Like the age-old adage “you are what you eat”, indulging in certain foods can make you look and feel older than you are. The top five most common foods to avoid include hydrogenated oils or trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, refined salt, processed meats and alcohol. Although you may have heard about the dangers of the first two types of food, the others may be lesser known. Refined salt not only raises your blood pressure but it also leads to skin puffiness and swelling, therefore experts suggest eliminating or reducing salt use whenever possible. Processed meats such as bacon and deli meats also contain a lot of preservatives which can cause skin irritation and also conflict with the body’s ability to produce collagen, which is what maintains firm, youthful looking skin. Due to the fact that it is processed through the liver, alcohol is another common substance that can produce acne, rosacea and wrinkles – all skin-aging side effects from unprocessed toxins. Eliminating these foods or reducing the intake to a minimum can promote healthier looking appearances and make you feel better overall.

If you’re looking to take your health to the next level, it’s important to know the best way of preparing foods in order to maximize the nutritional benefits. For some food, cooking them increases their nutritional value so your body can take in more. However, when dealing with other foods this does the opposite and can even make it more difficult for the body to absorb all the vitamins and minerals as when eating them raw. Although cooked veggies can have more flavor or be easier to chew, you may be undoing some of great nutritional benefits. See why eating these foods raw is healthier:

1. Beets – These vegetables are high in fiber, vitamin C and potassium but when cooked they can lose as much as 25% of their folate, a healthy brain compound.
2. Broccoli – Among other benefits broccoli also contains sulforaphane, a compound which is more easily absorbed when consumed raw and has been found to fight cancer cells, lower blood pressure, improve heart health, and provide antioxidants that help with anti-aging and immunity.
3. Onions – Allicin, the stuff in onions that makes you tear up, is a phytonutrient that helps curb hunger, prevent cancer, promote cardiovascular health, and reduce high blood pressure – and you get more of it when you eat onions raw.
4. Red Bell Peppers – Roasting, frying, or grilling red bell peppers at a temperature over 375 degrees Fahrenheit will cause their vitamin C properties to break down, taking away from their full nutritional benefits.
5. Garlic – A study revealed that eating raw garlic two or more times a week reduced risk of developing lung cancer – like onions, you’ll get more nutritional benefits when eating it raw.

We’ve all missed a workout before but when it comes to building muscle and staying in shape – is the old adage true that if you don’t use it, you lose it? While it’s important to rest, it can be a lot harder to bounce back from a break the longer you wait. According to studies, strength loss occurs after about two and a half to three weeks of inactivity for most people. Cardio conditioning falls faster but is easier to regain than muscle strength. Consistency is especially important if you’re new to exercise but thankfully, these new habits make it easier to retain strength. Experts suggest tips for staying strong during downtime, including performing light cardio, incorporating resistance training and eating right.