Your skin in a reflection of your inner health, and you simply cannot have long term health with a poor diet.  Many symptom based programs address aging and other skin issues with topicals that nuture, exfoliate, hydrate, and defend the skin.  This is important but not enough.  Skin care programs simply cannot reach their full potential by addressing only the external aspects of the skin.  It has to be fed from within.  A vast amount of the skin’s basic nutrition comes from diet.  So in order to develop the most effective program possible, diet has to be included. 

It seems almost every magazine has an article telling you what to eat to improve your skin and overall health-chard for the lungs, dark chocolate for the heart, strawberries for smooth skin texture, and leafy greens plus red veggies for a fresh complexion.   This doesn’t mean if you go out and eat 3 pounds of strawberries, your skin will have a smoother texture.  Balance, variety, and moderation are key.

Time magazine stated “The news isn’t that fruits and vegetables are good for you.  It is that they are so good for you they may save your life.”

Dr. Perricone, author of The Wrinkle Cure, states that “Visible skin aging can be reduced and prevented by the daily use of antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory cosmeceuticals, coupled with a diet rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods.”

It has been reported that America is one of the most obese nations in the world. We are also undernourished. Many Americans live on fast food, sodas, caffeine, diet pills, and power drinks. The former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop stated in his Surgeon General Report that the American diet was the cause of approximately two-thirds of the deaths due to disease in America.  All of the major health agencies recommend 7-13 servings of fresh raw fruits and vegetables daily for good health.  Seasonal availability, personal tastes, cost, and convenience all affect how many servings we consume daily.  Studies indicate a majority of Americans don’t come close to the recommended daily allowance (RDA).  A consistent daily availability of high levels of antioxidants provided by fruits and vegetables is vital to good health.