Restaurant designers know that for dining room decor to be flattering to guests, they should choose corals and pinks and indirect lighting.

Diners not only want their food to look good, they want to look fabulous, too.

File photo

Carolyn O'Neil

Becky Stein/Special (ENLARGE)

The sexy interior of Maxim Prime at the Glenn Hotel downtown can make a diner feel good, and the salad of organic greens can make him or her feel youthful.

DINING FOR YOUTH Avoid excess alcohol and caffeine, which can dry your skin, causing lines to be more visible. Oysters are a great source of the mineral zinc, which is involved in healing wounds and the formation of collagen. Rather have sushi? The mineral selenium found in tuna and crab may help delay aging by reducing sun damage and protecting skin's elasticity. Vitamin C is essential for the formation of collagen, which is a spongy network of fibers that keeps skin plump and wrinkle-free. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, red bell peppers, dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, strawberries and kiwi fruit. If you're a fan of dining alfresco, don't forget your sunscreen. More healthy eating news Think of add-ons as accessories  Lamb can be lean entree option  Get more of top 7 nutrients in diet  Bar turns to juice for midweek boost  Work with genes in making choices  More healthy eating links Reviews, user ratings and info for Atlanta Restaurants Quick and Easy Atlanta recipes from EveningEdge.com Back to Health news

Choosing where to eat based on how attractive we feel is a vote for better atmosphere, an important part of enjoying the dining-out experience. What the chef's cooking in the kitchen can keep you looking younger, too.

So while you're feeling sleek in the sexy interiors of Maxim Prime at the Glenn Hotel, you can nibble on chef Daniel Zoby's salad of organic greens accessorized with dried cherries and cashews followed by grilled wild salmon and asparagus to add some youth-enhancing nutrients to the night.

Stop-the-clock cooking

Nutrition research not only identifies foods that can keep us slim and healthy, but scientists have also pinpointed nutrients associated with anti-aging benefits.

These vitamins, minerals and other anti-oxidants fight Father Time by warding off the production of cell-damaging free radicals that not only age the skin but also contribute to memory loss and increased risk of heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis.

The star players in the anti-aging game are fruits and vegetables, which are excellent sources of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene and hundreds of other anti-oxidant compounds. Dairy products (preferably nonfat) such as a glass of milk or a container of yogurt are youth-enhancing because they support long-term bone health.

Healthy fats play a role as well in keeping cells healthy. The omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, flaxseed and walnuts and the monounsaturated oils in olive oil, canola oil, avocados and nut butters are heart-healthy and help keep skin moisturized from the inside out.

Monounsaturated fats and vitamin C work together to build and repair elastin and collagen in the skin. "We're finding that some foods that seem quite ordinary have extraordinary health benefits," said registered dietitian Cheryl Forberg, author of "Positively Ageless" (Rodale, $21.95).

She suggests adding a cup of tea — black or green, hot or iced — to your dining-out habits for even more anti-oxidant bang. "Tea, dark chocolate, red wine and dried fruits, especially prunes, are concentrated sources of potent anti-oxidants called flavonoids believed to fight against age-related mental decline and the inflammatory diseases such as arthritis," she said.

So, the Fountain of Youth can be found if you know where to look on the menu.

——————————

Carolyn O'Neil is a registered dietitian and co-author of "The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!" E-mail her at healthyeating@ajc.com.