Samantha Heller, a dietitian and nutritionist at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn., agreed. "Fruits and vegetables are loaded with healthy plant compounds that keep skin healthy, structurally strong and protect it from the damaging rays of the sun," she said.
It has long been known that many plant substances, such as the carotenoids beta-carotene and lycopene, contribute to the skin color, she said.
"These compounds are also potent disease fighters," she added.
Only 25 percent to 30 percent of Americans eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, and efforts to increase consumption have not been too successful, Heller noted.
"But once the word gets out that eating fruits and vegetables can make you sexy, attractive and maybe even look younger, hopefully, the carrots, kale and cantaloupe will be flying off the shelves and into people's meals," she said.
More information
For more information on a healthy diet, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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