Anthea asks: What foods are good for your skin?
Wynnie says: The key to having healthy, glowing skin is to nourish it from the inside out. There's a lot of research which shows that specific nutrients can make a difference to the way your skin looks and feels, and how well it ages.
Vitamins and minerals are essential for proper functioning of every organ in the body, including the skin. Skin damage results from a chemical process called oxidation, where unstable molecules called free radicals steal electrons from healthy cells. Harmful free radicals can lead to the deterioration of structural proteins called collagen and elastin in the skin, and can cause premature ageing in the form of wrinkles, reduced elasticity and discoloration.
Powerful antioxidants such as vitamins, A, C, E and selenium are vital in protecting skin cells against things that encourage oxidation, such as sunlight, smoking and pollution.
Vitamin E helps the body regenerate vitamin C and so is necessary to maximise the effectiveness of vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed to make collagen to keep skin firm, strong and resilient, while vitamin A maintains and repairs skin, preventing it from becoming dry and flaky.
Bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, leafy green veggies, citrus fruits, strawberries, watermelon and kiwi fruits are all rich in vitamin C. You can find vitamin E in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, olives, wheatgerm, wholegrain cereals, spinach and asparagus.