The best foods to eat for your skin, and why.
I am often put off by these articles, simply because after reading, most of the ingredients listed are nowhere to be found in my everyday supermarket. So, I have made sure that each and every one of these vitamins and minerals can be located super easily!
Why should we eat these? Our skins cells are constantly shedding older cells and replacing themselves with younger ones, and this can be tough to keep up with. Whilst your body does this all by itself, it could certainly use a little extra help from you to support this rapid growth.
So, here’s what we should be pumping into our body and a list of necessities on your lockdown shopping list – and don’t worry – they are all simple, easy-to-find supermarket foods!
- Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a super antioxidant which means it is perfect for helping blemishes heal as well as promoting radiant skin. It also aids the body in producing collagen, helping strengthen capillaries and keeping your skin plump.
What to eat? Blackcurrants, blueberries, broccoli. kiwi, oranges, strawberries and sweet potatoes
- Selenium
Don’t worry, I’m not getting all fancy on you. This amazing antioxidant can still be found in your everyday food and it is essential to support the immune system. It has been suggested that foods rich in selenium help protect against skin cancer and sun damage!
What to eat? Brazil nuts, fish, eggs, tomatoes and broccoli.
- Vitamin E
We have all heard of this little wonder, but why do you need it? This beauty of a vitamin is key for helping cell production, and helps damaged cells repair – supporting healthier skin growth.
What to eat? Almonds, avocado, hazelnuts, pine nuts, and sunflower oil.
- Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated Fats
These guys are Vitamin E’s best friends. Together they improve elasticity within the skin by using the natural fats as a moisturiser and maintain your skin’s suppleness.
What to eat? Avocados, oily fish, nuts and seeds.
- Omega-3 and Omega-6
We have all heard of these two buddies, a lot of people even take supplements for them! They are super essential fatty acids that encourage the body to produce anti-inflammatory compounds, which is great news for anyone out there with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis!
What to eat? Oily fish (such as salmon), chia seeds, walnuts, rapeseed oil.
- Phyto-Oestrogens
“Phyto” – coming from the Greek word plant, these are found in certain plant-based foods. They are natural chemicals that are very similar to the female sex hormone, “oestrogen”, and help keep our natural hormones in balance (totally need this in my life)!!
What to eat? Soybeans (or any soy bean product), sesame seeds, oats, barley, spinach, carrots, apples, pomegranates, lentils, beans, mint and even coffee – there is a god!
- Zinc
This amazing mineral helps to repair skin damage as well as keeping the skin soft and supple. This is because it has a role in helping the sebaceous glands function, which produce oil in the skin.
What to eat? Fish, lean red meat, wholegrains, poultry, nuts, seeds, shellfish.
Now, I don’t know about you but most of the foods suggested here are items that would usually be on my shopping list! But my summertime activities have got me eating too much of the wrong foods. This has definitely helped me to make slight changes on my next visit to the supermarket, I hope it has helped you too!