“You are what you eat.” We’ve all heard this saying, and it is, of course, true. A healthy diet is one critical component to a healthy, youthful complexion. But diet alone is not the answer. Of equal importance is “what you do.” That’s right, together with a balanced diet, regular exercise is critical to help unlock your optimal beauty.

Numerous articles have been written promoting the benefits that come from working out or staying active. Exercise improves cardiovascular health, strengthens our internal organs, helps respiratory function and fosters a positive mental outlook. However, just as important, exercise promotes circulation, one of the key ingredients to keep the skin healthy and bright.

Regular exercise, which may include weight training, swimming, running, yoga, or simply taking a brisk walk, increases blood flow. This is what is sometimes referred to as a post-workout glow. Increased blood flow helps distribute oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, nourishing and strengthening skin cells. According to research, exercise not only appears to keep skin younger, it may even reverse skin aging in people who start exercising later in life. People over age 40 who exercised regularly had thicker dermis layers in their skin.

At the same time your skin is receiving extra nourishment, the increased blood flow also is carrying waste products, including free radicals, to your liver, cleansing your skin from the inside out. The better your blood flow, the more efficiently your body works to cleanse itself.

So get up, get out and WORKOUT!