10 Foods to Eat for Younger Looking Skin

Do you need one more reason to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains? You can prevent wrinkles and save hundreds of dollars on cosmetics, skin care products and plastic surgery. Instead of looking for the Fountain of Youth, you can look for flaxseed oil in your local health food store. Ann Louise Gittleman, N.D., M.S., C.N.S., recommends a tablespoon of high lignin flaxseed oil every day, or a supplement containing a combination of flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil.

According to studies published in the Journal of American College of Nutrition, people who ate diets rich in fruits and vegetables, multigrain bread, beans, nuts and olive oil were less prone to skin cancer, wrinkling and reddening skin damage from UV despite varying levels of sun exposure where they lived. They did not eat red meat, butter, or sugary foods. The key? Good monounsaturated fats (such as Omega-3) and antioxidants found in a diet rich in:

Leafy green vegetables
Fruits
Nuts
Beans
Multigrain bread and fiber
Olive oil
Fish and fish oil

These foods offer high levels of antioxidants because the foods are rich in vitamins A, C, and E. (Hint: use a juicer to maximize absorption of nutrients). People who eat a diet centered around these foods are less likely to age, because antioxidants counteract the natural aging of the skin. Oils such as olive oil are monounsaturated, and break up the fatty acids in the skin that can contribute to skin aging.

The secret to younger-looking skin that glows and wards off melanoma is as close as your faucet with a water filter. Drinking plenty of water in addition to eating a diet such as the one recommended by RealAge founders Dr. Mike Roizen and Mehmet Oz will counteract the effects of that day at the beach.

Feeling self-conscious about your face this summer? Instead of a face lift, microdemabrasion or Botox, try freshly juiced oranges or spinach. And instead of Oil of Olay, reach for the olive oil.

Steve Meyerowitz, author of Juice Fasting and Detoxification, recommends cucumber juice for better skin and hair. Cucumber is high in silica, a mineral which is important for skin elasticity and connective tissues. To maximize the benefits of cucumbers, juice with the peel on, as most of the silica is found in the peel.

Juicing carrots is also excellent for your skin. Carrots are high in vitamin A which is essential for developing and maintaining skin cells, and are high in antioxidants that help prevent skin damage.

Blueberries and other fruits that are particularly high in antioxidants are also recommended for maintaining skin. To juice blueberries and other soft fruits, you must have a masticating or twin-gear juicer.