4 Best Foods for Getting Younger, Firmer Skin Naturally
The best foods for skin are ones that detoxify, strengthen, and protect your skin from the inside out. Forget Botox and fancy, pricey creams: Gorgeous skin starts with that you’re putting on your plate, and science proves it. Want to maintain firming collagen, or speed up your skin’s cell function to reveal a youthful, glowing complexion? Research shows you can do so by filling up on these top foods for skin. A glowing complexion — and plenty of compliments, we’re sure — aren’t too far away.
Best Foods for Skin
We already know that knowing which superfoods to eat can help improve your overall health. These nutrient-rich food are not only delicious and wholesome, but are considered to be especially valuable for your body both inside and out. They offer plenty of hidden benefits, including better heart health, lower blood pressure, stronger nails and hair, sharper vision, and more. But what are the best superfoods for your skin? Read on to find out which are the top picks for your body’s outermost layer — plus the science behind it.
Strawberries stop wrinkles.
Ounce for ounce, they contain more anti-aging vitamin C than oranges or grapefruit. And folks who eat lots of C-rich foods have fewer wrinkles since C helps create collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth. In addition, strawberries also help exfoliate dull skin. Tip: Mash three fresh strawberries with 1 Tbs. honey. Smooth onto skin; let sit two minutes, then gently rub with a wet washcloth in small circles. Rinse with warm water.
Sunflower seeds thwart sun damage.
They’re loaded with vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that “helps rid the body of free radicals produced by UV radiation,” says NYC-based dietitian Lisa Drayer, R.D., author of The Beauty Diet. Tip: Eat your sunflower seeds with strawberries: “E-rich foods are more effective in providing skin protection when eaten with foods that contain vitamin C,” she explains. Also E-rich: almonds and peanuts.
Olives ease inflammation.
Sounds like people following the Mediterranean diet are onto more than just improved heart health and easier weight loss! A daily dose of 10 large green olives, which are rich in monounsaturated fats, reduces wrinkles and quells inflammation — a destructive process linked to a host of skin woes, including psoriasis and eczema. Sign us up!
Sweet potatoes help refine skin tone.
Each tuber delivers tons of beauty-enhancing beta-carotene, a fat-soluble pigment that is converted to vitamin A in the body, then used to keep skin soft and smooth. Sweet potatoes also help make dry skin supple. Try mashing half a cooked potato with one tablespoon each of milk and honey. Apply to a freshly washed face; relax for 10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Bonus: Beta-carotene also helps protect skin from sunburn. More beta-carotene-rich foods include carrots, collard greens and romaine lettuce.
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