Everyone has heard of the expression “you are what you eat”, this is very true. Eating a healthy nutritious diet is essential to maintaining good health. Eating unhealthy food like junk food will damage your metabolism, contributing to weight gain, and impacting our internal organs, such as your liver and heart.
What you eat also has a massive impact on your skin. Eating unhealthily will make your skin look dull, cause break-outs and dehydrated skin. Some foods are particularly good for your skin, they are high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which are essential for a gorgeous healthy complexion.
Oily Fish
Oily fish such as mackerel, herring and salmon are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which is an excellent food for skin. Eating these fish will keep your skin supple and moisturised, it will help with skin problems by reducing inflammation, redness, and acne outbreaks.
Oily fish is also high in vitamin E which your skin needs to protect itself from free radicals and inflammation. People who have a deficiency in omega-3 fats tend to suffer from dry dull skin.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a great source of vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as the antioxidant properties of carotenoids such as lycopene and flavonoids. Eating tomatoes will protect your skin from UV damage and may also help prevent wrinkling.
Dark Chocolate
Here is a great excuse to eat more chocolate, it is great for your skin! Cocoa is high in antioxidants, which will make your skin feel softer and feel more hydrated.
Just 20 grams of dark chocolate (containing at least 70% cocoa) every day could allow your skin to withstand twice as much UV radiation before burning, compared to before eating low antioxidant chocolate.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a superfood which is high in zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C. It also contains the carotenoid lutein, which works like beta-carotene. Broccoli florets contain the compound sulforaphane that may have anti-cancer effects. This compound is also great for protecting your skin against the sun, eradicating free radicals.
Eggs
Eggs are a highly nutritious food that contains proteins and fatty acids which help the texture of your skin. Eggs also contain a protein called albumin that helps tighten pores and removes excessive oil.
Femina say, “Protein-packed eggs are among the super foods for good health. Not only are eggs beneficial for the body, they also can provide a good dose of nourishment to the skin and hair and make them healthier.
Rich in Lutin, eggs can provide hydration and elasticity to the skin while the high protein content can help in repairing tissues and firming skin. The proteins in eggs can be used in softening the hair, and also to give it strength and shine.”
Soy
Soy is a bean from Asia that contains isoflavones that mimic or block estragon in the body and protect skin cells from damaging UV radiation, this may in turn help protect the skin against some skin cancers.
Soy is a great skin food that improves elasticity, reduces fine wrinkles, and help protect from skin dryness, it will increase collagen which will help keep your skin smooth and your complexion radiant.