Beauty starts on the inside with these critical components...

Your skin craves vitamins, and each one supplies essential nutrients to help your skin perform its hard job day in and day out every day! Food sources of nutraceuticals are best, but if your diet has restrictions, consider a multivitamin.

Vitamin A comes in two types: retinoids, which promote new skin cells, and carotenoids, which prevent cell damage (premature aging). To increase vitamin A with these foods:

• Fish
• Eggs
• Dairy
• Carrots and tomatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Leafy greens

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that fights aging and boosts the production of collagen. You can find Vitamin C in:

• Citrus fruits
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Red peppers

Vitamin D Your body relies on your skin and your diet for an adequate supply of vitamin D, which regulates calcium absorption and fuels your immune system. Your skin helps increase vitamin D when it’s exposed to sunlight. You can also get this nutrient from:

• Egg yolks
• Fortified yogurt, cereal, orange juice, and milk
• Sardines, shrimp, and salmon

Vitamin E Your skin needs vitamin E to counteract UV damage and keep it soft and supple. You can find vitamin E in:

• Nuts and seeds (especially sunflower seeds and hazelnuts)
• Seafood
• Spinach, broccoli, avocados, and leafy greens
• Some vegetable oils

When it comes to your skin, there's one thing we know for sure - What You Eat can have a direct impact on How You Look!

Oh, and don't forget to hydrate with plenty of water

Cindy Fehr RN(NP)