Eat your way to brighter skin
You’re always told to eat healthy foods to keep illness at bay, but if you’re eager to learn how to brighten your skin (and who isn’t?), you need to eat the right foods for your complexion. Here are some top picks to boost your glow!
Foods that Exfoliate
When you think of exfoliation, you probably think of the delicious-smelling scrub you use in the shower. But did you know that some foods also exfoliate your skin? Here are three that should be in your regular diet to help you scrub your way to a radiant complexion:
- Sweet Potatoes
If you love potatoes, switch to sweet potatoes instead as they satisfy your sugar craving while also offering high amounts of Vitamin A. This nutrient is vital to your skin’s health because it boosts the skin’s production of new cells.
Skin cells only have a lifespan of two or three weeks, so you want to be sure that you get rid of the dull, dead ones on the surface of your skin and allow the new ones to show. Vitamin A aids this process.
It’s especially important to consume Vitamin A if your skin has pigmentation as it removes the surface skin where pigmentation accumulates. Besides for sweet potatoes, can also find Vitamin A in other foods, such as carrots, egg yolks, and leafy green vegetables.
- Papaya
Another healthy food that exfoliates your skin naturally is papaya. Eat it but also rub it onto your skin. Along with antioxidants, papaya contains the papain enzyme. This eliminates dead cells on the skin’s surface when applied topically, so get scrubbing while also adding papaya to your fruit salad!
- Brazil Nuts
The skin benefits from antioxidants that destroy free radicals so they can’t harm your skin, such as in the form of pigmentation, UV damage and cancer. Selenium is one of the most important antioxidants your skin needs as it keeps age spots and sun damage out of the picture. This is a must for a clear, bright complexion. So, what foods should you consume to get enough selenium in your diet? Brazil nuts. All you need are four Brazil nuts to get your daily requirement! You can also find selenium in other foods, such as tomatoes, broccoli, and fish.
How to Brighten Your Skin With Moisturizing Foods
If your skin is dry, it will look dull - a huge no-no! You therefore need to keep your skin hydrated. You can achieve this by drinking lots of water, but you should also hydrate your skin from inside with nourishing ceramides and water-rich foods.
- Ceramides
You’ve probably heard of ceramides in skincare products, but they can also be found in food. Ceramides are basically fats that are produced by skin cells and they help to maintain moisture so that your complexion doesn’t slip into dryness and dullness. You can find ceramides in plant sources such as grains: top up on wheat germ and brown rice.
- Water-Rich Foods
Foods that contain high quantities of water are a great way to keep your body and skin hydrated. Your skin is the body’s largest organ, after all, so you don’t want dehydration to be revealed on it. Some great water-rich foods include watermelon, cucumbers, strawberries and pineapples.
Spice Up Your Skin
You add spices to your meals to boost their flavour, but they can also be beneficial to your skin, helping to make it more vibrant.
- Cinnamon is an example. It contains more antioxidants than half a cup of blueberries, which makes it a must for your skin’s health! Cinnamon also contains fibre, moisture, protein and Vitamin A, so it’s worth sprinkling onto your foods.
- Sometimes skin issues such as redness can get in the way of you achieving a clear, glowing complexion. That’s where turmeric can help you. Turmeric is a powerful spice for your skin because it is an anti-inflammatory. It soothes redness and inflammation, keeping your skin smooth and calm. By eating it on your meals, you can fight inflammation from the inside, preventing the effects from showing on your skin.
Eat Your Collagen Boosters
Vitamin C is a must for skin because it stimulates the skin’s production of collagen. This is an important structure in the skin to maintain its plump, supple nature, which is why Vitamin C features in so many skincare products such as brightening lotions. Without it, skin can’t really look that good no matter how much you try to brighten it up, plus it will be more prone to getting wrinkles. You must top up on Vitamin C foods, such as kiwis, citrus fruits, and bell peppers to boost collagen and let your skin shine with youthfulness.
Improve Skin Circulation with Chocolate
You might not think of chocolate as helping your skin glow, but it can get the job done! German researchers found that the flavonoids in chocolate moisturize and smooth skin, which makes it glow. This is because flavonoids improve blood circulation to the skin. An added benefit of this is that more nutrients you eat will reach your skin. Make sure you eat dark chocolate, though, as it is richer in flavonoids than other varieties.
Eating the right foods is an important step in achieving a vibrant, glowing complexion. Top up on important nutrients such as the above and you’ll master how to brighten your skin, flaunting a healthier, younger appearance in no time.