A Plastic Surgeon Says This Vitamin Is Downright Essential For Youthful Skin

Don't underestimate the power of skin foods, says Anthony Youn, M.D. The holistic plastic surgeon took to the mindbodygreen podcast to discuss the science behind eating your way to firm, youthful skin and of course rattled off some favorite fridge staples. 

First things first, vitamin C is an antioxidant—but what does that mean, exactly? 

Well, your body naturally creates waste products, called free radicals, which impair the DNA of your cells. "If given the chance, they basically attack the cells and steal electrons from them," Youn explains. Free radicals are unavoidable to an extent, although environmental factors like sun exposure, smoking, and processed foods can contribute to even more of a buildup. 

At some point, your body can develop so many free radicals that it undergoes a state of oxidative stress, which is linked to accelerated skin aging. You can read more about how free radicals work in our guide here, but just know that antioxidants serve as your body's natural defense against free radicals. And that's where vitamin C comes into play!

"You can also ingest antioxidants via colorful fruits and vegetables, and you can apply antioxidants to the surface of your skin as well," he says. Think oranges, bell peppers, and other vitamin-C-rich foods, as well as vitamin C serums for the topical route. 

"If we do not have sufficient vitamin C in our diets, then collagen is not able to be produced efficiently," Youn shares. Again, he points to vitamin-C-rich foods like citrus, but almost half of Americans fail to get enough vitamin C from food each day.