Summer is in most cases synonymous with excess: hearty meals, long days of sun exposure, beach, pool, and lack of physical activity.
Returning to routine after a long vacation entails a great effort mentally, but also physically. The lack of activity during long periods causes us to lose agility and energy, making everything seem twice as hard. The result? A few extra pounds, lack of energy, and dull, sun-aged skin. The solution? For Dr. Perricone, it’s not just about a diet, but rather a mindset change based on eliminating certain types of foods that cause sagging, such as rice, sugar, coffee, packaged juices, or light products; to give greater prominence to natural dairy, wild salmon, and oat flakes.
The cornerstone of this diet is salmon, which should be consumed twice a day, especially wild salmon.
Dr. Nicholas V. Perricone is a clinical dermatologist and renowned American nutritionist who created the Theory of Aging caused by cellular inflammation and developed a nutritional program known as the Dr. Perricone Diet, which is not your typical weight loss diet, but rather an anti-aging diet. Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, Julia Roberts, Uma Thurman, Eva Mendes, and Queen Letizia are avid followers of this type of dietary and lifestyle regimen.
“Wrinkled and sagging skin is not the result of aging. It’s a disease and can be fought.” This is one of the principles of Dr. Nicholas V. Perricone, and understanding tiredness, swelling, and post-vacation skin problems as symptoms, we’re going to treat them with nutrients, but ingested in the best possible way to maximize absorption.
So, what does Dr. Perricone’s diet entail?
Raquel González, the Training Manager at Perricone MD, provides the keys. “Every meal should include high-quality proteins, low-glycemic index carbohydrates, and healthy fats.” And beware! Because in this case, the order of factors does affect the product. “Proteins should always be consumed first to aid the digestion process and prevent a glycemic response. Next, fibers, and finally, complex carbohydrates.”
Taking care of the nutrients we ingest is key in Dr. Perricone’s diet.
The rest of the advice follows the path of what we all know as a healthy diet:
“One should avoid diet sodas, packaged juices, sugar, coffee, and, of course, alcohol and tobacco, replacing them with 9 glasses of mineral water a day and green tea. Additionally, half an hour of daily physical exercise to maintain good health and vitality.”
Based on superfoods that help boost energy and possess antioxidant and anti-aging properties, Dr. Perricone’s diet helps restore the healthy appearance of our skin and, although it’s not designed to produce this effect, it also aids in weight loss.
The 10 superfoods in Dr. Perricone’s diet are:
1. Wild salmon: contains DMAE, a complex that makes it the perfect anti-aging food as it provides a lifting effect and a more sculpted appearance, while astaxanthin and fatty acids improve skin radiance and firmness.
2. Extra virgin olive oil: It’s important that it’s extra virgin, as it’s the only one that contains hydroxytyrosol, an antioxidant found exclusively in olive oil obtained through this type of pressing.
3. Strawberries and berries: powerful antioxidants with a low glycemic index. These fruits are perfect for achieving a younger and more vibrant complexion and help reduce accumulated body fat.
4. Organic natural dairy products, without sweeteners and low in salt: they contain important bacteria that maintain good intestinal health and improve digestion. The most recommended ones? Yogurt and kefir.
5. Oat flakes: rich in fiber, monounsaturated fats, and proteins. It helps control cholesterol and blood pressure, improves the digestive system, regulates blood sugar, and protects the body against cancer. A versatile food!
6. Aromatic herbs and spices: besides adding flavor to meals, they possess antioxidant properties (like chili) or anti-inflammatory properties (like turmeric).
7. Turmeric: anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective, to “remind” our skin to stay young.
8. Mineral water: the best ally in any healthy diet. Avoiding dehydration helps with better and faster fat metabolism and helps our body eliminate waste.
9. Green tea: one of the key beverages in Dr. Perricone’s anti-aging diet. Its high antioxidant content stimulates metabolism and helps prevent the absorption of harmful fats.
10. Pure cocoa: a potent antioxidant that prevents free radical damage and, thanks to its high magnesium content, regulates sugar levels, helps “fix” calcium, controls intestinal flora, and protects the cardiovascular system.
Step-by-step three-day menu from Dr. Perricone
A different way to understand diet and nutrition, as a source of nutrients, health, and medicine. To what extent are we aware of what nutrition can do for our skin and our overall health? For Dr. Perricone, it’s fundamental, and with these guidelines, he condenses his wisdom into simple and accessible practices.
