Tuesday 30 August 2011

Food for Skin

What I've learned through my experience with different skincare products is that no matter what amazing skincare creams and treatments you use, great skin in the long run can never be achieved if our body and therefore skin is not fed from the inside as well. There are numerous vitamins and nutrients that are essential for our overall health and skin health too. Here is the list of some foods that are high in concentration of vital vitamins and nutrients for a healthy, glowing skin!


Oily Fish
Fish like salmon , tuna and sardines are high in healthy fats. We need essential amnio acids to build and maintain healthy skin cells. Fish has a high content of Omegas 3, 6 and 9, all required for maintaining skin barrier and keeping moisture in. In addition, they are anti-inflammatory, helping soothe digestion and are therefore very effective in helping with various skin problems such as acne.


Avocados
Similar properties to oily fish, providing a vegetarian option. High in the Omegas, it also contains Vitamins A, D and E, potassium and magnesium. These vitamins and elements are all vital for healthy skin. In addition, avocados have great antioxidant properties, aiding to get rid of free-radicals, which helps slow down the aging process. It has also been found that avocados help the absorption of other nutrients too. 


Acai Berries
Termed as one of the 'superfoods' acai berries grow predominately in the Amazon rainforest. These berries are packed with Omega 9 (about 1.6 grams of Omega 9 per 5 gram serving) and various antioxidants. 


Goji berries
My favourite superfood! These little berries are rated as one of the highest sources of antioxidants. In addition, they contain vitamins C, B1 and B2, beta-carotene, minerals and amino acids. Their amazing antioxidant properties make goji berries a great food for a healthy skin!


Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds have many great properties to make them a super food for healthy skin. For one, they have great anti-inflammatory properties. Eating some nuts or seeds per day can help resolve problems such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Seeds contain Vitamin E, magnesium and zinc, which are all needed for glowing skin, in addition to helping skin regeneration and fighting off bacteria that may lead to acne. Some nuts, such as pecans are very high in fibre, which helps elimination of toxins and waste. It therefore helps problems such as acne, skin dullness and excess oil. Many nuts (e.g. walnuts) contain Vitamin B in abundance, which helps stress management, also slowing down the aging process. 


Green Veggies
Green vegetables (e.g. spinach, broccoli) contain numerous vitamins and nutrients, such as calcium and plenty of iron, all powerful antioxidants that nourish the skin and help protect it from premature aging. They also contain inflammation-fighting nutrients and plenty of fiber which make green vegetables a great food for acne-prone skin. 

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