The Right Foods for Healthy and Glowing Skin

 

With the demands and stresses in everyday life, it is not far off that all these can take a toll on your skin. But aside from the bottles of creams that you get to apply, also know that you can make a significant improvement by eating the right foods. There is so much that a healthy diet is able to change the way you look, that is why it is time to be more mindful of what you eat.

We are aware and can feel that the environment that we have today is not as clean and safe as it was before. The rays of the sun can be harsher and the air is saturated with pollutants, and all these can trigger the release of harmful free radicals into your system. That is why we should take care of our skin all the more. But you can’t hide in the shade all the time or trap yourself at home.

Since your skin is your first line of defense, it is important that you keep it in optimum condition by eating a diet that is rich in antioxidants. These are the nutrients that will get rid of the free radicals that can compromise the integrity of your skin, reduce its glow and age it prematurely.

The nutrients that are rich in antioxidants are vitamins A, C, E, and selenium. They are easily found in fruits and vegetables, particularly those that are colourful, citrus, and leafy.

Vitamin C in particular promotes collagen production and maintenance which results in a firm and younger looking skin. You can get it from apples, oranges, kiwi, watermelon, cantaloupes, bell peppers, broccoli and tomatoes.

Vitamin A not only protects the oxidative damage of the sun and the environment, but is also promotes cell growth and repair. This is important especially with the kind of damage that the environment can create on your skin.

The best food sources include carrots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach collards, kale and apricots.

Aside from the antioxidant effects of vitamin E, it also protects the cell membrane against UV ray damage to the skin. This is the vitamin that is usually associated with skin care and health. It also conserves hyaluronic acid which is responsible for skin hydration thus preventing premature aging. There are also studies which claimed that vitamin E boosts the action of vitamin C to fight against skin aging.

Nuts, liver, egg yolks, olive oil, wheat germ, and avocados are the best sources for vitamin E.