Aging is partially about genes. I know a woman who just turned 80 and has never spent a dime on hair coloring. You have to search really hard to find some gray peeking out among her dark brown lustrous strands. Her mother, she tells me, never colored her hair either.

But aging is also about those everyday occurrences that sneak by largely unnoticed, until one day you look in the mirror and there's a slightly older person staring back at you. More than a birthday, things like stress, sun, sleep deprivation, sugar consumption, excessive alcohol, and the wrong foods can make you say, "Huh? I'm another year older? Where did the time go?" Lifestyle factors can trump a birthday or good genes every time.

I recently came across a very interesting study from the University of Bristol and it got me curious about food as it relates to appearance and aging. Scientists found that eating lots of fruits and veggies are good for your skin; in fact, eat enough and you can actually develop a glow similar to one you'd get from a day at the beach. Only this glow is a safer and healthier one. How so? Carotenoids—commonly found in deep-colored vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, cantaloupe, spinach, and kale—contribute to a more glowing complexion. And people with a more glowing complexion are judged to be more attractive.

So, what else can we eat to look more attractive and fight aging? The following foods have anti-aging benefits not just for your skin but for your whole body as well. 

• Eggs. They contain two carotenoids that protect vision, which tends to wane with age.
• Greens. They contain folate, calcium, and other nutrients to support bone health. They help protect against cognitive decline and help prevent age-related eye problems, too. Diets high in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage can help reduce the risk of memory loss and cancer.
• Whole Grains. They can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. And since they're digested more slowly than processed grains, they can also help keep high blood pressure and diabetes at bay.
• Red Grapes. Resveratrol, an antioxidant, has been shown to extend the lives of lab animals. That's the same antioxidant found in red grapes. Resveratrol boasts anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties in your body.
• Fish. Oily fish like salmon, sardines, and herring are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which help combat inflammation in the body. Studies show that people who eat several servings of this type of fish each week have a lower risk of both Alzheimer's disease and stroke. As for your skin, omega-3 fatty acids also help protect it by keeping moisture in and irritants out.
• Tomatoes. Lycopene, an antioxidant compound found in tomatoes, helps maintain youthful skin texture and also may help lower the risk of heart disease and certain cancers like prostate, lung, and stomach.
• Berries. Blueberries have been associated with better memory in animal studies. And all berries are rich in antioxidants that can help fight cell damage and chronic inflammation.

Beauty Tip: If you're looking to food to help combat aging, there’s one food ingredient to stay away from: SUGAR. Refined sugar—commonly found in things like cookies and cakes, and hidden in things you wouldn't expect like ketchup and breads—causes the skin to sag and wrinkle. The reasons are complicated, but if you want to read more, click here (you'll go to CNN.com).

Sheryl Kraft is Health & Wellness Editor at EndlessBeauty.com