Colorful Fruits and Vegetables and Nonfat Dairy Products

Colorful Fruits and Vegetables and Nonfat Dairy Products

Antioxidants found naturally in colorful plant foods play a major role in slowing the aging process. They stabilize free radicals that would otherwise damage the skin and accelerate aging, causing wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and dullness.

Vitamins A and C both do their part to beautify skin. Vitamin A is necessary for new skin production and for keeping skin moisturized (the topical wrinkle reducer Retin-A, for example, is made from vitamin A). Since vitamin A is stored in the liver, it should not be taken in supplement form.

However, vitamin A from food sources such as nonfat dairy products and eggs is not risky since one would need to consume excess quantities of beef liver to overdose. Most vitamin A is produced in the body from beta-carotene, which can't usually be over-consumed from food.
Excellent sources of beta-carotene include orange sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, mangoes, spinach, papaya, red bell pepper, apricots, and cantaloupe. Vitamin C helps build collagen, which keeps skin elastic and prevents wrinkles; it also reduces sun damage that could lead to skin cancer and aging and helps skin heal from cuts and other wounds.

Excellent sources of vitamin C include oranges, grapefruits, kiwi, strawberries, mango, red and green bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and watermelon.