Healthy Aging

You might cough and sneeze more often if you don't get enough vitamins C and E, which have antioxidants that boost your immune system. A balanced diet won't prevent colds, but it can keep your body healthy enough to help fight them off.

Scaly, rough patches of skin -- dermatitis -- can be caused by something that irritates it or illness, but it also can come from a lack of vitamin B2 (riboflavin). B2, which helps your cells grow and work the way they should, is found in eggs and some green vegetables, like asparagus and broccoli.

If you have these a lot, talk to your doctor about magnesium, found in beans, nuts, and green leafy veggies. This mineral helps your nerves work the way they should and keeps your blood sugar levels in check. The Association of Migraine Disorders says 400 milligrams a day can help some people who get migraines.

Tired, dry skin, or fighting a cold again? If you feel like something is a little off, you may lack some key vitamins or minerals. They help your cells and organs work the way they should and boost your immune system, among other things. Usually, the best way to get them is through foods that have a lot of them.

Just because they're not fried doesn't mean they look good on you. Baked goods like cookies and cakes are high in artery-clogging fat that put on the pounds. They also don't skimp on sugar, which can cause diabetes, high blood pressure, and tooth decay (among other things). Inflammation is another reason to skip that sundae. The more inflammation you have, the higher your chances of arthritis, depression, Alzheimer's, and some cancers.

Put down the pepperoni: Processed meats, like bacon, sausage, ham, and deli cuts, are smoked, cured, or salted so they'll last longer without going bad. It's what makes them both delicious and dangerous. The sodium and chemical preservatives cause inflammation that can wear your body down inside and out. A little inflammation is good: It helps your cells heal. Too much can cause heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

One frozen dinner can pack in half the sodium of a healthy daily diet. When you have too much salt, it causes you to drink more than normal and flood your kidneys. Any extra water will move to places in your body that have less salt, like your face and hands. That's what makes you look puffy.

The more sodas and energy drinks you consume, the quicker the cells in your tissues age. In addition to the fizz, they have more calories and added sugar -- 7 to 10 teaspoons in 12 ounces -- than any other beverage. Combined with the bacteria in your mouth, that sugar also forms acid that wears down your tooth enamel and causes decay. Other cons include weight gain and a higher risk of stroke and dementia.

Some like it hot...and some can't take the heat. Spicy food makes your blood vessels swell and even break, leading to purple marks on your face. If you have rosacea -- common in women after menopause -- the heat from spice can trigger a flare-up. It also raises your body temperature, so you sweat to cool back down. When sweat mixes with the bacteria on your skin, it can cause breakouts and blotches.