Let's face it, everyone wants a smooth, radiant skin that looks forever young. What you put into your stomach can help bring you closer to that goal. While there is no magic food that whisks the wrinkles away at the spin of a wand, the basics are simple and easy to follow.
Go for foods that are naturally jammed with nutrients, like fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, fish, and other types of lean proteins. Go for a wide variety of foods, so as to get all the different vitamins and minerals your skin will need.
High-glycemic foods are known to cause acne and wrinkles thus lowering their intake will help greatly.
Beyond the plate itself, sleep, exercise, and sunscreen still count, no matter what you eat.
After all, the skin is often the first part of our body to show internal trouble, and there’s only so much that lotions, creams, masks, and serums can do before we need to take a closer look at what’s fueling us and our skin.
Below are just some (not comprehensive) of those magical foods that can help your skin maintenance and also a healthier you:-
Broccoli is an anti-inflammatory, anti-aging powerhouse packed with vitamins C and K and a variety of antioxidants. It is high in fiber, folate, lutein and calcium. Your body needs vitamin C for the production of collagen, the main protein in skin that gives it strength and elasticity.
Coffee, your morning habit could help ward off skin cancer and fight rosacea. In a study done and written in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, women who drank one cup of coffee a day reduced their risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer by about 10 percent. It had to be caffeinated, though, as decaf wasn't associated with the same protective benefits. Also, the more coffee the women drank, up to about 6 cups or so per day, the lower their skin cancer risk. Coffee drinkers were also less likely to get rosacea, according to another study. A perky mind and better skin from our favorite morning ritual? Sounds good to me!
Dark Chocolate, here's something for chocolate lovers! Dark chocolate offers some serious anti-aging benefits (Yes, your eyes are not playing tricks on you). Cocoa beans, the main ingredient in dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants that can reduce inflammation from UV exposure, increase circulation and helps your skin better retain moisture. Dark chocolate is also rich in magnesium, another inflammation-fighting nutrient. Magnesium reduces stress and improves sleep duration and quality, which plays a role in skin aging. Just make sure that the added sugars content of your favorite dark chocolate bar is low, too much sugar could wreak havoc on your skin. Research has shown that sugar has a negative affect on collagen fibers and can cause skin to appear more stiff and less elastic.
Lean meats such as top sirloin is a great way to get high-quality protein. Protein helps build collagen. You can enjoy different kinds of lean protein on other days like chicken breast and fishes. When you cook meats, flip them often because cooking them over super-high heat until it's crispy and charred creates chemicals that will undo all of the anti-aging properties of the meats.
Oranges are loaded with water, so they hydrate your skin and your cells. One large orange is an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps make collagen and that, in turn, helps keep your skin supple. Generally vegetables and fruits are great for your skin. Go for lots of colors so you get different varieties of nutrients.
Nuts are a great source of vitamin E, which may help repair skin tissue, retain skin moisture, and protect skin from damaging UV rays. Walnuts even contain anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids that may help strengthen skin cell membranes, protect against sun damage and give skin a beautiful glow by preserving its natural oil barrier.
Papaya, this delicious tropical superfood is rich in a variety of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that may help to improve skin elasticity and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It contains vitamins A, B, C, K, and E, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, etc. The wide range of antioxidants in papaya also helps to fight free radicals that causes damage to cells and may delay signs of aging. Papaya also contains an enzyme called papain, which provides additional anti-aging benefits by working as one of nature’s best anti-inflammatory agents.
Salmon fish is one of the best ways to get healthy omega-3 fats in your diet. Some studies have suggested that omega-3s, especially from fish, may keep skin cancer cells from growing and spreading. Go for wild caught Salmons which has no growth hormones and no insecticides in them.
Watermelon, everyone's favourite fruit here in hot Singapore! Watermelon deserves a spot in your anti-aging diet all year long as it is packed with vitamins A, C and E, which research shows it can help boost skin health and it contains a powerful antioxidants lycopene, making it the ultimate food for youthful skin. Watermelon is also seriously hydrating, as it is mostly 92% water. Staying hydrated is essential for keeping your skin glowing and vibrant.
There are more magical foods out there that can help you maintain a youthful, healthy skin. Search them up and include them in your daily diet together with our soaps, serums, scrubs and moisturisers for a healthier you.