18 Oct Five Foods for Healthier Skin

There’s a well-known saying that goes, “You are what you eat.” This is especially true when it comes to skincare.  You might have a daily routine, but some of the things that you’re eating could be working against it. Caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and fast food are just a few culprits. Nonetheless, there are plenty of foods that will help you get the results you want. So here’s five food items to include in your diet for healthier skin.

1. Cooked Tomatoes

The greatest benefit that tomatoes offer is their abundance of lycopene. It’s the compound that gives them their red hue. For humans, it prevents the breakdown of collagen (a protein that makes skin flexible), and it also helps with protecting our skin from the sun.

In a British study, participants who ate a lycopene-rich diet experienced up to 33% more protection from sun damage than the control group. To get the most lycopene out of tomatoes, try cooking them in a fat such as extra virgin olive oil. Regardless, eating tomatoes everyday is no substitute for sunblock.

2. Bell Peppers

Vitamin C is great for many reasons, one of which is helping your body create collagen. So why are bell peppers on this list and not oranges? The difference in vitamin concentration is staggering. On average, an orange contains about 69.7 mg of vitamin C. Green bell peppers on the other hands contain 120 mg, and red bell peppers have about 190 mg. On top of that, bell peppers have less sugar than oranges. 

3. Dark Chocolate

Fans of this treat can finally rejoice. There’s another reason to enjoy dark chocolate besides its rich flavor. Cocoa has been found to have many health benefits. It can increase blood circulation to capillaries in the the outermost layer of skin. This helps get oxygen and nutrients to the epidermis which protects against dehydration and sunburn. To get such benefits, make sure the chocolate you get is about 70% cocoa.

4. Oysters

Zinc can pretty much be found in any meat. However, oysters are probably the greatest natural source zinc you can find. When compared per pound, oysters tend to have 6 times more zinc than other meats. Research has shown that zinc is pretty effective in killing acne causing bacteria. It also has been shown to reduce inflammatory responses which makes acne red and painful. 

5. Green Tea

You may have heard the term “antioxidants” thrown around a lot. To understand what they are, you have to understand free radicals. Free radicals are atoms with unpaired electrons. They can form in our bodies from exercise, sunlight, pollution, alcohol, and a variety of other reasons. What happens next is that it will “search” for an electron to steal from another atom. When this happens, another free radical is formed and the chain continues. This long chain of reactions can cause damage in living tissue. 

Green tea is a beverage that’s dense in antioxidants. Antioxidants give these free radicals the electron they want. This prevents them from stealing electrons from the atoms which make up your cells. On top of this, there have been studies that have suggested that green tea has antibacterial properties as well.

Skincare is a Lifestyle

Maintaining healthy, youthful skin requires a holistic approach. It’s about having a routine, watching your sun exposure, getting proper treatments, what you eat, and beyond. The most efficient way to get the results that you want is by consulting a skin care specialist. At Skin Deep, we don’t only provide treatments, but we’ll also get you on track on maintaining a routine based on your particular needs.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment. It all begins with healthy skin.