Understanding inside and out functional skin care is extremely important to having beautiful skin. Our outer appearance is a reflection of our inner health. Some of the important foods to promote healthy skin from the inside are antioxidant rich foods, anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory beneficial foods.
These skin care promoting foods are avocado, acai, blueberry, blackberry, seabuckthorn berry, strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, apricot, bilberry, broccoli, Brazil nuts, beans, legumes, brown rice, quinoa, millet, rye, oat, black currant, carrots, chocolate, cabbage, kale, collard greens, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cranberry, cucumber, camu-camu, dark leafy greens, spinach, egg, olive oil, flax, almond, walnut, seaweed, watercress, ginger, garlic, grapes, hemp seed, honey, mangosteen, mushroom, milk, mackerel, herring, tuna, salmon, anchovy, oyster, sardine, lentil, fig, dates, papaya, pepper, pineapple, prawn, prune, pumpkin seed, rhubard, soybean, yam, sweet potato, rice kernel, sake wine, tomato, green tea, black tea, yogurt, whole grains and water.
Let's discuss the more common foods that directly relate to promoting healthy skin. Avocado is available year round. Avocado contains folate which is essential for cell regeneration and a great source of antioxidant. Apricot is rich in fiber, beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, folate, iron and potassium. All of which contribute to healthy skin. Vitamin C is an important building block of collagen. Blueberries contains potassium and vitamin C with antioxidant benefits. Beans are a great source of protein, folic acid, fiber, magnesium, and calcium. Broccoli is high in fiber, vitamin C, folate, glucosinolates and sulforaphane that protects cells from injury. Carrots are available year round. High in antioxidant benefits of beta-carotene and vitamin C. Beta-carotene helps to prevent the formation of wrinkles and age spots. Cucumber is a good source of essential vitamins and minerals necessary for production of collagen. Red Grapes is a great souce of antioxidant. Seaweed and flaxseed contains omega 3, alpha-linoleic acid, and zinc that can help clear up acne, promote supple skin and improve psoriasis. Almond is known for building collagen. Oat is rich in fiber, iron, manganese, phosphorous, calcium, vitamin B and E. All of which are essential to maintaining collagen levels. The oat kernel contains beta-glucan which promotes wound healing and skin scarring. Prawns are rich in calcium, iodine, selenium, sinc and copper which helps to prevent oily skin and formation of acne. Copper is a building block of the anti-aging enzyme called superoxide dismutase. Tomato also contain lycopene, vitamin A and C. Finally, water keep your skin well-hydrated to look younger.
In addition to eating health promoting skin care foods, you can acquire supplements and vitamins in place of having to eat all of the above for healthy skin.
Outer skin care has been discussed on many of my previous posts and will be revisited in detail later.
