You have heard the comon adage that “you are what you eat.” And when it comes to the health of your skin, you have probably read the list of what foods to avoid, chocolate, fatty foods, alcohol, etc, to prevent acne breakouts or other comon skin maladies.
But instead of focusing on the foods to avoid, the skincare experts at Skinney Medspa suggest 5 foods to eat. Check out what these 5 foods can do for your skin and learn more about the vitamins, nutrients, and other ingredients that ward off the signs of aging, and help keep your skin looking healthy, youthful, and radiant.
Watch Marisa Martino Make a Home Made Face Mask Using Cocoa Powder
Strawberries
Oranges, grapefruits, and lemons are lauded for their high concentration of Vitamin C. But citrus fruits are not the only fruits that are packed with this vitamin. Strawberries are also an excellent source, in fact, strawberries contain a higher concentration of Vitamin C than oranges.
Vitamin C is consider a staple in any clear skin diet. Vitamin C helps destroy free radicals, the damaged cells that highjack healthy skin cells, and break down the collagen that keeps skin taught, flexible, and supple. Vitamin C also promotes hydration in the skin.
To enrich your skin with Vitamin C, you can either eat strawberries (and other fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin C,) or you can topically apply a Vitamin C infused berry face mask.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is another food that contributes to maintaining a healthy complexion, and can benefit the skin when incorporated into your diet, or applied topically to the skin.
Using olive oil as a natural moisturizer is a time honored skin care practice that dates back to ancient Rome. Topically applying olive oils helps moisturize the skin, without clogging the pores, resulting in supple, smooth skin, Olive oil is especially good for moisturizing those notorious dry patches found on elbows and heels. Some natural skin care enthusiasts even use olive oil for lip gloss.
Incorporating olive oil into your diet is also a great way to supply your skin with numerous antioxidants that combat free radicals and reduce inflammation.
Green Tea
Your skin loves it when you sip on a cup of green tea. This is because green tea is full of antioxidants and polyphenols that are renowned for reducing inflammation. Inflammation is responsible for many skin maladies such as wrinkles and fine lines, acne breakouts, and rosacea. To get the most out of your green tea with your clear skin diet, drink at least 3 cups of tea a day.
Green tea can be ingested or applied topically. When green tea is absorbed into the skin, astringents, known as tannins, helps reduce puffiness. This is why green tea is a comon ingredient found in organic skin cream or natural face masks.
Pumpkin
Vitamins benefit the skin on many levels. For example, pumpkins are rich with Vitamin A, C, and E, and other enzymes that promote cellular renewal, clean skin, and hydration. Pumpkin also has carotenoids, the plant pigment that gives pumpkins their orange color, and when ingested, helps neutralize free radicals that break down collagen and hasten the signs of aging.
In order to reap the skin benefiting nutrients found in pumpkin with your clear skin diet, you must consume the pulp.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate is hailed by many nutritionists as a skin benefiting fruit, because of its high concentration of antioxidants. Pomegranates have more antioxidants than green tea or red wine. These antioxidants, hydrate the skin and prevent the formation of free radicals.
Pomegranates can be ingested, as part of a nutritional diet, or applied topically, to benefit the skin. Pomegranate juice, and crushed pomegranate seeds are great natural exfoliates, and are often used in homemade face masks.
