Luxury Foods
For Your Skin
The skin we’re in is the only one we have. Let’s treat it well. Nourishing our skin begins on the inside with the foods we eat. Too much of some things, like salt and sugar, can cause forehead wrinkles, puffiness, and bags under the eyes. Even gluten can have a negative impact by reddening our cheeks and peppering our chins with spots. Instead of harassing your epidermis, pamper it with these six soothing solutions:
Salmon
High in skin-enriching omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is a delicious choice your skin will love. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to our overall health as well as that of our skin. “They can serve to regulate the skin’s oil production, improve balanced hydration, subdue breakouts and minimize signs of aging,” according to aveeno.com. Because our bodies can’t manufacture their own fatty acids, eating them is the best way to procure them.
Tomatoes
Lycopene, an antioxidant that protects our sensitive skin from UV rays is found in abundance in the tasty tomato. The lovely orange orb also contains lots of beta-carotene, which gives it its signature color. Also an antioxidant, beta-carotene can provide further protection from the sun and help our skin maintain its healthy glow.
Berries
Brightly colored berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries are another top-flight source of antioxidants. You can tell just by looking at their dark rich exteriors. Free radicals, leading causes of skin damage and the appearance of aging, can be regulated by the antioxidants in berries. This process is believed to help reduce wrinkles. Who knew enjoying sweet succulent berries could also help us look younger longer?
Avocadoes
Like many of the foods on this list, the sumptuous avocado’s ability to improve our skin comes from antioxidants. Vitamins C and E are two of the best, and they are abundant in the gorgeous green fruit. Vitamin C battles inflammation in the skin, and vitamin E is essential for repairing damaged tissue. Lutein, another antioxidant found in avocadoes, helps our skin stay hydrated.
Broccoli
We may have turned our noses up at broccoli as children, but the flowery vegetable is one of our skin’s best friends. Endowed with vitamins A and C as well as zinc and lutein, broccoli is a powerhouse of possibilities for better skin. And there is a surprise compound called sulforaphane hidden in its florets, which protects against sun damage, and which may reduce the potential for contracting some types of skin cancer.
Dark Chocolate
Even our skin has good taste when it comes to chocolate, the darker the better. Chocolate with high cacao concentrations has less sugar, so ensure your choice is at least 70 percent. Chock full of Vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E as well as iron, calcium, and manganese, chocolate’s ingredients help your skin retain its moisture. Its antioxidant flavonoids also provide a natural barrier to UV rays.
When it comes to eating foods our skin will adore, we don’t have to deny our taste buds. From the rich flavor of salmon to the intriguing complexities of dark chocolate, skin care has never been more enjoyable.