Whomever wrote the old adage, “beauty is only skin deep” was only partially correct. Granted, beauty does come with different meanings than just your physical appearance, but the overall clarity of your dermis truly lies “skin deep”. What one ingests can directly affect how your skin looks and feels. By actively adding certain botanicals and ingredients into your diet, you may be able to see visible results from what you eat.
1. Avocados
They aren’t just for your toast anymore! Eating this fruit gives your body essential fatty acids. According to the Food Network, digesting fatty acids like those found in avocados, can help your body absorb essential nutrients like “fat soluble vitamins and antioxidants.” In a study completed by the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the Gifu Graduate School of Medicine, scientists found that women who had a higher intake of fat are more likely to have a better skin elasticity. This means suppler skin and less wrinkles in the future! Aside from this major benefit, avocados can also help to nourish and moisturize dry, irritated skin. So, don’t feel guilty about ordering an extra helping of avocados, you’re just helping your skin!
2. Olives
This vegetable can be found in a series of skin care products, including Herla beauty! Applying the ingredient topically and eating the vegetable can help to aid in diminishing acne. Olives have a skin-friendly ingredient called squalane, which has anti-bacterial properties. Acne generally spouts when a pore is clogged, resulting essentially in a skin infection. By cleansing the skin and killing bacteria, the chance of new acne appearing on your skin lowers. Not only will your acne and blemishes be controlled, but sebum production will also be regulated.
3. Almonds
Craving a crunch, but want to eliminate poor snack choices? Adding almonds to your diet can not only help you to eat healthy, but is also great for your complexion. The seed is packed with fatty acids, proteins, minerals and vitamins A and E. That’s right, those tiny morsels contain an insane amount of positive ingredients. By ingesting almonds on a regular basis, you may notice a smoothing effect to your skin - almost like you’re air brushed! If you suffer from acne scarring or discoloration, almonds also help to control imperfections as well as reduce redness, inflammation and irritation. Not to mention, using almonds as a scrub acts as an all natural scrub that is definitely a must during weather changes!
4. Rooibos and Green Tea
Those who are fans of drinking tea, make sure to stock your shelves with rooibos and green tea. Rooibos comes from a shrub native to South Africa and has a strong taste. Drinking this herbal tea gifts your body with antioxidants, zinc, and alpha hydroxy acid, all of which have anti-inflammatory properties. Those who are struggling with acne, blemishes or want to reduce fine lines or winkles should prepare a hot cup asap. Green tea is also a big help when it comes to similar issues. The leaf is rich in antioxidants that allow your skin to heal from within. The Institute for Experimental Dermatology at the University of Witten-Herdecke completed a 12-week, double-blind study where they asked 60 female volunteers to consume green tea on a daily basis. Those who drank the tea, saw a plethora of benefits including; elasticity improvement and an overall increase of skin quality.
5. Fruits
This food group is a beneficial part of any diet. Health.gov notes you should intake at least three servings of fruit on a daily basis. Many fruits not only are helpful to your overall health, but aid in increasing your skin’s overall quality. Apples, for example, are very rich in antioxidants, polyphenols and natural alpha hydroxy acids. By applying the fruit topically, you can exfoliate and tone your skin. By ingesting apples, you can also make your skin both smoother and brighter. Those individuals looking to improve their dull, mature or oily skin, should look for products that have apples as one of their ingredients, but should also eat one apple a day. Who said that an apple a day just keeps the doctor away? It also helps to keep that skin looking smoother and brighter naturally!
Though transforming your diet is only a part of the equation when it comes to your skin’s overall health, it certainly helps to quicken the process of smoothing your dermis’ appearance. Next time you’re at the grocery store, try to make sure your shopping cart includes one of these five foods. Not only will your stomach thank you for the extra antioxidants and vitamins, but your skin will also shine bright!
