Dr Stefanie Williams is known as one of the best aesthetic and medical dermatologists in the country. As well as having a warm and approachable manner, she's constantly researching the latest developments in skin maintenance and general health. . This is why her book, Future Proof Your Skin, is a must read for those us interested in slowing down the ageing process.
As Dr Stefanie is a dermatologist, it would be easy to assume that her book would be about skincare and cosmetic procedures. However, she proposes that it's the foods we eat that's going to make the biggest difference to how we age. And, slowing down skin ageing isn't the only benefit of following her diet guidelines as it will also have a big impact on your biological age and could greatly decrease your chance of getting degenerative illnesses. Really, it should be this that motivates us the most but I think we've become so programmed as a society to care more about our physical appearance than our general health. For instance, I know lots of people who've given up smoking because of how it ages the skin and not because it turns your lungs black etc..
The book starts off with an explanation of how we age on a cellular level. It's quite sciency but fascinating and well written. You'll learn about the terms that come up time and time again in association with anti-ageing but probably don't really understand such as: Telemones, Free Radicals, Anti-Oxidents, Glycation, AGE's, Methylation and so on. This is followed by an explanation of how different foods can effect cells in a negative or positive way.
The rest of the book concentrates on what we should or shouldn't eat and why. It's probably no surprise to hear that sugar is the devil in food form and the majority of carbs should also be avoided as well as grains AND most dairy products too. This might sound that you're left with hardly any choice and that it will take the joy out of eating but it doesn't have to be that way.
The food group that you can eat that leaves you full and satisfied is fats, but they do have to be the right fats. Though vegetable oils sound healthy this should definitely be avoided along with trans and hydrogenated fats. Good fats include olive and avocado oil, animal fats and full-fat dairy.
This all might sound like the Atkin's diet but it's most definitely not. The main reason is that you don't cut out down on carbs as dramatically as you do on the Atkins as you eat so much veg with Dr Stefanie's plan. Also, there's a big emphasis on eating good quality foods, ie. sausages and bacon are definitely not on the menu. The best description for this diet would be the Paelo, which has been around for a while (obviously, since pre-historic times but also as a food trend in modern western society). However, I've noticed it's becoming very popular again amongst the well-informed, super health conscious Notting Hill ladies who (don't eat much) lunch.
This nutritional plan is far from easy. I meant to review this book a couple of months ago but I wanted to get grips with the diet first but, unfortunately, I'm still trying to do that. Dr Stephanie advices going cold turkey and then the sugar cravings will stop but, much to my dismay and frustration, I've never managed more than 3 days in a row. However, I have definitely improved my eating habits and eat a lot more vegetables, have switched to low sugar fruits and have largely cut out grains. And, I am going to keep trying as I truly believe that this food plan is the best for my skin and future well-being.
Futrue Proof Your Skin by Stefanie Williams is available at Amazon for £7.78.
Eudulo.com is where you're find more info on Dr Stefanie and her clinic and you can also follow her on twitter: @drstefaniew
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