Some of the factors that account for the wrinkles and lines and other changes can, actually, be controlled to some extent. For example, your lifestyle plays a role, and at the top of that list is smoking, which produces free radicals. These are molecules that start out healthy but become overactive and unstable. Heredity is also a significant factor. Did either of your parents look old before their time? You may have inherited a gene that will affect how quickly you exhibit signs of aging. Diet is also an important factor. A raw-foods diet has been shown to offset and prevent some of the changes that come about because of free radicals and other factors. Of course, we all know that exposure to the sun is high on the list. Stress is your enemy as is obesity. Even sleeping can be blamed for the some of the signs of aging.

• Frequent bruises. It takes less to cause a bruise because the blood vessel walls thin as we grow older.
• Benign tumors. You’ll see bumps on your skin that may make you wonder whether you are getting skin cancer. It doesn't hurt to have them checked out from time to time.
• Roughness. The skin is simply not as smooth and satiny as it once was.
• Transparency. You can see your veins more obviously than when you were younger. This happens because the outer layer of the skin becomes thinner.
• Looseness. We lose the elasticity of our youth in our skin. In fact, in some parts of our bodies, the skin will hang loosely.
• Fragility. It takes only small bumps to leave marks on our skin or to tear it. This is because there's not as much of a cushion between the outer layer and the under layers of the skin.
• Effects of gravity. The eyebrows and eyelids droop, cheeks and jaws lose their fullness, resulting “jowls,” “double chin,” and longer ear lobes.
• Lines. The places where the face is more mobile will become more visible. For example, horizontal lines on the forehead are common as are “laugh lines.”
• Creases from the way we sleep. These are usually on the side of the forehead. Changing sleep position may forestall some of these or keep them from becoming worse.
• Itching and dryness. This may be because we live in overheated, overcooled homes. Also, oil glands are lost with aging.

The changes listed above have to do with the outer layer of the skin, the layer that is most obvious. There are also changes that occur below that layer.

• Fat disappears. This is most noticeable in the cheeks, temples, chin, nose, and eye area. Some older people have sunken eyes and a sort of “skeletal” appearance.
• Loss of bone. This is obvious mostly around the mouth and chin. Often after age 60, the skin around the mouth begins to pucker.
• Loss of cartilage. This may cause the tip of the nose to droop, and the bony structures in the nose may become more apparent.

If you want to avoid the effects of aging or if you are already seeing some of those signs in your mirror and want to slow them down, switch to a balanced raw-foods diet that includes plenty of raw whole grains and an abundance of fruits and vegetables that provide the range of vitamins necessary for good health. Also, pay attention to anti-oxidants. Most raw-foods diets are already high in these magical substances that make such a difference in how quickly we age; however, give some special attention to them when you are planning your raw-foods diet. Consider including broccoli sprouts–they are a powerhouse of age-fighters.

If you are looking for a homemade skin care, try this out, especially right after you get out of the shower:

Mix one teaspoonful of honey, one teaspoon of lemon juice and a half cup of water. Massage into your skin after bathing. Repeat over time to have younger looking and smoother skin.

Unless you live in a cave, you can't avoid this, but you can reduce the amount of exposure, especially in this age of sunscreens. If you are older, however, you probably got a lot of ultraviolet-ray exposure before sunscreens became available. The damage occurs in fibers in the skin called, appropriately, elastin. We know what elastic is, and it's a good way to think of what's going on with our skin as it ages and as the sun does its damage. The result of the damage to the elastin is seen in the tendency of the skin to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to return to a former state after it's stretched. Sun damage also causes the skin to bruise and tear more easily. It also causes the skin to take longer to heal. Unfortunately, young people, who never expect to age, can't see the damage, and once done, it can't be undone although it's possible that the skin will do some repair itself. It's never too late to begin protecting yourself from this kind of damage. You can actually delay some of the changes that come with aging by dealing with sun damage before it happens.

By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari