Healthy food is key for healthy skin. One ingredient in skin healthy foodstuff is antioxidants.

Pollution, sunlight, temperature fluctuation have always spelt bad news for the health of our skin. Our hectic daily lives full of activity and strife and stress, be it at office or home.

Dermatologist Dr Shehla Agarwal, of New Delhi, says, "Stress is the reason why the free radicals in our body increases and these free radicals cause premature death of our cells. The cells die early and the skin is struck with pigmentation. Result: dry skin wrinkles, pigmentation, the loss of glow and life from skin."

To counter free radicals requires use of antioxidants, either in our diet or in the products we use.

Fish, green tea, carrots, citrus fruits which are rich in Vitamin C, B complexes, A and E and minerals such as zinc and selenium can help you up your antioxidant quotient.

Using vitamin and mineral supplements can also help you keep your skin looking young and healthy.

by Prema Uppal