Top Foods For Beautiful Skin

Foods For beautiful Skin

With people all over the globe spending billions of dollars on skin-care products every year, you’d think cosmetics companies had replicated the fountain of youth in the laboratory. In fact, skin creams have gotten more and more expensive and less and less based on real science. According to most experts who aren’t hawking half-ounce jars of $200 youth serum, the science behind skin care is simpler than most of us think.

1. Seafood

•     Active components: Omega-3 fatty acids and zinc
•     Benefits: Calm and moisturized skin

Most of us have heard that fish can be really good for our overall health. Many types of fish and shellfish can work wonders for the skin, especially oysters and fatty fish like salmon.

The primary nutrients that make fish so good for your complexion are zinc and omega-3 fatty acids. Increasing omega-3 intake can reduce dryness and inflammation, and can help to prevent pre-mature aging. Studies have shown that getting too little omega-3 may contribute to inflammatory disorders like eczema and psoriasis.

Omega-3 fatty acids can also help keep our arteries clear, improving circulation throughout our bodies and maintaining the healthy appearance of our skin. Zinc has the ability to help fight acne as it works to help metabolize testosterone, which affects the production of sebum within our skin (a primary cause of acne). Zinc also assists in new-cell production and the sloughing off of dead skin, giving the skin a healthy glow. These incredible benefits can also be found in flaxseed oil and walnuts.

2. Green Tea

• Skin Condition: Dandruff
• Food RX: Green Tea (but not to drink)

Topically, green tea can help naturally exfoliate a dry flaky scalp without dehydrating the skin, and a recent study found that it also works to slow the overgrowth of cells that cause flakes and itching. Steep two bags of green tea in 1 cup of hot water for at least 20 minutes. Once it has cooled, massage it right into your scalp then rinse (note: if your hair is color treated talk to your stylist before giving this a try!).

3. Nuts

•     Active components: Vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids
•     Benefits: Young and soft skin

Nuts, like all of these incredible foods on our list, are packed with all kinds of antioxidant activity. Vitamin E combats skin-aging free radicals, especially protecting skin from sun damage. Vitamin E also tends to help skin hold in moisture, relieving dryness and making skin look younger. Pairing vitamin E with selenium can enhance its antioxidant abilities, so go ahead and throw some almonds into your cottage cheese (a great source of selenium) for a skin-revitalizing snack. Almonds, pistachios and walnuts also provide a nice supply of omega-3 fatty acids, another great skin nutrient.

4. Whole grains

Whole grains help to improve your complexion. For beautiful skin replace your processed carbohydrates with whole grain. They also have Vitamin B biotin that assist fat processing in cell and prevents your skin from becoming dry and scaly. Buckwheat is excellent source of antioxidants that help to combat skin damage.

5. Red and Green Vegetables

•     Spinach helps reduce skin dryness.
•     Active components: Vitamin A, beta-carotene
•     Benefits: Bright and smooth skin

Skin is the body’s largest organ. It makes sense, then, that what’s good for your whole body is also good for your skin — and as far as food goes, it doesn’t get much better than vegetables. You’ll especially want to look for red-orange and green vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach.

Orange-red vegetables are full of beta-carotene. Our bodies convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, which acts as an antioxidant, preventing cell damage and premature aging. In the case of vitamin A, you also get anti-acne benefits — vitamin A has been used in acne medications (think Retin-A) for many years.