It’s a well known fact that Dr. Perricone believes the fight against the visible signs of aging and systemic diseases begins at the grocery store- but what’s in his medicine cabinet? Today, we dig into the man behind the amber bottles and reveal his must-have skincare products, supplements, health foods and favorite ways to stay in shape.
Buy Wild
People are always curious as to which skincare products I am using or what makes up my current diet. I wouldn’t be known as “The Salmon Doctor” if I didn’t start with diet first! Hands down, my biggest beauty secret and number 1 superfood is wild Alaskan salmon. The health and beauty benefits alone are incredible. Do make sure you’re buying wild versus farmed salmon as the nutritional profile is different. If you eat red meat, do look for 100 percent grass-fed beef, which is up to three times leaner than grain-fed beef and can have about 15 fewer calories per ounce than meat from a grain-fed cow.
Get Ancient
I’m a huge fan of all of the cruciferous vegetables; especially Watercress which is the most underrated and one of my favorites because it possesses a storehouse of nutrients that have been used as a tonic since ancient times to cleanse the blood and liver of toxins and promote an overall feeling of good health. It’s great in salads or in soup.
I prefer Greek yogurt versus regular yogurt. . The origin of fermented foods and cultured milk products goes so far back that it’s rumored to predate recorded history. This is perfectly in keeping with my philosophy that the most ancient foods have survived for a reason—they continue to be instrumental to the survival of our species.
In Defense of the Yolk
I do eat both egg whites and the yolk. As a general rule, I use a ratio of two egg whites to one yolk. I like them scrambled with a ¼ teaspoon of turmeric, hard boiled, or as omelets. I buy organic eggs, from cage-free, free-range chickens, which I recommend.
I also love cinnamon. Its actives trick the cell into mounting its own defense against aging! Just 1/4 teaspoon per day is enough. Other favorites are turmeric, walnuts, extra virgin coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, and green tea. My guilty pleasure is Neuhaus chocolate, I could be their spokesperson!
Supplements for all
Luckily, nutritional supplements have come a long way from the minimal, “one-a-day” multivitamins. Now we have highly targeted antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that can do everything from sharpening our brain power, repairing cells, and burning fat to increasing muscle tone, restoring memory, and heightening libido. I recommend that everyone take alpha lipoic acid—because it’s difficult to get adequate amounts from the foods we eat- and fish oil capsules for their myriad health benefits. I’ve also been taking branch chain amino acids washed down with a delicious homemade juice; my go-to recipe is as follows: kale, beets, carrots, cucumber, apple, ginger and celery.
