Younger looking skin isn’t only a result of cosmetic procedures that peel away the years. Health experts and nutritionists alike are touting the power of foods with antioxidants, encouraging us to eliminate toxins and unhealthy ingredients from our diet as an anti-aging strategy.

Eating foods rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants is a simple way to boost the immune system, reduce the risk of disease and support a healthy diet. When you’re looking for ways to improve your skin and overall health, adding foods with high levels of antioxidants may be just as powerful as your next cosmetic procedure.  

Antioxidants and Anti-Aging:  Making the Connection

Cell oxidation can lead to a variety of health problems and skin imbalances, adding years to your appearance and leaving you in a state of poor health. As we age, the oxidation process can make cells vulnerable to damage where they become less likely to repair themselves and heal. However, there may be ways to prevent damage from occurring in the first place; eating a healthy diet, reducing pollutants in the environment, and following a lifetime skincare plan can help make cells stronger and more resilient.   

Antioxidants are naturally found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and these foods also contain many important minerals and nutrients. Still, the most important reason to increase antioxidants in the diet is to boost collagen production. Collagen is the vital connective tissue found in muscles and is what gives the skin its natural strength.   

BioSpecifics Technologies Corp., a pharmaceutical company based in New York describes collagen as ‘the most important building block in the entire animal world". Stocking up on foods rich in antioxidants supports high levels of collagen production. The result?  Healthier skin, muscles and hair that make you look years younger.  

Foods with Antioxidants: Choices for Optimal Health

Doctors, nutritionists, and cosmetic surgeons all maintain their own list of most-valued foods for healthy skin and good health, but some foods continue to show up on their top-ten lists year after year. Leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, and complex carbohydrates such as oats are just a few popular choices that can easily be incorporated into the diet.  

The United States Department of Agriculture has developed a comprehensive list of over 100 fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants; these can be added to the diet as a proactive anti-aging strategy, and most can be eaten raw for maximum nutrition. Highlights of the list include:   Small red beans

• Wild blueberries
• Cranberries
• Artichoke hearts
• Blackberries
• Prunes
• Red Delicious Apples
• Cherries Plums
• Pinto beans

Antioxidants and Facial Rejuvenation Procedures

The boost of collagen after a chemical peel or facial rejuvenation treatment doesn’t last forever – making a few changes to the diet is a simple way to enhance the results of your cosmetic surgery or facial rejuvenation procedures.  

Fighting the clock with your diet could be the easiest strategy for a youthful appearance and improving your health overall. By stocking up on vital fruits, vegetables and whole grains that contain high levels of antioxidants, the body can start increasing collagen production on a regular basis, helping you make the most of cosmetic surgery, facial rejuvenation, and other skin enhancements for life.