5 Tips for Maintaining Luminous Skin

In the course of my work at the Center for Aesthetics, I often find that my clients who come in seeking advanced therapies for rejuvenating their skin can also benefit from advice on how to get back to the basics with anti-aging foods. What I tell them is that total skincare starts from the inside out, especially where age-fighting antioxidants are concerned. Here are 5 tips to teach you to find the building blocks for age-proof skin right in your own kitchen. And don't worry, all of the foods I'm suggesting are not only great for your skin (and for your health in general), but they're also quite tasty.n
* Drink lots of water – and while you're at it, don't skip the tea.

If you make only one change in 2009, start drinking a few more glasses of water each day. When your body is well-hydrated, it can do the work of repairing free-radical damage and getting rid of toxins sans impediment. Amp up your liquid intake even more by adding a daily cup or two of tea – especially green tea. It's a tasty way to stay hydrated, and it packs a proven antioxidant punch that has had scientists singing its praises for years. Tea - truly a guilt free indulgence.nn* Eat colorful foods.

Colorful foods like tomatoes and berries usually make their way into our diets because they taste good. The good news is that they also pack a tremendous antioxidant punch, so much so that the USDA has developed a scale to measure the antioxidant power of various fruits and vegetables. The top winners? Cinnamon, berries, apples and beans. This is good news, because the potent phytochemicals in these foods protect your skin from the damaging influences of cigarette smoke, sun-exposure and free-radicals.nn* Load up on foods that contain good fat.

Give your skin a lift by including the right kinds of fat in your diet. Good fats that come from foods like avocados, nuts, olive oil, fish and especially flax seeds are the building blocks to healthy skin. As an added bonus, these foods are also high in skin damage-fighting antioxidants.nn* Take your vitamins.

It's no coincidence that the best vitamins for your skin are also the best cancer-fighting antioxidants. Look for a formula that includes beta-carotene, Vitamins C, E, B-complex, biotin, lutein and zinc.nn* But don't put that into your body!

Avoiding smoking is a no-brainer for beautiful skin. But what about sugar, red meat and dairy products? A good rule of thumb is to replace animal fats in your diet with the high quality vegetable and fish fats I mentioned earlier. The more natural your diet, the better off your skin will be – that means avoiding preservatives and artificial colorings, and limiting your alcohol intake to no more than 1-2 drinks per day.

You don't have to be perfect; just focus on replacing the bad with the good wherever you can. And whatever you do, make sure to eat a balanced diet. Most good dietary habits that benefit your heart, energy levels and well-being are also good for your skin – a double win.