THE best way to be healthy is to take good overall care of yourself. That means eating well and practice a healthy lifestyle. Whether it’s your heart, brain, bones, eyes, skin, or hair you seek to nurture, there are foods up to the task.

For silky skin and hair, antioxidants like lycopene and vitamin C, as well as soy protein and omega-3 fatty acids can help keep skin glowing. Antioxidants have long been the rage in topical skin care, but those same nutrients work even better from the inside out. When skin is exposed to the sun, free radicals can develop. Antioxidants fight that process.

Vitamin C, found in citrus fruits, facilitates collagen production, a critical component for vibrant skin. Another antioxidant, lycopene, found in foods like canned tomatoes and red grapefruit juice, also promotes skin health.

Tofu is a good option since its omega-3 fatty acids help regenerate new skin cells and reduce inflammation, while its soy protein has been shown to boost collagen.

Shiny, healthy hair starts with the vitality of cells in the hair follicle, where hair is manufactured. Eat foods high in calcium and quality protein like eggs, dairy, or fish. Eggs also provide biotin, a structural component of both bone and hair. Vitamins B6, B12, and folate nourish follicle cells, too.