Be it a wedding, family get together, the first date, a prom night or any other function, every girl always desires to look her best! Everyone desires to have a clear, glowing skin that radiates healthiness and beauty; but when you give a thought to skincare, all that comes to your mind are various creams or packs that companies ask you to apply and claim to give you the best skin ever. What if we were to tell you it’s much simpler to get healthy, glowing skin! All you need to do is improve your dietary habits and inculcate some healthy eating habits in your daily routine and fresh skin will no more be a distant dream. Here is a lowdown on some of the best foods that will help you to attain your goal of awesome glowing skin.
- Berries
All berries, be it blueberries, strawberries or cherries, etc are packed with free-radical busting antioxidants which help in reducing blemishes on your skin. Of these berries, it has been found that blueberries rank the top in their antioxidant activity. It has been seen that these antioxidants fight against premature aging and slow it down. Studies reveal that number of acne is inversely proportional to the blood levels of antioxidants and hence to keep acne at bay, there isn’t a better thing to do than to have a fistful of berries every day!
- Sweet potatoes
This one’s a sure surprise! But yes it’s true! Sweet potatoes are loaded with beta-carotene which is converted into vitamin A when ingested. Vitamin A is essential in keeping your skin soft, smooth and glowing. So make it a point to include this sweet vegetable in your diet rather than having it once in a few months. In case you are not a sweet potato fan, then you can stock up on your vitamin A by nibbling on carrots, papayas, mangoes, peaches and other red-yellow and dark green fruits and vegetables instead.
- Kiwi
Kiwis are sweet tangy fruits that are an abundant source of Vitamin C and antioxidants, both of which play a vital role in maintaining healthy skin. Including kiwis in your diet helps in reducing wrinkles, dryness and keep the skin firm as vitamin C helps in promoting collagen synthesis. Kiwi has various other benefits too; it provides protection against cancer as well as heart diseases and helps in keeping your bones and teeth healthy.
- Dark chocolate
We all know chocolates are a girl’s best friends and best mood enhancers when you are feeling down in the dumps. Some people think that chocolates are the reason for acne, on the contrary dark chocolate helps in keeping your skin hydrated and provides protection against sun damage. So don’t be afraid to keep a secret stash of some dark chocolate with you all the time. Remember that for the chocolate to be beneficial for your skin it should have a high flavanol content and must have at least 60% cocoa. Else, it’s just giving you calories!
- Tomatoes
Someone wise said: Knowledge is knowing that tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad! These fruits are a rich source of lycopene which is an anti-aging antioxidant. Lycopene is best absorbed when the tomatoes are cooked or are processed and eaten. So you can indulge in your favourite tomato ketchup or gravies or tomato juice to get your quota of lycopene. Lycopene also helps in protecting your skin from UV rays, reducing the risk of skin cancer. Antioxidants are very important for our skin as they help in fighting against free radicals that are produced due to exposure to sunlight. So don’t think twice and bite into this juicy vegetable, err, fruit!
- Nuts and seeds
Snacking on nuts like almonds, walnuts and even seeds like sunflower seeds helps in reducing skin acne flare ups. They are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, anti-inflammatory enzymes and thus, help in achieving smoother skin along with healthier hair, stronger bones and brighter eyes. You can eat them directly or can easily add them to your cereals, salads, milkshakes or even smoothies.
- Fish and seafood
Studies suggest that people whose diet includes high amounts of fish and seafood have less skin wrinkling. One of the major reasons for this is the rich omega-3 fatty acid content of these foods. Omega-3 fatty acid helps in combating inflammation which is the causative agent of wrinkling as well as acne production. Wild salmon, herring and trout are very good sources of omega-3 fatty acids and play an important role in keeping our skin smooth and wrinkle free. Wild salmon also contains selenium which guards against the harsh sunrays. You can have these treats in any form, be it grilled, with salad or in sushi. Even oysters are good for skin as they are rich in zinc which helps in repairing damaged skin cells.
Next time you are whipping up a meal, ensure you have at least one of these on your plate and in just a week, see the difference in the texture and radiance of your skin!
