9 Foods for Youthful Skin

Try as some might, we can’t stop time—and nowhere is this more visibly discerning than on the surface of our largest organ, the skin. Why does skin appear to age so rapidly? As we grow older, skin cells regenerate more slowly, making it difficult for the epidermis to repair itself. We also produce fewer hormones with age, which thins skin, leaving it more vulnerable to damage. What’s more, oil-producing glands become less active, resulting in dry, fragile tissue. These effects are exacerbated by environmental conditions such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which harms skin proteins and accelerates the visible signs of aging, including blemishes, discoloration, sagging, and fine lines.

While these realities can be upsetting, “the best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully,” said American philosopher Eric Hoffer—and by this, he did not mean fighting aging skin with chemical creams, Botox injections, and other unnatural, invasive treatments. A healthier approach to growing old is to exercise and eat right.