Have you heard the saying, you are what you eat? There is some serious truth to that statement. Eating vitamin and antioxidant rich foods can help fuel the body, allowing normal processes to function at a high level while processed, fatty foods can cause you to feel sluggish, tired, and leave you always craving more. Lets take a look as some foods that are good for you and will give you the best skin of your life.
Honey. While we usually hear that sugar laden foods are bad for our skin, honey is actually quite good. Honey generates hydrogen peroxide which fights infection (like acne), while acting as a humectant to draw moisture into the skin keeping it moisturized. Raw Manuka honey is able to generate hydrogen peroxide as well as other antibacterial components such as methylglyoxal that help clear the complexion. Be sure to look for brands that show a UMF (unique manuka factor) rating of 10+ or higher to reap the benefits of this useful honey.
Eggs. Eggs are loaded with a wide variety of constituents that help promote beautiful.healthy skin and nails. They contain a high level of vitamin A which helps skin repair itself, while biotin (a b-complex vitamin) plays a key role in hormone and nerve function. Not having enough biotin in your system leads to hair loss and skin problems like acne rashes and psoriasis. Eggs also serve as a large source of proteins which help our skin continue with the rebuild & renew process. Without proteins and amino acids collagen and elastin would not form.
Blueberries. Considered one of the best sources of antioxidant activity by the U.S department of Agriculture, blueberries will help fight off free radicals which accelerate the aging process. They also contain vitamin C which is known to increase collagen production for plump, youthful skin. Just a half a cup is a good amount to incorporate into your diet so toss some in some oatmeal or in a baggie and head out the door.
Salmon. The wild type and not farm raised is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids that you can include in your diet. Omegas are healthy fats that do wonders for the heart, joints and skin. So while omegas improve skin suppleness and moisture levels, salmon also contains carotenoids that fight fine lines by improving elasticity. Why wild instead of farm raised? Farm raised runs the risk of having more contaminants and may, I repeat MAY have antibiotics based on where the fish was sourced.
Tomatoes. Tomatoes are a great source of lycopene which is a type of carotenoid. Lycopene and Carotenoids are antioxidants that not only fight the signs of aging, but help impart the healthy color in our skin. That orange and red color you see in vegetables come from carotenoids helps boost up the “glow” in our skin by being stored in the fat just underneath the skin. Lycopene is also thought to have a role in preventing cancer so whether you throw some cherry tomatoes in a salad, or make a yummy marinara sauce, be sure to get some tomatoes into your diet.
There are a ton of highly nutritive foods out there that can improve your overall health and lead to great skin so don’t stop with this list. This is just a starting point to jump off from. What foods do you know have additional benefits to them? Share in the comments below.
