Want to look better and live longer? Avoid these seven deadly sins!

#1. Pro-Inflammatory Foods: Foods can be pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. Pro-inflammatory foods promote wrinkles, disease, accelerate aging and cause the storage of fat. Pro-inflammatory, sugary, starchy foods causes a loss of radiance, dark circles under the eyes, loss of tone, increased line and wrinkles, loss of facial contours, increased puffiness and pore size. These foods also exacerbate acne, which is a systemic, inflammatory disease. Sugars and starches rob your youth, health and beauty.

#2. Excessive Exposure to the Sun: We need to get some sun to absorb Vitamin D and keep bones strong and healthy. But baking in the sun will cause loss of elasticity, wrinkles, freckles, blemishes and/or skin cancer.

#3. Stress: Stress is a highly destructive, pro-inflammatory and pro-aging force. Stress causes hormonal changes, altering cellular function in vital organs, including skin. Stress causes the release of the hormone cortisol. Large amounts of cortisol circulating in our blood streams for extended periods, is toxic.

#4. Smoking Cigarettes: Cigarette smoke and exposure to second hand smoke is highly damaging to the skin. When we inhale just one puff, over a trillion free radicals are produced in our lungs. This triggers an inflammatory response in all organs including the skin. Tobacco also acts as a constrictor of blood vessels, reducing blood flow to an area, and temporarily raising blood pressure. Reduced blood flow to the skin results in a gray, pallid, lifeless and an unhealthy-looking complexion. Smoking also causes dry, leathery looking skin, premature deep lines, wrinkles and loss of radiance.

#5. Excess Alcohol: People think that alcohol is bad because it dehydrates the body. They assume that increasing water intake will counteract this. Unfortunately, alcohol creates inflammation throughout the body including the skin, resulting in effects that far outlast dehydration. Alcohol causes small blood vessels in the skin to widen, allowing more blood to flow close to the skin’s surface. This produces a flushed skin color and a feeling of warmth which can lead to broken capillaries of the face. Dullness, enlarged pores, discoloration, sagging and lack of resilience are some of the short and longer term effects.

#6. Lack of Sleep: A good night’s sleep will ensure that you wake refreshed, looking radiant and youthful. Adequate sleep is vital to avoid eye area puffiness and maintain vibrant skin. Sleep turns down the negative effects of cortisol and the “bad” neurotransmitters that can be elevated during stress.