It is not surprising for you to hear that your parents were right! Eating a wide variety of vegetables, particularly those high in vitamins A, C and E (such as spinach, carrots, red bell peppers and tomatoes), will ensure that your diet is rich in antioxidants. These compounds are believed to play an important role in maintaining the overall health of your body, including your skin. Antioxidants are substances thought to provide a protective effect on cells against the activities of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that are produced when your body processes food, or through exposure to harmful environmental factors such as cigarette smoke and radiation. Free radicals cause cellular damage, and are implicated in contributing to skin aging, cancer and other diseases.
