Nourish Your Skin
With Spring right around the corner, many of us are rushing to switch out our heavy pants for light-weight shorts and long sleeve sweaters for skin-baring tank tops. You have probably heard the common expression, “You are what you eat.” But have you ever stopped to think about how the foods you consume affect the largest organ in your body, your skin? The foods you choose to eat can play a major role in determining how your skin looks and feels.
There are several components within the foods we eat that affect our skin’s moisture/dryness, color pigment, and even our sun exposure/blockage. Foods that are high in the healthy fatty acids known as omega-3s include salmon, avocados, and nuts. These foods help maintain the moisture in your skin and are also great sources of vitamins. Vitamin E, which is found in abundance in the foods mentioned above, serves as an antioxidant to protect your skin from sun damage.
Fruits and vegetables such as oranges, broccoli, kiwi, cauliflower, papaya, etc. are all great sources of vitamin C. Vitamin C can prevent or delay the signs of aging by protecting the skin from photodamage caused by harmful UV rays. Another vitamin crucial to maintaining vibrant skin is vitamin A. Vitamin A can be found in foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, and even mango. This vitamin is responsible for giving our skin a healthy glow and pigment by supporting the renewal of our skin cells.
Remember that the foods we consume are metabolized differently in the body, depending on what that food is made of. Your skin is made up of proteins, therefore, it needs protein-rich foods to stay healthy. Choosing vegetables, fruits, and lean meats contributes to your skin’s nourishment and your overall health. The benefits of whole and nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables aren’t just skin deep, they’re great for your whole body!
