While many people are concerned about healthy eating, a great number fail to realize the impact that a healthy diet can have on their skin. The old adage “you are what you eat” has never been more applicable. If you want beautiful skin, you really should consider incorporating superfoods into your diet. Nutrient dense superfoods can help you to manage your weight, provide protection from diseases and reduce the signs of aging. The population of the United States spends billions of dollars on skin products, yet many people could have beautiful skin with some basic dietary changes.
Why superfoods?
The beauty industry has flourished over the years, creating products to hide imperfections and unattractive features. Many manufacturers use superfoods as ingredients to improve the effectiveness of their products. So, why not go straight to the source? Often, busy people resort to processed foods or fast food dining to make their life easier, but this can take a great toll on their skin. These types of foods are high in saturated fats and low in vitamins, this can leave skin dry, damaged and wrinkled. So, if you’re prone to spots or have rough dry patches, you should consider adjusting your diet.
Protection from the sun:
One of the major causes of skin damage is over exposure to the sun. While some degree of sunlight is needed to assist the body in synthesizing Vitamin D, over exposure can cause inflammation, wrinkles, dryness and spots. However, it is possible to protect your skin from the sun by adjusting your diet. Vitamin E and lycopene are antioxidants, which can protect the cells from free radical damage caused by ultraviolet exposure. Lycopene can provide a protective shield from the UV damage, while Vitamin E restores and repairs the skin cells. There are a wide range of lycopene rich foods, including tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit. Vitamin E can be found in spinach, olives and nuts.
Combating acne:
Acne can affect people of any age and can be a real blow to the self confidence. Acne is often caused by hormone changes, making it more common in adolescents but it can be mitigated by changing your diet. This can affect the severity, intensity and the duration of an acne breakout. Vitamin A is nature’s skin exfoliate. It is often used in topical creams prescribed for the treatment of acne. Vitamin A can restore the softness and glow of healthy skin. Foods rich in Vitamin A include leafy greens such as kale, collard greens and spinach, as well as carrots and peppers.
Counteracting redness and inflammation:
Inflammation and redness can be the result of an acne outbreak or other skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Additionally, you may experience inflammation or redness because of changes in weather temperatures or other environmental factors. However, this can be counteracted with a quercetin rich diet. This natural flavanoid is both anti-inflammatory and an antihistamine. This reduces swelling in inflamed skin, reducing the redness. Sources of quercetin include apples, broccoli, citrus fruits, capers, green tea, leafy green vegetables, red grapes and tomatoes.
Anti aging:
The signs of aging are often most apparent on the skin. As we age, skin can lose elasticity and become dry and wrinkled. This is the result of decreased levels of collagen and elastin within the fibers of the skin. Many people resort to the chemical treatment botox, but Vitamin C can provide a natural solution. Vitamin C can strengthen collagen in the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Additionally, Vitamin B can repair and rebuild the elastin and collagen in the skin fibers. Vitamin B can be found in whole grains and brewers yeast. Great sources of Vitamin C include citrus fruit, cabbage, kiwi, red pepper and papaya.
Moisturize dry skin:
Dry skin is often a sign of water loss in the body and dehydration. As we become older, the skin has a greater difficulty in retaining moisture, which can result in rough dry skin. Omega 3 oils can assist the body in preventing the loss of water from the skin cells, keeping the skin hydrated. This in combination with the correct water intake can moisturize dry patches and encourage supple healthy skin. Good sources of Omega 3 include flax seeds, avocados, nuts, and olives.
Cosmetic beauty treatments and products can be extremely costly, but you can achieve great results with some basic dietary changes. Superfoods also have a number of other health benefits, so not only will you have beautiful skin, you should also feel fitter and healthier, with less chance of developing a number of medical conditions. So, why spend hundreds of dollars on the latest skin cream, use natures beauty treatments and have a superfood enriched diet.
