Diet dilemmas for the New Year

Feed your skin

Reader: I lost over a stone last year which I am really pleased about. I've still got another half a stone to go round my middle, but I have lost a lot of weight off my face. At 42 that means the lines are a little more noticeable than when I was plumper!

Obviously I don't want to put the weight back on again but can you recommend any anti-ageing 'superfoods' or other nutrients that might help firm things up again?

Catherine Matthews: Congratulations on the weight loss, you are making excellent progress and I am sure you will achieve your target weight in the New Year.

As you age, the collagen and elastic fibres that give your skin support, resilience and elasticity break down, causing line and wrinkle formation. Unfortunately, the cosmetics industry loves to use phrases such as 'replaces what skin has lost' that lead you to believe creams and serums can affect skin structure in some permanent way. They can't. The point of all of this is that growing old and wrinkle formation cannot be reversed.

The best way to slow lines is to eat healthily, get regular exercise and drink at least 1-2 litres of water every day.

To help fight the free radicals that are causing your skin to age, eat at least two portions of oily fish per week. This type of fish contains essential fatty acids which help prevent free radical damage. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that is great for promoting healthy skin. Foods rich in this vitamin include citrus fruits, berries, spinach and fortified products.

True or false?

Reader: Please clarify whether these rumours are fact or fiction:

1. You shouldn't eat fruit straight after a meal because it won't be digested until the rest of the food, by which time it will have started fermenting and will cause bloating.
2. You mustn't drink too much water with your meal because it dilutes your stomach acid and enzymes, so digestion is less efficient.