The Skinny
Looking to develop or maintain great, healthy-looking skin? Who isn’t, especially with all the pollutants everyone faces, unhealthy diets being eaten and a general lack of fluids consumed. And sure, shopping at some high-end boutique for expensive moisturizers and other skincare products is one way to battle flaky, dehydrated skin. But so is a trip to the supermarket. In fact, there are a grocery cart full of food options in supermarkets that will do your skin a world of good. Better yet, they’re all pretty tasty. WellWell has put together a shopping list of edible aids to start with.
The Slate
The all-powerful avocado to the rescue. Enriched with Vitamin C and Vitamin E, accounting for about 17 percent of the recommended daily intake for each, eating avocados is a great way to prevent aging skin and wrinkles. The ability of these vitamins and avocado’s antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin help keep skin taut and young-looking. Beyond this, avocado pulp is a treasure trove of other antioxidants like B-carotene and linoleic acid that helps moisturize your skin from within.
A great source of essential Omega-3 fatty acids, Walnuts help skin cells attract and maintain moisture. The nut’s high concentrations of B and E vitamins ward off free radicals that undermine skin-firming elements, like collagen and elastin, resulting in fewer lines, wrinkles and sags.
These spuds are a bastion for skin-supportive Vitamins A, C and E, all useful in offsetting the damage done from exposure to ultraviolet light and slowing down the aging process. Vitamin E is also a boon in the treatment of alopecia, which causes hair to fall out in small patches.
The Vitamin C in red bell peppers is essential for forming collagen, which is critical to repair damaged skin and keep it looking great. As a bonus, these peppers hold decent dollops of three cancer fighting carotenoids: lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin, which can also help reduce swelling caused by arthritis.
It’s Popeye’s favorite for a reason. Spinach is a nutrient-rich food that contains iron, folate, chlorophyll, Vitamin E, magnesium, Vitamin A, fiber, plant protein and Vitamin C. As noted earlier, Vitamins C, E, and A do wonders for skincare.
Finally, a win-win food. Dark chocolate tastes great to almost everyone and it is loaded with copper, iron and magnesium, among other minerals, that all support healthy skin. Manganese, for example, supports the production of collagen, while calcium helps repair and renew skin. Some studies even report that the high levels of antioxidants in dark chocolate may protect skin from the damage done by ultraviolet (UV) rays.
A great cleanser, green tea acts as an antibacterial agent for treating acne and unclogging pores. The tea’s polyphenols also help fight infection and undercuts systemic bacterial inflammation for smoother, toned skin. Green tea also contains skin-boosting Vitamin B2 and Vitamin E, which together support collagen levels, new skin cell growth and intense hydration for soft and nourished skin. The tea’s caffeine and tannins also help reduce puffiness around the eyes by shrinking blood vessels in the area.
Salmon, mackerel, herring, among other fish, are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that are great for keeping skin thick, supple and moisturized. It can also reduce redness and acne. Some studies claim that fish oil supplements may help fight inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, such as psoriasis and lupus. Fatty fish are also a great source of Vitamin E, which has powerful, skin-supportive antioxidants.
Eyes Up
What foods keep your skin looking great. Let us know at info@wellwellusa.com
