pressure and kidney disease, strokes and heart attacks. It could increase your need for breath mints, but eating garlic every day may also protect you from age-related problems like heart disease, colon cancer and high cholesterol.

You’re on the road and it hits you — not driver fatigue or the need for a bathroom break. A small insulated cooler is a road trip must-have, as are small food storage containers or resealable baggies (the snack-sized kind are perfect for portion control) to keep finger foods ready to go. Store it in lidded food containers inside an insulated cooler to help keep it cool and fresh. Do you run inside a convenience store for a bag of M&M’s and energy drink while you get gas? Consider replacing your favorite candy bar with an energy or granola bar to boost your protein and fiber intake while avoiding the sugar trap. Since maintaining a healthy weight is part of an anti-aging diet, it’s also not a bad idea to stay away from food and drinks that are high in sugar. For suggestions on how to boost your meals with anti-aging foods, read on to the next page.

Davis, Jeanie Lerche. “Expert Q&A: Anti-aging and Diet: An Interview with David Grotto, RD, LDN.” WebMD. Bouchez, Colette. “Nutrients for Healthy Skin: Inside and Out.” WebMD. For more information about food and skin, read Food and Skin: Fast Facts. If more calories come in from food than you burn up in activity, the scale tips to the left, and you gain weight. Each colored band is a different width, corresponding to the proportion of your daily diet that food group should contribute. Berries — This type of fruit is an ideal source of flavonoids, a group of antioxidants. National Cancer Institute. “Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention: Fact Sheet”. Set a buffer block of scrap wood over the newly glued area, and use another block or a soft cloth to protect the opposite edge or side of the surface. As soon as the white spots disappear, stop rubbing and wipe the wood clean with a soft cloth. Lay three or chicken snacks four one-inch diameter sticks of fuel wood on top of the kindling. Punch a hole in the center of the top edge. Alternatively, popcorn or rice cakes are good options to satisfy a crunchy craving.