We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat.” It’s a cliché, but consistently eating healthfully can really help get you that radiant look.
What all should be included in your diet for a healthy and youthful looking skin?
Ever wondered?
Read on to know more…
The antioxidants, like beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and B vitamins, function as bodyguards to your skin cells, helping protect them from damage.
Omega-3’s are also key for skin health and appearance, helping minimize the inflammation that can lead to cell degradation over time.
To get those crucial nutrients, add these foods to your grocery shopping list, ASAP:
Sunflower Seeds
Nuts and seeds alike are packed with vitamin E, which helps protect our body’s cells and give our skin a healthy glow. Plus, since vitamin E has also been linked to lowering the risk of heart disease, sprinkling sunflower seeds into salads, soups, sautés, or eating a handful as a snack delivers an extra health perk.
Watermelon
Two cups of cubed watermelon equal a full cup of water and can help you (and therefore your skin cells) stay hydrated. Plus, the beta-carotene and vitamin C found in watermelon makes it an antioxidant-packed snack. Try cutting it up and storing it in the freezer for a treat during warmer months.
Oats
Oats provide selenium, an antioxidant compound that helps protect cells from damage (the type that could ultimately lead to mutation and tumor growth long-term). Plus, the prebiotics found in oats fuel your body’s beneficial probiotics, bolstering your immune system overall.
Olives
The polyphenolic compounds found in olives may help protect cells from disruption and improve blood flow throughout your body. Choose these antioxidant-packed fruits to help protect skin cells and improve health overall. They’ll fill you up with a combo of unsaturated fat and fiber.
Garlic
Herbs and spices like garlic, oregano, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger can lend a hand, too. Early research has linked them to reducing the production of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). These compounds can cause structural changes in skin when they accumulate, but your favorite flavorings may help slow down the build-up of AGEs.
Grapes
Red, green, and black grapes provide a combo of ellagic acid and resveratrol, two compounds that help combat oxidative stress. Another may also aid in maintaining skin cell regeneration.
Kiwi
One of vitamin C’s most powerful roles is producing collagen, a protein that gives your skin its elasticity. Collagen breaks down as you age and causes wrinkle formation, but a vitamin C-packed kiwi can provide 141% of your daily value and help counteract this effect
Strawberries
These bright berries are full of good-for-you vitamin C and flavonoids, both of which maintain and promote skin health.
The best part? Even though they’re seasonal, they retain their nutrients when frozen, so you can enjoy the skin-soothing benefits all year round.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes boast lycopene, a pigment that’s naturally found in skin. While it won’t replace sunscreen, this antioxidant can offer long-term protection against UV radiation and neutralize harmful free radicals.
Leafy Greens
These powerhouse veggies are packed with the carotene compounds lutein and zeaxanthin, which are integral for protecting and hydrating your skin cells and keeping skin damage at bay. Try eating them in smoothies, salads, sautés and even as snacks.
Bell Peppers
Regularly eating these vitamin C-rich veggies naturally boosts your body’s collagen, which helps keep your skin firm and youthful-looking. Bonus: Vitamin C also strengthens your immune system, so adding sliced peppers to salads and sandwiches can also keep that winter cold away.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms contain selenium, an important mineral that helps protect our skin from sun damage.
Mangoes
Mangoes are loaded with beta-carotene, which helps your skin repair itself, stay smooth, and even delay the appearance of wrinkles.
And — yes, there’s more! — they’re packed with vitamin A, which protects cells and helps them regenerate.
When they’re out of season, you can get the same effects from winter squash and sweet potatoes, as well as carrots, cantaloupe, and apricots.
I hope atleast some of these elements will be added to your diet and it will definitely help you better the texture of your skin.
