NATURAL FOODS TO REVEAL YOUNGER AND HEALTHIER SKIN!

Healthy skin is beautiful skin and is something we can only achieve by nourishing it from the inside out and by using only natural products. 80% of our skin health depends on what we eat and the remaining 20% on what we use topically.  Its functions are underestimated when compared to the rest of the bodily systems but without the skin, we simply couldn’t survive.  If you are using expensive products for your skin but eating a junk food diet then you are not doing the right thing to promote healthy skin.

When you eat nutritious foods consistently then you will begin to rebuild the cellular structure of your skin.  This will take time as the skin has many layers.  What you eat and drink now will only be seen in 4 to 6 weeks time. So if you commit to eating and drinking the right foods, your skin will become healthy and beautiful. 

Here is an easy guide of natural foods to reveal younger and healthier skin.

I think the first thing to mention is to drink water.  It is important to keep hydrated. Your skin will benefit from flushing out those toxins by drinking at least a litre of water a day.  Another great way to drink your water is by adding a slice of lemon.  This will help to flush out those toxins and also helps keep you regular!

1 - Vitamin C 

Vitamin C rich foods are excellent for your skin. Try and eat lots of berries, citrus, and fruits like oranges, grapefruits and lemons. Many tropical fruits are also very rich in vitamin C, so load up on foods like red pepper, guava, papaya and pineapple. You should also take a Vitamin C supplement if you are not getting enough from your diet as this will also boost your immunity. 

2 - Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids 

Omega 3 essential fatty acids can be really benefiticial for your skin, hair and nails. The most common way to get your omega 3 is by taking fish oil capsules every day.  If you like fish then this is a good way to get your Omega 3, especially wild salmon, trout, herring, and sardines. You can also enjoy other non-fish sources of Omega 3 such as flax seeds, walnuts, cloves, mustard seeds, chia seeds and Omega 3 eggs. 

3 - Biotin is also known as a beauty vitamin. Biotin is one of the 8 B Vitamins and can also be known as Vitamin H. This Vitamin is great for your skin, hair and nails. 1000mcg (watch the difference between mcg and mg) a day is more than enough. The foods to eat to get your biotin are eggs, salmon, mushroom, swiss chard, carrots, almonds, walnuts, goat milk, cauliflower, berries, legumes and meat. 

4 - Broccoli

This vegetable is one of the cruciferous vegetables and is high in antioxidants, including vitamins C and E. The vitamin C in broccoli aids in collagen production and keeps your skin healthy and supple, while vitamin E protects your skin cell membranes and guards against UV radiation damage.

5 - Almonds

These nuts are one of the best food sources of vitamin E. Eat whole almonds as a snack or add sliced almonds to salads, cereal, yogurt, a stir–fry or baked goods. You can also toast almond slivers and serve them on top of fish, chicken, or even rice or pasta dishes. The vitamin E in almonds can help nourish your skin and protect it from the sun's damaging UV rays. Just be sure not to eat too much of them since nuts are high in calories!.

6 - Carrots

Eat carrots to keep your skin healthy and vibrant. Carrots are high in beta carotene, an antioxidant that is converted to vitamin A inside the body. It helps repair skin tissue and protects against the sun's harsh rays. Enjoy carrots raw in salads or with a dip like almond butter, hummous or guacamole, or try roasting them in a little olive oil to develop a rich, sweet flavor. Cooked carrots have even more skin–friendly beta carotene than raw ones.

7 - Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are a skin superfood because they're so high in zinc. Zinc protects your cell membranes, helps maintain collagen, and promotes skin renewal. Enjoy pumpkin seeds on their own as a snack, add them into a homemade trail mix, or sprinkle them on yogurt or oatmeal.

8 - Beetroot

Beetroot might stain your fingers, but the skin-clearing properties of beetroots are well worth the effort. The purple roots are particularly high in vitamin A, as well as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin E, which is essential for epidermal health and healing. Combined, these nutrients make a powerful all-round body cleanser, helping to eliminate toxins from the body and lower cholesterol too.

9 - Avocado

Avocados are widely known to be a great source of vitamin E, which boosts the skin’s vitality. However, it also possesses good quantities of vitamin C, which can be used to reduce skin inflammation.  Avocado oil is thought to stimulate the production of collagen in the skin, which improves its tone and texture. Eating a regular portion of avocado (half a pear will do!) can also improve the skin’s ability to keep itself moisturised.

10 - Garlic

Each clove of garlic is full of a naturally occurring chemical called allicin and when digested, reacts with the blood to create a product capable of killing off many harmful bacteria and viruses your body might be harbouring – including that which causes acne and other skin infections. Couple this with antioxidants, and it’s almost unbeatable. To get the most out of garlic, eat raw, chopped finely into a salad or stirred into a meal before serving.  You could also roast garlic cloves in their skins when you roast some veggies. When ready just squeeze the garlic out of the skin and it has a delicious sweet taste.

11 - Sweet Potato

There is evidence to suggest that high cortisone levels, one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress, can lead to break-outs. Regulating fluctuating blood sugar levels can help us to combat stress by lifting our moods. Try eating vitamin-packed complex carbohydrates, which release sugar slowly over time, like sweet potato. The root vegetable also contains beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A.

12 - Dark Chocolate

Flavonols, the antioxidants in dark chocolate, reduce roughness in the skin and protect against sun damage. In a study published in The Journal of Nutrition indicates that women who drank cocoa fortified with 326 milligrams of flavonols had better skin texture and stronger resistance to UV rays than those who drank cocoa containing just a small amount of the antioxidant. You need just a few ounces a day.  Of course you don't just have to drink it, a few chunks of at least 70% dark chocolate will do the trick.

There are natural Ingredients for all Kinds of Skin Issues too.  If you suffer from a skin condition such as acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, you already know how they can make your life difficult because it’s very challenging to find a product that works or at least doesn’t make your condition worse. These Natural Ingredients will help to deal with all sorts of skin troubles.

Try them if you suffer from any of the following skin issues: eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and acne, sensitive skin, dry skin, mature skin, combination skin, oily skin or sunburnt skin. 

1 - Aloe vera has antiseptic, antifungal and anti-bacterial properties. You can use aloe vera gel to treat all kinds of skin issues such as sunburn, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, acne, dry skin, and patchy skin. 

2 - Extra Virgin Coconut Oil has lauric acid which is the same acid found in breast milk. It can be used on all sorts of skin problems, just make sure that you use an organic extra virgin coconut oil. Taking 1 tbsp of extra virgin coconut oil daily can also make a huge difference in the way your skin and hair look. It can also boost your immunity and improve overall health.

3 - Raw Honey is an amazing superfood. It has anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties and is an ideal skin food. Use raw honey in all of your facial masks, hair masks, body masks and also eat it, its delicious.

4 - Epsom Salt is rich in magnesium and it helps to calm down redness and inflammation of the skin. Put some in your bath or use it in your facial masks to heal eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, acne and other skin issues.


All The Best

Andrea Howard