Diet

Healthy Skin Diet: The Truth About Antioxidants

Learn everything you need to know about these powerful ingredients -- once and for all

by Sharon J. Yi

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The truth about vitamin A Beta-carotene is crucial for skin health, says Bauer. It's a plant form of vitamin A, which is responsible for repairing and growing new cells. However, vitamin A is also fat-soluble like vitamin E, so you must avoid ingesting too much. The RDA for adult females who aren't pregnant is 700 mcg. In addition, Canfield warns that you can't necessarily outsmart aging and prevent cancer just by taking an exorbitant amount of these vitamins. Too much will actually increase cancer risks. The Finnish Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene (ATBC), among other studies, has shown that while "fully expecting beta-carotene to reduce lung cancer, [they found] it actually increased it."

That's why Canfield recommends avoiding beta-carotene supplements. Rather, she advises to increase your fruit and vegetable intake as she mentioned earlier as it's nearly impossible to achieve toxic levels of any vitamin through food. Innumerable studies show that "people who consume the most fruits and vegetables have the lowest disease risks around the world. That's where the power really lies, [in] making better food choices," she says.

Where it's found: Orange-colored things like carrots, sweet potatoes, and apricots have it. Also, leafy vegetables such as kale, collards and turnip greens are great sources of this vitamin.

* According to the Linus Pauling Institute

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Older comments

Love this.

by Mollysunshine Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 02:19AM Report as inappropriate

Applause, applause! We truly are what we eat, and our diets do show on our complexions. I disagree that a supplement isn't needed--our soil is depleted of all of the vitamins and minerals we need. And drinking lots of water is extremely important!

by GigiSD Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 09:37PM Report as inappropriate