Natural Skincare: The Top 5 Veggies to Eat for Healthy Skin
We DEFINITELY love our microderms, facials, and dermaplaning here at Modern Aesthetics, but great skincare doesn’t end with just regular treatments and quality products. You can boost the look and health of your skin from the inside by taking care of your diet as well as you do your skincare routine.
All vegetables are really good for your health and so you should eat a wide variety of them every day (ok lets be real, MOST days). If you want to improve your skin condition, you could also consider adding in a few of these recommended skin-lovin’ veggies!
1. Sweet Potatoes and Pumpkin
These super-veggies contain beta-carotene, which your body converts into Retinol – otherwise known as vitamin A. Retinol helps to protect your skin from being damaged by the sun. Betacarotene also helps to prevent premature skin ageing from UV light, pollution and smoking.
2. Avocado
Avocado is a popular super-food at the moment and with good reason; the avocado includes a range of health enhancing nutrients like alpha-carotene, beta carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin and lutein. These compounds protect your skin from the free radical damage that can lead to visible signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
Avocados have a high oleic acid content, a monounsaturated fatty acid which helps keep skin moisturized and hydrated. If you suffer with dry or irritated skin, avocado can really help as the oils will help reduce any facial redness and irritation.
Scientific studies have shown that increasing the amounts of carotenoids in your diet can improve your skin’s density, thickness, tone and general appearance. Avocado also contains vitamin C which your skin needs to create elastin and collagen.
3. Carrots
In addition to the benefits of beta-carotene, carrots are rich sources of potassium, and upping your carrot consumption can really help skin hydration and moisturizing as well as providing a boost to your UV protection. Potassium helps regulate the amount of water in your cells, and not getting enough of this valuable mineral can cause dry skin and other skin disorders.
4. Spinach
As well as the benefits from antioxidants that spinach shares with other fruits and veggies, the vitamin K in spinach can help you if you’re prone to dark circles under your eyes. Dark circles tend to be a result of a lack of sleep, genetics, alcohol and aging. Vitamin K helps to fight this by strengthening blood vessel walls, which helps diminish dark circles. It also keeps your skin clear, reduces skin inflammation and enhances blood circulation.
5. Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts contain vitamin C and antioxidants, but also have the added benefit of silica. Silica plays an important role in skin health. As we age, skin cell renewal slows down and can lose its ability to retain moisture. This leads to dull, saggy or prematurely aged skin. Silica slows the degeneration of the skin down by boosting elastin and collagen.
While these facts (and veggies) might be tough to swallow for some, it really is a strong foundation to healthy skin. Sneak a few of these veggies in to your meals and you will notice the benefits quickly. Thankfully, with the help of Pinterest, these vegetables can be turned into some pretty tasty dishes.
What is your favorite way to incorporate healthy foods into your diet?
