11 Super Skin Foods
A Fresh Approach to Looking Years Younger
With a little tender loving care, these 11 super skin foods will give you the radiant glow you've always wanted. In an ever-busy working world, most of us haven't still got the time or inclination to live a healthy lifestyle, and in doing so, we often eat foods that are not good for our optimum health. Whether we do this for the short or the long haul, we tend to gobble down food without questioning the harmful effects that they might cause us. Well, that's all about to change.
The super skin foods here are all packed with super nutrients which will turn your skin from lacklustre to ultra-healthy within a short period. You are going to be amazed at the results. By including antioxidant-rich foods to your diet and drinking a reasonable amount of water each day, you'll not only look better, but you'll also feel a whole lot healthier too.
An excellent tip to remember is that by eating the foods listed here, you'll also be getting much of the water from these superfoods your body requires to stay in tip-top condition. There is no need to drink eight glasses of water every day when most of what you need, you can get from eating your water from plant-based food instead of always having to drink the water. Whether cooked or eaten raw, all these super skin foods contain water. It just requires you to think a little more out of the box to accomplish the same results.
What you may not know is that the food we eat has a significant impact on the elasticity, texture and appearance of our complexion. So thinking out of the box is a good thing if you want to keep your skin looking young, fresh and healthy. And all this can easily be achieved with a diet rich in whole grains, nuts, oily fish, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Because these super skin foods are naturally low in fat, you'll also be able to, at the same time, keep your weight in check. It'll be like killing two birds with one stone. Wouldn't that be just great? But please don't go around killing any bird with or without a stone, as that certainly won't help you maintain the healthy complexion you'd love to have.
Blueberries
Super Skin Foods (1) - Cruciferous Vegetables
Love them or loathe them, cruciferous vegetables are great for keeping the skin smooth and flawless. Yes, we all love to leave these healthy foods off our plate while we tuck into other tastiest bits. However, those so-called savoury bites can do you more harm than you'd want to believe.
Do you know that vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, Brussels sprouts, radish and watercress all help eradicate toxins from your body and thus keep your skin in tip-top condition? Not only that, but they also contain powerful cancer-fighting properties.
1) Cauliflower
2) Broccoli
3) Cabbage
5) Spinach
6) Radish
7) Watercress
Brussels Sprouts
Super Skin Foods (2) - Nuts
There are many varieties of nuts that are good for your health, most notably almonds, but walnuts and Brazil nuts are particularly suitable for maintaining healthy skin. While nuts are a good source of minerals, they often avoided by people trying to lose weight because they are high in calories. Another reason why some people don't eat enough nuts is due to the high prices we have to pay for them. Well, you need only eat a few nuts each day as part of an essential healthy diet plan.
A small number of walnuts and Brazil nuts eaten daily will provide you with all the selenium your body needs. And selenium is essential in helping fight free radicals, which you should know, is the number one cause likely to age you prematurely. Walnuts, in particular, are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. As a bonus, nuts can also enhance the functioning of your digestive and immune systems as well as improve your skin, and they also help prevent cancer too.
Walnuts
Super Skin Foods (3) - Whole Grain Foods
I've been telling family and friends for years now that we need to add a lot more good quality whole-grain foods to our diet, not only for optimum health benefits but also for optimal skin benefits. If you haven't heard, whole grain foods are extremely rich in fibre, which is why we need to include them in our daily diet.
The real benefit of whole-grain foods is to ensure regular bowel function and prevent constipation which, if not regulated, can cause a dull and sluggish complexion. And don't forget, you also get the benefit of water from cooked whole grains. Less to drink - more to eat.
It's a win-win for all.
So make sure you eat plenty of brown rice and other whole grains such as steel-cut oats. Don't bother purchasing those quick-cooking oats found at most supermarkets, as they are not nearly as good as organic steel-cut oats. A bowl of steel-cut oats in the morning will not only set you up for a healthy start to your day, but it will also provide you with a variety of nutrients which in turn, will keep your wrinkles at bay.
Good quality steel-cut oats contain beta-glucan (the soluble fibre found in the walls of oat kernels). Oats are known to help in the fight against wrinkles, and this is especially beneficial if you apply the oats directly to your skin. Give it a try. After all, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Oatmeal Porridge
Super Skin Foods (4) - Berries
All varieties of berries contain phytochemicals known as flavonoids - powerful antioxidants, which help protect your body against damage caused by free radicals and the ongoing consequences of ageing. Add a selection of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and perhaps even a few gooseberries to your daily super skin food diet.
Also, there is no harm in trying some black-currants and black grapes to the mix. Toss a few berries into natural yoghurt for a tasty and nutritious snack between your meals. Nibble on a few black grapes in the evening instead of your usual glass of wine. Again, you'll be getting lots of water from these tasty berries.
Cherries
Super Skin Foods (5) - Watermelon
You cannot deny that watermelons are not only refreshingly delicious, but they also come packed with antioxidants and nutrients, all of which help to keep your skin in optimum condition. While the flesh contains vitamins A, B and C, the seeds contain selenium, zinc, essential fats and vitamin E. All of which help guard against free radical damage and ageing. Watermelon is also a very concentrated source of the carotenoid - lycopene, which gives the fruit its red colour. Lycopene is a carotenoid − a natural pigment that gives some vegetables and fruits their red colour. This chemical compound is also in tomatoes (see more about this below) and is known for antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties.
Watermelon
Super Skin Foods (6) - Avocado
You cannot be any surer of the real benefits of the all-mighty avocado. Not only is the avocado a good source of the E vitamin, but it's also packed with lots of nourishing ingredients to help you maintain a healthy skin that will naturally slow down the ageing process.
Some of you desperate to lose weight may think that avocado isn't such a good idea because of its high-fat content. Well, you couldn't be further from the truth. Not only is avocado a good source of healthy monounsaturated fat known to help reduce the level of bad cholesterol in your body, but avocados can also control weight loss too. You need to eat avocado at least once a week for optimal health and to maintain a glowing complexion. I'm eating half an avocado right now as I write this article.
Avocado
Super Skin Foods (7) - Yoghurt
Yoghurt is a superfood that is not only good for the skin due to the zinc it contains, but because it can help clear up spots and a sluggish complexion. It's also beneficial to women with menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and vaginal thrush. Yoghurt also helps protect you against Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis and heart conditions.
However, not all commercially produced yoghurt is right for you. Instead, opt for low-fat or a no-sugar variety and mix it all up with some fresh berries such as blueberries and strawberries for a tremendous antioxidant skin-boosting treat. You can also use plain yoghurt in conjunction with any leftover cooked steel-cut oats as a face mask.
Yoghurt
Super Skin Foods (8) - Dark Chocolate
I don't know about you, but I'm a confessed chocoholic. While I may not always eat dark chocolate every time I reach for something sweet, I do enjoy a wide variety of locally produced chocolate too.
While some of my friends might prefer to drink alcoholic beverages, I love to eat chocolates. And lots of them too. And a much better choice should you be driving. I promise not to tell anyone should you happen to keep a secret stash of chocolate at home or anywhere else.
I cannot place enough emphasis on how good dark chocolate is for you. Did you know that dark chocolate helps your skin stay hydrated and it also helps protect your skin from sun damage?
It is especially true if you eat dark chocolate, simply because dark chocolate has a high flavanol cocoa content. And it would be best if you were looking for chocolate with at least 60 per cent cacao.
Not only is dark chocolate good for the skin, but it also has other health benefits too, such as cardiovascular, cognitive and circulation health. And don't let anyone tell you that chocolate causes acne. That's just a myth and not to be taken seriously. I'm sure it's time for another piece of chocolate.
Dark Chocolate
Super Skin Foods (9) - Sweet Potato
I bet you didn't know those sweet potatoes are excellent for your skin, not only from an outside appearance but from the inside of your body too. This vegetable can be accredited to the high levels of vitamin C and D they contain deep within their cellular structure. And sweet potatoes help boost your body's defences against the sun's harmful UV rays.
They also encourage the production of collagen, which in turn keeps your skin firm and supple. A good tip when boiling the potatoes is to keep the liquid. When cool, gently apply the water to your face as it will help remove any impurities from your skin as well as clean your pores. It's also known to help reduce those dark circles around the eyes.
Sweet Potato
Super Skin Foods (10) - Tomato
Some people detest tomatoes, yet others love them. If you are the latter, you'll be aware that these delicious fruits contain lycopene, an anti-ageing antioxidant, which is excellent for maintaining a radiant complexion. But if you're not keen on the fresh variety, why not add canned tomatoes when you next cook up a storm in the kitchen. You'll also get amazing health benefits from the processed tomato sauce. And you'll be pleasantly surprised that lycopene in tomatoes in either processed or cooked form is a lot more easily absorbed by your body.
Tomato
Super Skin Foods (11) - Oily Fish
Oily fish such as sardine and salmon are two types of oily fish that will provide you with some of the most significant sources for omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts, as mentioned above, is also a good source of omega-3. If you can purchase wild salmon and not the commercially farm-raised variety, so much the better.
Salmon, in particular, contains selenium, a mineral that not only helps protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun, but it's also vital in helping to keep your skin moisturized and supple. And the vitamin D in salmon will help keep your bones and teeth hardy and healthy too.
Salmon
Love Travel Eat Right - Disclaimer
Please take note that the information on this site is designed for educational purposes and is intended solely for a general readership. The contents herein are not intended to offer any personal medical advice or to diagnose any health issues you may have. This information is also by no means a substitute for medical care by a licensed healthcare provider. For that, you'd need to consult your medical doctor or a health care practitioner for any advice should you require prescription medication.
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