Kristina Lubovna is often mistaken for a teenager and can’t buy alcohol without an awkward exchange with the cashier about I.D.
But her youthful looks are not some genetic fluke.
The model, 31, claims she has cheated aging with an unusual routine that involves olive oil, prickly fruits, and a grill brush.
She drinks shots of olive oil every day for its omega-3 fatty acids, which some research suggests could turn back the clock up to four months.
Ms Lubovna also doesn’t stop at drinking it. She claims rubbing olive oil on her face with a Scrub Daddy grill brush helps rid her skin of oils and toxins that build up throughout the day.
And she doesn’t throw away her banana peels or pineapple skins. Instead, she eats them because ‘they have the most potent benefits’ like disease-fighting antioxidants.
Ms Lubovna, from California, is determined to look young as long as possible and ward off death.
She was inspired by infamous biohacker Bryan Johnson, who follows a strict diet and exercise regimen in an attempt to turn back the clock.
Kristina Lubovna, a model and wellness influencer from California, is determined to look young as long as possible and often gets mistaken for a teenager
The 31-year-old claims she wants to ‘cheat the aging process’ by drinking olive oil, rubbing it on her skin, and eating the peels from her fruits
Ms Lubovna said: ‘I want to avoid getting old and wrinkly as long as I can. That’s not to say aging can’t be a beautiful and graceful process, but I want to take care of my body as best as I can.
‘All we have is our bodies. I want to cheat the aging process and live as long as I can. I want to be ready in each phase of my life to welcome it in the best way.’
Ms Lubovna takes at least one sip of Bryan Johnson’s ‘Snake Oil’ olive oil every day.
According to Blueprint, Johnson’s nutrition plan, a $35 bottle of Snake Oil contains 400 mg/kg of polyphenols, compounds found in plants that act as antioxidants, which can lower disease-causing inflammation and cholesterol.
One 2020 study found omega-3 fatty acids in olive oil activate cell pathways in the body tied to a longer life.
Additionally, research from the American Heart Association found that consuming at least half a tablespoon of olive oil every day was linked to a 15 percent lower risk of heart disease.
And last year, Harvard University researchers found people who consumed at least half a tablespoon of olive oil per day had a 28 percent reduced risk of dying from dementia than those who rarely or never consumed it.
Ms Lubovna said: ‘I’m a connoisseur of olive oil and have tried many different types. I love the taste and put it on my skin as well.’
However, just one tablespoon of olive oil is 120 calories, so it can be easy to overdo.
As for pouring it on your face, recent research suggests olive oil’s vitamin E content can help the skin retain moisture, which prevents wrinkles and other environmental skin damage.
Olive oil has also been shown to dissolve oily residue on skin, which helps it look younger.
Ms Lubovna claims she drinks Bryan Johnson’s olive oil (left) for its healthy fats and antioxidants. She also rubs it on her face with a Scrub Daddy (right)
Ms Lubovna, pictured here, said: ‘People keep mistreating the only vessel that they’re in, then wonder why their quality of life is so bad. You just need discipline and self control’
However, at $35 per bottle, the cost of Ms Lubovna’s olive oil regimen can add up quickly.
But Ms Lubovna doesn’t just rub it in with her hands.
She said: ‘I exfoliate twice a week. Living in LA, especially with the amount of smog and all the oils I put on my body, I feel like they adhere to my skin when I run outside.
‘I make sure to scrub that off. I use a Scrub Daddy, the kind that are used to clean barbeques. It makes my skin shiny.’
Scrub Daddy grill brushes – called BBQ Daddies – are made with polymer foam, a synthetic material composed of the chemicals polyols and isocyanates.
While it’s how using a Scrub Daddy would benefit your face, isocyanates have been shown to cause skin irritation.
Ms Lubovna also doesn’t throw away her banana peels or the rinds of her fruits.
She said: ‘I’m a strong believer in eating the peels of fruits and veggies. They have the most potent benefits and we throw them away.
‘I eat the peels of bananas, avocados, pineapples and watermelon.’
Banana and watermelon peels are high in nutrients like potassium and fiber.
Potassium has been shown to lower blood pressure, putting less strain on the heart and reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes. Fiber, meanwhile, reduces inflammation that can age cells.
Pineapple and avocado skin also contain antioxidants like those in olive oil, reducing inflammation.
Ms Lubovna said: ‘People keep mistreating the only vessel that they’re in, then wonder why their quality of life is so bad. You just need discipline and self control.
‘By embracing this lifestyle I want to take care of my body for as long as I can.’
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
