I’m 59 with the biological age of 21 – I have no wrinkles thanks to a £4 beauty product I swear by using every night
DESPITE being nearly 60, Leslie Kenny has the biological age of a youthful 21-year-old, according to a scientific test.
After a health scare at 39 where she was told she may only have “five good years” of health left, Leslie decided to overhaul her health and has wound back the clock in the process.
She’s now spent two decades discovering the secrets of a youthful life and has put her three autoimmune diseases – lupus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Hashimoto’s disease – into remission.
Although looking 21 years of age may be a stretch, Leslie does appear younger than her years.
And thankfully she’s revealed her essentials for defying the signs of aging without using Botox.
FACE TAPING
Leslie said face-taping is a “fantastic” alternative to Botox.
She uses Japanese Face Tape from The Natural Faces, which is made from “gentle” material.
“It involves using special tape to prevent facial movement during sleep and thus, prevent new wrinkles from forming,” she said.
While these can set you back £21 for a back, Temu do a £4 version to save you some pennies.
AVOID INFLAMMATORY FOODS
When she was diagnosed with her autoimmune diseases, she immediately took an allergy test which revealed she had sensitivities to gluten and dairy.
She immediately cut out both – alongside sugar and alcohol.
Leslie also avoids carbohydrates apart from sweet potatoes and “white basmati rice that has been cooked and left to cool, then drizzled with coconut oil.”
Speaking to The Times, she said: “The same foods won’t cause a reaction in everyone, so it’s important to find out if you have any sensitivities of your own.”
TAKES SUPPLEMENTS
Kenny said there isn’t a “one size fits all” approach to health but people should start by examining the root cause of premature aging.
“Often, grey hair is a great visible indicator of what’s going on within, and its cause can be different for everyone,” she said.
“Despite common misconceptions, gray hair isn’t a given.”
She said nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin D, B12, iron, or spermidine are among the causes.
Alternatively, thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism or stress-related glutathione depletion.
“We must identify the cause with a detailed blood panel before we can rectify the issue,” she said.
“I am 59 and I have no gray hair because I was able to balance my nutritional profile and get my thyroid issues under control.”
PACKS IN COLLAGEN
Leslie frequently eats “collagen-rich foods” such as bone broth and takes supplements like Davinia Taylor’s Will Powder, which is made from grass-fed Swedish bovine.
She also takes four tablespoons of collagen daily.
The dosage of collagen to take varies for each person depending on their age and needs.
“While I’m sure you have heard of collagen, you might not know about spermidine,” she said.
FASTS REGULARLY
Leslie fasts for around 18 hours most days, having coffee with antioxidant-rich raw cacao and coconut creamer for breakfast, lunch at 1pm and dinner at 7pm.
She mainly eats plant-based meals but does consume oily fish, eggs and small portions of “high quality” meat.
Some experts have found that fasting can add the body’s cellular renewal process and reduce chronic inflammation, often linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
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She told Fabulous: “The science is evident that we all have the power to make simple life changing alterations to better our future selves – no matter what genetic hand we might have been dealt with.
“The reality is, we all sometimes indulge in unhealthy eating habits like processed foods, smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, inhaling city pollutants, and even drinking water from plastic bottles – none of this is good for us.
“All this does is promote the ageing process, but we all have the potential to change this.”
It may be hard, but try to keep away from sugary carbohydrates, because they feed chronic inflammation, which is one of the worst enemies of reversing ageing.
Now only will you end up putting on weight if you consume them regularly, but your energy and hormonal levels will be affected and this will influence how you look and feel.
Whatever your age or state of health, it’s never too late to reverse how quickly you are ageing and embrace the energy and vigour of a younger you.
Antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, and E, are essential in neutralising free radicals—the culprits behind premature ageing.
Integrating a spectrum of colourful fruits and vegetables into your diet provides a potent source of antioxidants.
Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fatty fish like salmon and flaxseeds, are vital for maintaining skin elasticity and hydration.
Omega-3s act as nourishment for your skin, locking in moisture and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.
Collagen, a structural protein dwindling with age, can be replenished through collagen-rich foods like bone broth and lean protein sources.
DOES ‘INVERSION’ SHOULDER STANDS
Leslie’s favourite way to relax, she claims, is to invert herself upside down with shoulder stands.
To achieve this, raise your hips above your heart and your heart above your head.
Although she does this six times a day on a special inversion chair from Feet Up that cost £189, you can achieve the yoga move without any machinery.
However, it is not advised for those with high blood pressure, and it avoids putting strain on your wrists or elbows.
Beginners can rest legs up against a wall if they need aid.
SLEEP BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Leslie ensures she gets one or two hours of sleep before midnight to maximise its restorative benefits, and aims to get seven hours a night in total.
Experts say the hours between 10pm and 2am and crucial for non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, when the body repairs tissue and strengthens the immune system.
Leslie said: “To reduce inflammaging [age-related increases in levels of inflammatory markers] it’s essential to ensure you get a good night’s sleep.”