6 Foods to Help Keep Your Skin Looking Great
When it comes to having great-looking skin, the last thing you probably think influences it is what you put in your mouth. You may be surprised to learn that what you eat and drink has quite a bit of influence over your skin, making it crucial that you pay more attention to getting in some of the foods that will help your skin look great. Beyond making sure you drink plenty of water each day, there are some foods out there that can have a powerful impact how your skin ages.
Some of the foods you eat may not have much of an impact on the way your skin looks. But there are plenty of foods that can go a step further and help your skin to be beautiful, giving it a great glow. There are foods that can also help slow the aging process and keep your skin looking younger longer. In fact, research has been conducted that demonstrates diet influences a person’s skin conditions, and can even help in the prevention of such things as skin cancer and aging of the skin.
Here are 6 foods that can help keep your skin looking great:
1. Dark chocolate.
Yes, chocolate! Specifically dark chocolate, not the milk chocolate variety, is loaded with antioxidants called flavanols. Those antioxidants help to protect the skin, even providing significant protection from harmful UV rays when consumed regularly. Eating a small piece on a regular basis goes a long way toward helping protect the skin and keep it healthy. Keep in mind that to get the health benefits, the dark chocolate needs to be at least 60% cocoa.
2. Berries
All types of berries are considered superfoods, because of their high antioxidant powers. Make sure that several times per week you include berries in your diet, including blueberries, strawberries, and acai berries, which may have the most antioxidants of them all. Keeping berries in the house so they are always handy makes it easy to throw them in a salad, yogurt, top our cereal with them, put them a smoothie, or eat them by themselves.
3. Omega-3s
. These are important to keeping inflammation away, as well as helping to keep your skin firmer, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, sardines, anchovies, flaxseed oil, walnuts, and spinach. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for your body, so strive to eat these foods several times per week.
4. Sweet potatoes.
Another food that is loaded with healthy antioxidants to help protect the skin, sweet potatoes contain a lot of beta carotene. Your body turns beta carotene into vitamin A, which is necessary in order to have healthy skin, among other things. Throw a couple of washed sweet potatoes in the crock pot for a couple of hours and they will be ready to be a healthy part of your dinner.
5. Olive oil.
With its monounsaturated fatty acids, olive oil can help give your skin a healthy boost. It’s believed that those who consume it regularly show less signs of aging. Whether you cook with a little or add a dash to your salad, there are benefits that it provides.
6. Green tea.
Drinking green tea on a daily basis gives your body a boost of polyphenols, which helps to keep your skin smoother and more elastic. It also helps to keep the blood flowing to the skin, making it a great beverage to drink each day. Just avoid loading it up with sugar.
While these tips will help you get your skin looking great, you may have skin conditions that need to be treated first, such as acne. Be sure to read the acne product reviews, select a quality product that will help clear it up, and then go forward taking steps to help keep your skin healthy, well-nourished, and looking fantastic! The foods we eat can play a major role in how our skin looks, as well as whether or not we can hold off the aging of it. While you don’t have to give up all of your unhealthy favorites, it’s a good idea to make sure you get some of these each week. The more foods you eat that are loaded with antioxidants, the better off your skin will be.