Eat your Way to Beautiful Skin

 

Get started on your journey to a healthier and glowing skin by incorporating the following meals into your diet.

Stack up on fruits and Vegetables:  Fruits/vegetables contain Carotenoids which give them their bright orange, red, yellow, and green colors. It is a powerful natural antioxidant that helps to protect skin from the damage and premature aging caused by free radicals. Free radicals are caused by a number of factors like stress, exposure to sunlight, smoking, alcohol, some drugs and pollution. Foods rich in carotenoids include tomatoes, papaya, mangoes, watermelon, grapefruit, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, plums, broccoli, strawberries, raspberries and apples.

Snack on Nuts: Nuts are packed with minerals, healthy fats, protein and vitamins which keep the skin soft and supple. The Zinc present in nuts helps to repair skin damage and reduces inflammation and redness. Examples of good nuts are Brazil nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashew nuts and almonds

Foods rich in Vitamin C: Vitamin C is vital for collagen production. Its antioxidant properties prevent wrinkles and other forms of aging. Foods rich in vitamin C should always be included in our diet. All fruits and vegetables contain some amount of vitamin C but it is found in abundance in Citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit) strawberries, papaya, pineapple, mango, watermelon, tomatoes, pepper, cabbage, spinach, sweet potatoes and dark green vegetables.

Water: Drinking water is one of the cheapest ways of keeping the skin healthy. Your skin needs moisture and when it does not get enough it becomes dry and flaky. Water flushes out toxins and impurities from your body and skin. It is recommended one should drink at least 6-8 glasses of water daily.

Green tea: Green tea is a Wonder tea.  It is an amazing antioxidant and also possesses anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-cancer properties. Green tea has been proven to improve skin complexion and elasticity. It fights signs of aging like wrinkles, sagging skin, age spots and fine lines. Its antibacterial property enables it to fight acne-causing bacteria. Generally green tea gives you a brighter, healthy, radiant and younger looking skin. This is one tea you should start taking.

Fats: Do not be afraid of fats. Your body needs essential fatty acids and cannot produce it on its own; you only get them from the foods you eat. These fatty acids are healthy and unsaturated fats. The two types are Omega-3 Fatty acids and Omega-6 Fatty acids. Omega-3 Fatty acids are particularly good for the skin as they help to keep the skin moisturized and slow down aging. They also have strong anti-inflammatory properties. Foods rich in Omega-3 Fatty acids are; salmon, mackerel, walnuts, sardines, tofu and soybeans

WHAT TO AVOID

Avoid foods that are rich in Trans-fats such as fried foods, cakes, pastries and fast foods. Foods that contain lots of sugar as well as refined carbs should also be avoided. Alcoholic drinks do not have good effects on the skin as well, they age the skin.

See Also

Ask Dr. Vivian – All About Acne and Pimples

Precious Obiako is the CEO of Spotlight Skincare. She is a trained Cosmetologist with a B.Sc in Chemistry. She believes everyone is beautiful and her brand aims to make everyone look and feel beautiful on the outside as much as they are inside.

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