In the past, we’ve looked at food as a way of increasing your metabolism, reducing a bloated stomach and supercharging your lifestyle. As they say, six packs are made in the kitchen, and the prevailing food to exercise ratio for any fitness enthusiasts is 80:20, in terms of the significance each will have on achieving your dream body. But in addition to helping you carve out that washboard stomach, the right combination of fruit, vegetables and even a few other food sources, can also help improve the quality of your skin.
Even the most toned of individuals can suddenly lose confidence in their appearance come the unwanted arrival of a spot (and it almost always happens on a day your photo's being taken!). Or perhaps it’s a longer term problem, such as acne or a blemish that's causing concern. In either case, though make-up can help to disguise an area, it isn't a long term solution. The following seven foods are, and can actually help to improve your complexion, in addition to potentially reducing that foundation bill!
1. Fish
No surprise really, as fish seems to pop up in every healthy food list going, be it the best sources of protein, or foods that help prevent a range of diseases. As your mum may have continually repeated through your childhood, fish is definitely ‘brain food’ but it is also beauty food, too.
Swimming in omega-3, this essential fatty acid helps fortify skin cell membrane, which can protect against sun damage. Eating fish will also provide your body with biotin, which, ironically, can prevent that scaly skin look.
2. Broccoli
Another superfood, broccoli is overloaded with antioxidants and happens to go great with fish, too! The high levels of vitamin C aid collagen production, which in turn keeps skin healthy and supple, while the vitamin E can protect skin from UV radiation damage.
3. Dark Chocolate
Not that you perhaps need an excuse to eat more chocolate, the darker variety contains a high level of cocoa which can help make skin firmer and more supple. Also,
chock-a-block with antioxidants, just a few squares a day (just a few, mind you!) can improve your skin’s luminosity!
4. Carrots
Until your skin is glowing sufficiently to light your way through the dark, a few more carrots in your diet will help to improve your night vision. Not only that, but the high levels of vitamin A found in carrots will also aid skin repair and protect against harmful UV rays. However,
too many carrots can lead to carotenosis, where strong orangery pigments can show up in the skin!
5. Nuts
A great snack to keep your metabolism fuelled throughout the day, nuts also contain selenium which is a powerful antioxidant, essential to the immune system. This chemical can help to protect against skin cancer, sun damage and age spots. Some nuts, including walnuts, are also loaded with copper, a mineral that boosts collagen production to improve skin texture.
6. Kidney Beans
High in zinc, many studies have demonstrated a correlation between clear skin and strong levels of this chemical. Zinc is also known to possess healing abilities, so a handful of kidney beans each day can help clear your complexion.
7. Water and Green Tea
The life source of all things known to man, is it any wonder that water seems to aid pretty much every function related to the body? Drink plenty throughout the day as it helps to flush toxins out of your body and delivers nutrients to your cells, which in turn keeps your skin looking firmer and younger. Drink two or three cups of
green tea, too, as the high levels of anti-oxidants can help to reduce redness and fight inflammation.
Let us know your beauty secrets in the box below – the wackier, the better, and we promise to try them out!
Image Credits
1 - Alpha, Flickr
2 - Wikimedia
3 - Wikipedia
4 - Pixabay
5 - Pixabay
6 - Pixabay
7 - Pixabay
*As with all exercise/fitness/health regimes always consult your physician first
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