Can your diet reduce wrinkles?

Does the food you eat affect your skin? The answer may be yes.

An international study that looked at diet and aging found that elderly people who ate more vegetables, olive oil, fish, and legumes had less wrinkles. The same study found that high intake of meat, dairy and butter appeared to have an adverse effect.

Another study found that a diet high in antioxidant rich foods like yellow and green vegetables was also associated with younger looking skin. Antioxidants, such as: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Lycopene, and Beta-Carotene help reduce the damage caused by free radicals.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that are missing an electron. They steal electrons from healthy cells in the body, damaging those healthy cells. Diets high in antioxidants help skin look younger by preventing free radical damage that occurs from the sun, pollutants, or other processes.

Based on these studies, diets rich in healthy fats, legumes, fish, and vegetables may be the key to younger looking skin.