Skincare
7 July 2022
The 5 Best “Skin Superfoods” For Radiant, Youthful Skin
We’ve all heard the expression “You are what you eat”.
And it’s true!
The food you eat plays a vital role in every part of your body’s health. But it does much more than affect your waistline. What you eat has a direct effect on the biggest organ in your body:
Your skin.
It turns out, some foods are great if you want firmer, radiant and wrinkle-free skin. And in this handy guide, you’ll discover the 5 best foods to achieve a healthy look.
Foods you can get from almost any supermarket – proven to help eliminate fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. Plus naturally restore plumpness, firmness and hydration.
So here are the 5 “skin superfoods” you need to know…
Skin Superfood #1: Avocado
It seems avocados are everywhere now – like cafes, brunch restaurants, and supermarkets. These exotic green fruits have recently soared in popularity.
So if you want to start your day on the right foot… Avocados are a great choice. That’s because they contain 3 essential things your skin needs to stay looking fresh.
The first is healthy, unsaturated fats.
We now know that “fats” isn’t a bad word! These molecules are vital for many important processes in your body. They keep your skin supple, moisturised and hydrated.
One study of over 700 women found that getting the right amount of these “healthy fats” is the key to preventing sagging, loose skin. 1
Avocados also contain something scientists call “lipid molecules”.
One of the biggest causes of skin ageing is sun damage. This causes inflammation, and makes skin cells break down. And these special “lipid molecules” in avocados are one of the best ways to protect your skin from dangerous UV rays.
To top things off – avocados are also packed with vitamin E.
A powerful antioxidant which protects against all sorts of “outside stresses”, such as sunlight, x-rays and air pollution.
Plus studies show it’s even more effective when combined with vitamin C – something the next “Skin Superfood” is packed with… 2
Skin Superfood #2: Red Bell Peppers
When you hear “vitamin C” – you probably think of oranges. But when it comes to vitamin C levels…
Red bell peppers – our second skin superfood – wipes the floor with them!
1 medium orange gives you less than 70 milligrams of vitamin C… But just 100 grams of red peppers gives you a whopping 128 milligrams of vitamin C. 3
But why is vitamin C so important for healthy skin?
Without vitamin C your body can’t produce collagen. This is the protein which keeps skin from sagging. It’s great for anyone who wants plump, youthful skin.
And that’s not all.
A study of over 4000 women also found that getting enough vitamin C slashes the risk of dry, wrinkled skin. 4 It can even prevent unwanted dark spots. 5
Alongside vitamin C, red bell peppers are also packed with beta-carotene. This helps protect your skin from UV light and other “outside stresses”.
So red bell peppers’ high levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene are a must for anyone who wants smooth, hydrated skin.
Skin Superfood #3: Oily Fish
Now this superfood might sound surprising to you. After all, nobody wants oily skin.
But study after study has shown that the oils inside certain fish can be a game changer for anyone looking to give their skin a nourishing boost.
This is because certain oily fish – like salmon, mackerel, and herring – contain sky-high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
Getting enough omega-3 fatty acids is one of the best things you can do to look after your skin – keeping it thick, plump and hydrated. 6 In fact, omega-3 deficiency is a number one cause of dry, flaky skin.
Omega 3 fatty acids also calm inflammation, redness and acne – and can even reduce your skin’s sensitivity to UV rays. Perfect if you get sunburnt any time you go on holiday! 7
On top of omega-3 fatty acids, oily fish like salmon are an incredible source of zinc. Proven to naturally support the production of new skin cells.
Skin Superfood #4: Watermelon
Has your face ever felt “puffy” when you wake up?
While it’s often barely noticeable to outsiders… When you look in the mirror, it can be ALL you can see. And it can be annoying.
It’s all down to something known as water retention. This can be caused by alcohol, foods high in carbs or salt, or even staying up late. These make your skin “hold onto” water – making you feel tired, bloated, and puffy.
Here’s the good news. There’s a surprisingly easy way to beat the bloat…
Although it might sound weird – the high water content in watermelons can reduce water retention! Thanks to this, watermelons naturally help you flush out sodium and excess fluids.
What’s more, watermelons make a great skin-safe snack.
Because of their low sugar levels, they help you avoid glycation. A chemical reaction caused by sugary snacks and carbs, which damages your collagen. Ultimately leading to sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles.
Skin Superfood #5: Dark Chocolate
This fifth and final “skin superfood” is something nearly everyone loves…
But we’re not talking about the sugar-packed, super processed stuff. Because when it comes to chocolate’s skin benefits…
The darker – the better!
Studies show that cocoa – the main ingredient in dark chocolate – has phenomenal effects for your skin. 8 9 10
Things like:
✅ Thicker, more hydrated skin
✅ Better blood flow to your skin
✅ Less roughness or scaliness
✅ Decreased sensitivity to UV light
✅ Even reduced wrinkles!
It’s all thanks to the high levels of antioxidants in dark chocolate, as well as powerful natural compounds known as “flavanols”.
These special compounds are great for helping look after your skin. But their health benefits go even further – with studies showing flavanols can help you fight off cancer, heart disease and dementia. 11 12
It just goes to show:
Taking care of your diet is one of the best ways to take care of your skin. But it’s often the last place people look when it comes to skincare.
By eating a rich variety of these healthy foods… You’ll be well on your way to having radiant, hydrated, and plump skin. They’re a great, natural way to help you feel more beautiful, more confident, and look younger.
Just remember this golden rule:
Being healthy inside = Looking amazing outside!
Sources:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20085665/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257702/
fdc.nal.usda.gov/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17921406/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673383/
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-642-12264-4_9
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4773779/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16702322
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25116848
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25116848/
n.neurology.org/content/94/16/e1749
webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-flavonoids#1