*Courtesy of Colleen McNeil, Pink Penguin Photos
I love to eat. What I don’t love is aging skin. What better way to keep my skin healthier and younger looking than eating…?
Most of us already know about the common anti-aging powerhouse foods, such as salmon, avocados, olive oil, walnuts, almonds- you know, all those foods with Omega 3 fatty acids. While these lipids are fantastic for almost every part of our bodies, they’re not all-inclusive of skin-helping nutrients. So, here are a few that many of us may not know are skin-friendly!
Oatmeal
This is one of those fiber-rich foods that I eat almost every day. I’ve liked oatmeal ever since I was a kid, and it’s one good habit that I’ve never given up! According to dermatologist Debra Jaliman, M.D., oatmeal contains a natural plant chemical that not only soothes irritation, but helps prevent damage to skin cells (Jennings, 2017).
Watermelon
Okay, so most of us know that tomatoes are a good source of lycopene. But, researchers believe that watermelon contains 40% more of this phytochemical than tomatoes! This is equivalent to an SPF 3, and is a good way to supplement your sun protection (Stepko, 2017).
Oranges
We all know about citrus fruits being a good ingredient in topical skincare products (particularly lemons), but they’re also good for eating. Oranges are an excellent source of Vitamin C, which is great for stimulating collagen production. The water content also helps keep cells hydrated (Jennings, 2017).
*Courtesy of Colleen McNeil, Pink Penguin Photos
Coffee
Who knew this was good for your skin? According to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, a cup of joe has bioactive compounds that may help protect your skin from melanoma. Over a 10-year period of time, those drinking four or more cups a day had a 20% lower risk of getting the disease (Stepko, 2017).
Onions
I’m so glad I like onions- they’re rich in quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that protects our skin against wrinkles (goodbye, elevens!), which explains why I’ve seen them in some skincare products. They’ll also help protect against harmful UVB rays, so eat up (Prevention, 2013).
*Courtesy of Beth A.
Black Tea
Most of us know of the health benefits from green tea, but black tea fights free radicals. You can drink it, or you can apply the leaves directly to your skin (Cruel, 2015). It looks like my grandpa and grandma had the right idea when they had tea time every afternoon. But, this doesn’t mean you get to guzzle gallons of the sweetened stuff!
Lobster
Omg, I’m so happy to know this, since I love me some lobster! This shellfish is rich in zinc, which has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help prevent a range of annoying skin problems, such as acne (Stepko, 2017).
It always excites me to find “surprise” foods that are beneficial for a reason that didn’t occur to me before. Especially when those foods aren’t liver or kale…lol! The best part is that I don’t have to feel so guilty any more about that coffee or lobster!
On a side note, make sure not to over-indulge on the fruits! Just because they have skin-loving ingredients doesn’t give us free license to pig out- they still have tons of sugar, and sugar is still sugar no matter where it comes from. Eat these in moderation, in conjunction with a healthy balance of other nutrients.
Do you have any fave foods for fab skin? Scroll down to comment below!
*Photo Information
Well, I had all my photos for this post, except coffee. Jerry only had a few K-cups left, and I didn’t want to brew one just for a photo since I have no idea when I’ll be going to the store. So, my uncle, Patrick McNeil, took notice and fulfilled my social media request with some photos from my cousin, Colleen McNeil. My tea photo was just in a plain red cup since my only other options were a Star Trek mug, or my John Deere mug…lol! My friend, Beth A., hooked me up with a photo of her grandma’s china. Many thanks to them all for coming to my rescue and making this post much better! Check out my cousin’s photos on her Facebook page, Pink Penguin Photos. You can reach her at pinkpenguinlandscapes@outlook.com.
Sources:
Cruel, J. (2015). Why tea is the sneaky ingredient to brighter, better skin. Health. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from www.health.com.
Jennings, K. (2017). Skin care tips to get the glow. WebMD. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from www.webmd.com.
Prevention (2013). 8 foods for seriously pretty skin. Prevention. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from www.prevention.com.
Stepko, B. (2017). 10 foods that make you look younger. Health. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from www.health.com.
