The Anti-Aging Effects of Fruits and Vegetables

Friday, July 07, 2017

By Julie DesGroseilliers, Registered Dietitian

Did you know that eating fruits and vegetables is the healthiest and safest way to keep your skin looking young?[1]

For example, vitamin C is involved in the synthesis of collagen, a protein responsible for the skin’s firmness and elasticity. Unfortunately with age, collagen production declines. Citrus fruits such as oranges, kiwi, peppers, cantaloupe and watercress, which are packed with vitamin C, are willing helpers in a beauty regime.

Carotenoids, (e.g. beta carotene, lycopene) which are responsible for the orange colour of carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, mango and papaya, are high in antioxidants and photo protective properties, protecting the skin against the sun.[2]

Even though fruits and vegetables will never replace good sunscreen or adequate hydration, they can certainly help us look radiant from the inside out!

This article has been sponsored by BOOST®, but all comments and opinions are my own.

Julie DesGroseilliers
Registered Dietitian
Registered Dietitian and nutritionist Julie DesGroseilliers holds a Bachelor of Nutrition and a Minor in Physical Activity Science from the Université de Montréal. She specializes in food communications and consumer education, and she regularly leads conferences on these topics. She is also a published author of three books , including the bestseller “Bébé a faim.” A member of l’Union des artistes, she also occasionally appears across media such as radio, print, and television.

[1] Silke K. Schagen, Vasiliki A. Zampeli, Evgenia Makrantonaki, Christos C. Zouboulis. (2012). Discovering the link between nutrition and skin ageing. Dermato-Endocrinology 4:3, 298–307.

[2] Stahl W, Sies H. (2012). Photoprotection by dietary carotenoids: concept, mechanisms, evidence and future development. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2012 Feb;56(2):287-95. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201100232. Epub 2011 Sep 23.