Top 10 Foods for Good Skin

Over at ProSkin we, of course, love the treatments we offer, but we also believe in other forms of wellbeing to help you feel like the best ‘you’ possible. With the cold weather finally leaving us, we want our skin look as glowing as possible for summer.

Here are our top food for good skin that will have you glowing all year round…

SWEET POTATOES

Key ingredient: Beta-carotene

The orange hue of these spuds doesn’t just look pretty on your dinner plate; the pigment responsible for it is also the secret to the vegetable’s complexion benefits, which are to improve wrinkles and skin dullness. Once inside the body, Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A, which keeps skin soft and smooth while curbing inflammation and slaying free radicals.

KALE

Key ingredient: Vitamin C

Think fresh orange juice is your best source of vitamin C? Think again. Cup for cup, kale has the edge, so tuck into this cruciferous vegetable if you’re concerned about premature aging. A diet high in vitamin C is also associated with less dryness and fewer noticeable wrinkles.

SPINACH

Key ingredient: Vitamins C & E and Beta-carotene

Spinach delivers a triple dose of wrinkle-fighting antioxidants with these key ingredients. All three work to protect your skin from the sun’s aging UV rays, but yes, you still need to wear sunscreen!

CHIA SEEDS

Key Ingredient: Omega 3

These little guys are packed with protein, fibre, and loads of omega-3s, which reduce inflammation. They’re a pretty good diet tool, too: Since they absorb up to ten times their weight in water, they keep you feeling fuller longer.

BELL PEPPERS

Key Ingredient: Vitamin C

They come in the same colors that gummy bears do—red, orange, yellow, and green—but that’s not why bell peppers are the stars of the crudités platter. Spiked with vitamin C, they amplify collagen production for healthy hair and skin.

ALMONDS

Key ingredient: Flavonoids & Vitamin E

Almonds can help ward off damaging free radicals and have been said to even oxidative damage caused by smoking. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which helps in preventing cell damage and also helps in preventing the damage caused by the sun’s rays. Almond milk is also rich in proteins and vitamins and helps hydrate and soften the skin.

BLUEBERRIES

Key ingredient: Anthocyanins (antioxidants)

It’s blueberries that could save you a trip to the dermatologist’s office. Blueberries currently rank number one in antioxidant activity – which means they’re the prime bodyguard to defend you from the free radicals that cause wrinkles and sagging skin.

TOMATOES

Key ingredient: Lycopene

Lycopene helps prevent sunburn and UV radiation damage, and it’s found in higher concentrations in tomatoes than in almost any other food. The best sources are the cooked form (tomato paste and sauce); their lycopene content is four times easier for the body to absorb than that of fresh tomatoes. Again, you still need to wear sunscreen!

PUMPKIN SEEDS

Key ingredient: Zinc

Essential to more body functions than any other mineral, zinc is a stealth beauty multitasker, accelerating the healing of wounds and building elastic tissue. Lack of zinc in your diet may lead to symptoms such as acne, eczema, hair shedding or white spots on your fingernails.

DARK CHOCOLATE

Key Ingredient: Flavonol

We won’t judge you if you keep a secret stash of chocolate in your purse or desk (or both). In fact, we recommend you do — especially if you’re willing to share. Dark chocolate helps skin stay hydrated and protects skin from sun damage, and contrary to popular belief, chocolate does not cause acne. Before you make a mad dash to the shops though, keep in mind that the best kind of chocolate should be at least 60 percent cacao.