There’s nothing wrong with a trip to
Sephora or any other cosmetic store when you want to freshen up your look, but
to really look your best you might want to consider a stop at market too.
Research has found that certain foods can give you healthy, younger-looking
skin and healthier hair.
What to Eat
Research has found that there is a definite
link between your diet and your skin. From making your skin healthy to protecting
it from sun damage, what you eat can certainly impact how your skin looks. The
following will give you an idea of what foods to add to your grocery list so
that you can get the glowing skin that you’re after.
Orange and yellow fruits and veggies
Fruits and vegetables that
are orange and yellow contain beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant and source
of vitamin A. It’s been shown that antioxidants protect our cells from damage
caused by free radicals, which have been linked to the aging process. The vitamin A you get from beta-carotene is
also crucial for the production of an oily substance called sebum, which is
created by the hair’s sebaceous glands to condition your hair and scalp.
With too little of it your
scalp would be itchy and dry and your skin brittle and lifeless. You can get
high amounts of beta-carotene from carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin,
cantaloupe, apricots, and oranges. A good rule of thumb when shopping for your
produce: the more intense the color is, the more beta-carotene it contains.
Leafy greens
You can never go wrong
with eating more leafy greens because of the impact they have on your overall
health as well as your appearance. Leafy greens contain high levels of an
anti-oxidant that also belongs to the category of carotenoids like
beta-carotene, called lutein. It works the same way on your skin by protecting
the cells from damage from free radicals. It’s been found to protect the skin
as well as the eyes from UV damage; not as a substitution for sunscreen though.
They also contain high amounts of fiber, folic acid iron, and other nutrients
known to promote healthy hair growth. You can get the highest sources of lutein
from leafy green vegetables, such as kale, spinach, and collard greens.
Non-leafy sources of lutein include peas and leeks.
