The fountain of youth may sadly not exist, but that doesn’t mean that nature hasn’t given us certain tools to help in the battle to maintain a young and healthy look. From the natural food we eat to the fresh water we put in our bodies to the clean air we breathe, all the ingredients needed to have healthy and beautiful skin can be found in the world around us.

By adopting what nature has given us in favor of processed foods and man-made products, you’ll be helping to fight off damage to your complexion and leave you emitting a healthy glow.

Here are four ways in which nature can keep us looking young and beautiful.

Many natural foods growing in the world contain the properties that we need to achieve healthy skin. Antioxidants are arguably the best resource your body can be given to fight aging by reducing damage to the skin and inflammation. Some of the best sources of antioxidants that you can incorporate into your diet include blueberries, spinach, nuts, raspberries, pomegranates, and cocoa. Yes, you read that right – chocolate can help keep your skin looking young and fresh, so long as it is dark and over 70% cocoa.

Away from antioxidants, you also need to incorporate as much vitamin C as possible into your diet. Vitamin C helps your body to produce collagen which is vital for a good complexion because it gives structure to the skin. Foods that are rich in vitamin C include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, tomatoes, cabbage, spinach, turnip, and sweet potatoes.

Without water, there couldn’t be life. Not only does water maintain life, but the more of it you consume, the healthier you are going to be. That’s because of dehydration. Dehydration can cause countless health problems, including being extremely bad for your skin given that it can lead to it looking dull, flaky, saggy and loose. Experts say that to remain hydrated, you should be looking to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, which equates to just under two liters.

Many of the skin products you’ll find on the market today contain harsh chemicals so that pharmaceutical companies can keep costs down, record more sales and therefore make more money. Instead of using these, you should turn to natural skin products featuring herbs and essential oils. Among the best are lavender, dandelion, plantain and cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is obviously not without controversy due to its close association with marijuana, but hopefully, this article can help you to learn the difference.

Away from herbs and essentials oils that can be imbibed by the body, actual physical plants can help to maintain a healthy complexion. Getting a plant with strong oxygenation properties and putting it in your home or at your desk at work will ensure that your skin is being exposed to cleaner air by acting as a natural air filter.