You are what you eat.
You already know that diet plays a huge part in how your skin looks. We’ve talked about how dairy might be contributing to your acne and how sugar might also be wreaking havoc on your complexion, but we haven’t really touched on what you should eat for a healthy glow.
Here are the top 5 foods you should eat for a better complexion:
1. Olive oil
Olive oil is great for many things so it’s not surprising that one of them happens to be your skin. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fatty acids, which are said to help keep you looking young due to their antioxidant properties. It also helps prevent free radicals from messing with your skin. Olive oil doesn’t only have to be ingested, it can also be used in home-made face masks and moisturizers as well as hair masks! The benefits of olive oil deserve their own article – which will be coming soon.
2. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are packed with healthy nutrients that will help your skin glow and look fresh. They are also packed with antioxidants that prevent free radicals and stop your elastin from breaking down. Like olive oil, tomatoes can be used topically and not only ingested. There are many masks that include tomatoes and promise to do everything from shrinking your pores to, to easing your acne, and even treating burns!
3. Kale
I know, kale is overrated right? It’s been a fad for smoothie-drinkers and the punchline of comedian jokes for years, but it’s benefits shouldn’t be overlooked. Kale is jam-packed with vitamins. It’s high vitamin C content helps you produce the collagen necessary for maintaining your youthful skin and helps naturally protect you from the sun’s rays with it’s antioxidant properties (boy, I’m sure saying antioxidants a lot, eh?). It’s vitamin A content also helps your healthy cell growth , which in turn helps your skin regenerate and refresh. Throw some kale in your smoothie or salad this week!
4. Rosemary
Rosemary is said to be one of the secrets to longevity in Acciaroli, Italy – researchers visited the village where some of the oldest citizens of the world live (most live comfortably and healthily past 100) and found rosemary to be a key element in the citizen’s long life. It’s no surprise then that rosemary is also hugely beneficial to your skin! Like the other foods on this list, rosemary is rich in antioxidants which prefer free radicals. It is also a great source of vitamin B6 which helps maintain healthy collagen production. Rosemary is great when added to meals, but can also be used topically in a face mask or treatment.
5. Walnuts
Its not a coincidence that so many skin lotions and makeup brands include walnuts in their ingredient list. Walnuts (and many other nuts like almonds & Brazil nuts) are a perfect snack for better skin. Full of vitamin B and E, walnuts contain antioxidants just like all the other health-foods on this list. On top of that, they contain potassium which counteracts the effects of the sodium that most of our diets are filled with. Sodium causes our skin to look saggy and puffy. So the next time you wake up with a puffy face a handful of walnuts might just be your answer!
Hopefully you can incorporate some of these healthy-skin foods into your diet more frequently now that you know their benefits. On top of that, don’t forget t drink plenty of water in order to keep your complexion looking healthy and clear all year. Need another boost of antioxidants? Substitute your morning coffee for a green tea – your skin will love it.
Have you tried any of these health foods in a skin mask? Let us know below!