What do broccoli, carrots and milk have in common?
They are all an important part of nature's arsenal to protect your skin from the effects of aging and the environment. The common element in these foods is that they are all good sources of vitamin A.

Many people equate only eyes and vision with vitamin A. But the health of our epithelial tissue -- skin and the lining of passageways that open to the outside of the body, such as the throat and sinuses -- is directly dependent on the amount of vitamin A in our diet. Vitamin A acts as an antioxidant to neutralize harmful elements in our skin, helping to prevent wrinkles, resist infection and keep our skin youthful.

Think green and deep orange
Two-thirds of the vitamin A in the typical American diet comes from carotene, which is part of the yellow pigment in fruits and vegetables. Carotene is manufactured into vitamin A by our body, and therefore is crucial to healthy skin. Deep orange? Think sweet potatoes, carrots and apricots. Dark green? Try spinach, collards and broccoli. Consuming more foods high in carotene is a simple way to increase your body's vitamin A to healthy levels without reaching toxicity.

The negative side of too much vitamin A
Vitamin A is a potent fat-soluble vitamin, easily stored in our body tissue. It is known to be toxic at levels above the RDA (800 RE for women and 1,000 RE for men). Symptoms of toxicity are similar to those of brain tumors: headache, blurred vision, pain in the bones and joints, dry skin and poor appetite. It is wise NOT to supplement your diet with Vitamin A pills. Instead, focus on the delicious tastes of those fruits and vegetables high in carotene for a safe way to healthy skin.