Everyone wants to look their best, and young, healthy-looking skin goes a long way toward achieving this goal. Though many skin care solutions can be pricey, here’s something you can do to improve the appearance of your skin that won’t cost you a pretty penny: Clean up your diet.
Trained dermatologists evaluated the skin of more than 4,000 middle-aged women and rated it in terms of wrinkling, dryness, and thinning. These scores were then compared to the women’s nutrient intake. Several nutrient-skin relationships stood out, independent of age, smoking, sun exposure, and other factors typically linked with skin aging.
Higher intake of vitamin C and linoleic acid, and lower consumption of fats and carbohydrates were strongly associated with younger-looking skin. Vitamin A and protein intake were also linked with fewer wrinkles, although these ties were less significant.
Go ahead and use good, nutrient-rich skin care products, but don’t overlook the importance of diet. Furthermore, the benefits of laying off excessive fats and carbs and eating foods abundant in vitamin C ( vegetables and fruits), linoleic acid (nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils), vitamin A (leafy greens and orange/yellow produce), and protein (fish, poultry, and lean meat) are more than skin deep.
