We’ve all heard the adage that ‘you are what you eat.’ And while your diet isn’t the only contributing factor to a healthy lifestyle or youthful complexion, it can help – especially if you eat the right foods.
Whether you want to treat acne, stave off premature aging, or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, the right diet can prove invaluable.
So, try these fruits and vegetables for a delicious way to nourish your skin – from the inside out – for a healthy, youthful glow.
1 Cooked Tomatoes: Cooked lycopene, the phytochemical that makes tomatoes red, helps boost collagen to give skin its taut, youthful structure and fights off oxidizing UV rays by eliminating skin-aging free radicals.
2 Carrots: Carrots provide plenty of beta-carotene and vitamin A, an antioxidant that prevents the overproduction of cells in the skin’s outer layer for fewer flaky dead cells and reduces the development of skin-cancer cells.
3 Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are rich in disease-fighting compounds called carotenoids that give skin a healthy and radiant sun-kissed glow.
4 Papaya: Papaya contains chymopapain, which can relieve inflammation, and papain, which can remove blemishes and even treat acne when applied topically.
5 Yellow Peppers: Vitamin C-rich yellow bell peppers help the formation and growth of skin tissue as well as build collagen, the protein which provides strength and structure to your skin.
6 Avocado: This fruit is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which hydrate and shield the skin by lowering the risk of premature aging caused by ultraviolet radiation.
7 Spinach: It’s high levels of folate, an essential B vitamin which helps maintain and repair DNA, can help reduce the likelihood of cancer-cell growth.
8 Kale: This cruciferous green is packed with anti-aging vitamins A, C, E, and K, which helps with blood clotting and faster healing. And when applied topically, it can minimize bruising, scars, stretch marks, and spider veins.
9 Blueberries: Packed with antioxidants, blueberries help eliminate cell-damaging, skin-aging free radicals and boost the strength of collagen fibers. They’re also a great source of prebiotics which can help heal your immune system and alleviate inflammation-induced skin conditions.
Ultimately, the goal of a skin-conscious diet is to promote healthy, glowing skin from the inside out. By selectively choosing these superfood fruits and vegetables, you can increase collagen production, fight free radicals, ward off disease, boost your immune system, promote gut health and reduce inflammation.
For more information on all the ways you can achieve radiant, youthful skin, give the experienced professionals at Youthful Reflections a call today.
