The Best Foods for Healthy Skin!

A balanced diet is essential for healthy, vibrant skin. The good news is that the foods that happen to be good for your skin are also good for your overall health.

When you here the word “antioxidant” what comes to mind? Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage can lead to chronic disease. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals might otherwise cause. Examples of antioxidants include beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamins C, E, and A, and other substances.

Because there are many different types of antioxidants that can protect your tissues from different types of damage, it is best to eat a wide range of antioxidant-rich foods. How much you benefit from the antioxidants found in the foods you eat depends on how well you breakdown and absorb these foods. One of the best ways of making sure that you are getting plenty of antioxidants in your diet is to strive to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants are plentiful in plant foods, particularly those that have bright colours. I’ve included leafy greens in this list because they  provide a variety of phytonutrients including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage.

The following is a list of antioxidant-rich foods:

• Leafy green vegetables (kale, collards, spinach, dandelion, swiss chard, romaine)

• Small red beans

• Wild blueberries

• Red kidney beans, dried

• Pinto beans

• Blueberries, cultivated

• Cranberries

• Artichoke hearts, cooked

• Blackberries

• Dried prunes

• Raspberries

• Strawberries

• Red delicious apple

• Granny Smith apple

• Pecans

• Sweet cherries

• Black plum

• Russet potato, cooked

• Black beans

• Plum

• Gala apple

There are many foods that if eaten regularly as part of an overall well-balanced diet will benefit the skin. However, some foods are better than others and eating these foods that I’ve listed will provide your skin with the extra nutrients required to boost your skin’s health and give you that great complexion you’ve always wanted.

This article was contribute by our in-house esthetician, Tracy Neely. You can learn more about her and her services at www.nourishandflourish.com.