Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Top 5 Foods for Healthy Skin


Looking for a healthy skin boost? Try out these power-packed foods!

#1- Almonds
Almonds are a great source of Vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects your body from UV-induced free radical damage to the skin. Vitamin E has been shown to have anti-inflammatory roles in the skin and helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.  When combined with Vitamin A, Vitamin E has been shown to protect against skin cancer.
**Try out almond butter for a quick snack!

#2- Flaxseed
Flaxseed is a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which help to reduce inflammation in the body and promote healthy-looking skin. Omega-3s have been studied as a wrinkle fighter, due to their ability to attract water to skin cells and plump up the skin.
**Add some flaxseed to your next smoothie! 

#3- Cooked Tomatoes
Cooked tomatoes contain the phytochemical, Lycopene, which helps to eliminate skin-aging free radicals (cause by UV-rays). Lycopene improves skin’s texture by stabilizing the DNA structure in the nucleus of skin cells. Lycopene also inhibits the activity of the enzymes involved in collagen breakdown, thus, strengthening skin.
**Add tomatoes to a stir-fry!

#4- Spinach
Spinach is a great source of Folate (Vitamin B9), which is needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver function. Folate helps to repair and maintain DNA, which will boost your skin cells’ ability to renew themselves (decreases look of aging). 
**Try a spinach salad for lunch! 

#5- Tuna
Tuna contains the antioxidant, Selenium, which helps to buffer the skin against the sun. Selenium also helps to preserve elastin, a protein that that keeps your skin smooth and wrinkle-free.
**Add tuna to a salad or stir-fry!

Looking for ways to incorporate these skin-boosting foods? Try out the Spinach Salad below!

Spinach Salad
Mix 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp. lemon juice, 1 tsp. flaxseed, 1 clove garlic, salt and pepper in a small saucepan and heat until warm. Drizzle over 6 cups of baby spinach. Top with 1 can of tuna, ½ medium tomato (diced), and sliced almonds.





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