“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates
Has a friend ever said this to you about another woman who happened to be passing by, “Her skin glows. I wonder what her secret is?” The secret to which your friend is referring could lie in the food the woman passing by chooses to eat. Some foods are well-positioned to help our skin glow from within by slowing the signs of aging and feeding it the nutrients it needs. Let’s look at five of them.
Watermelon
Whether cut into slices or cubes, nothing satisfies your thirst or your taste buds quite like eating watermelon on a hot day. As well as rehydrating your body, watermelon hydrates your skin. Because it’s almost 93 percent water, watermelon can add back moisture your skin has lost. “. . . it is able to boost your skin’s natural moisture levels and leave it plump and glowing,” according to MYGLAMM.com. Watermelon is a good source of vitamins A and C as well as magnesium and potassium, which help to brighten skin. It also contains a number of antioxidants, including lycopene, which fight free radicals that can contribute to skin aging and wrinkling.
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Red Bell Peppers
Red bell peppers have an even higher vitamin C content than oranges. Who knew? Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, one that promotes the stimulation of collagen. Collagen improves skin elasticity and reduces wrinkles, so red bell peppers can revive that youthful glow in your face. Red bell peppers can be stuffed with a variety of ingredients and baked, roasted, added to a number of dishes, and eaten raw with other veggies to accompany your favorite dip.
Salmon
Delicious and nutritious, salmon is sometimes called a skin superfood because it is chock full of nutrients that are beneficial to our skin. Salmon contains an abundance of omega-3 fatty acids, which help save our skin from being damaged by the sun. They can also decrease skin inflammation and help lessen conditions like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne. Its vitamin D content aids in skin-cell growth and reducing the signs of aging. “A 3-oz serving of salmon provides your daily recommended amount of vitamin D,” according to GoodRx Health. Com. There are a number of ways to enjoy salmon: grilled, baked, poached, or flaked and made into salmon patties.
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Spinach
We all know spinach is good for our blood because of its high iron content. It may be news to some of us, however, that spinach is good for our skin. The appearance of dark circles under our eyes detract from the healthy glow we’re going for on our faces. Spinach helps diminish those circles, because of it vitamin K content, by strengthening blood vessel walls. Only one cup of spinach provides almost ten times our daily recommended amount of vitamin K, according to the jow blog. Like watermelon, spinach has a high water content, which we know helps rehydrate skin. Spinach is delicious in salads and lovely when sauteed in olive oil and garlic.
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Blackberries
Delicious eaten straight from the hand, in a bowl with cream or milk, in a fresh fruit or berry salad, in jam and jelly, and in pie, blackberries are versatile and wonderful for our skin. Like watermelon and red bell peppers, blackberries contain free-radical-fighting antioxidants. They are also an excellent source of vitamin C, another antioxidant, and vitamin K for strengthening blood vessel walls. As well, blackberries contain vitamin A, which may help impede wrinkles and fine lines.
When it comes to having healthy glowing skin, it’s important to add foods high in water, certain vitamins, and antioxidants to our beauty regimens. It is also a delicious means by which we can add to the benefits of our moisturizers and cleansers. Healthy glowing skin gives us confidence. And you never know, some day, you may here someone ask about you, “Her skin glows. I wonder what her secret is?”
about attending the Opera Ball in the Vienna State Opera House. An annual Austrian society event, it is held on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. A return trip to Vienna would be lovely, but I’m delighted to have been able to experience this cultural city, where so many brilliant composers, artists, and writers walked before us, with my friends.