Some foods are rich in antioxidants such as carotenoids or vitamin E, essential to combat damage caused by the sun and prevent premature aging of the skin.
As Dr. Howard Murad explained, founder of Murad Inc ., In an interview with Glamor magazine, “the skin is a reflection of how you are physically and spiritually.” In many occasions, the development of acne on the skin is also due to problems such as stress or an inadequate lifestyle. Many skin disorders are also often related to poor diet or lack of care.
That is why the professional explains how the proper way to treat the skin is through an “inside out” method. That is, in the first place, it is essential to have a good diet, and then it is also essential to take proper care of the skin. For example, excessive sun without protection, tobacco, sedentary lifestyle, or washing with irritating products can cause the skin to lose its shine and its natural elasticity.
In this sense, it is important to always have the advice of a dermatologist. Only a professional will know how to indicate which products to use in each specific case to maintain radiant skin. Therefore, before applying any product to the skin, check with your doctor.
Next, we focus on developing the main characteristics of 5 foods that can help care for the skin. By maintaining a good lifestyle and eating habits, it is possible to look fresher and healthier.
1. olive oil
The olive oil extra virgin is considered one of the most effective natural moisturizers. By applying it to the skin, it can help enhance its hydration and combat dryness; nourishes and softens without altering the pH.
Specifically, as Pedro Carrillo indicates in a recent investigation, extra virgin olive oil contains vitamin E, which is what gives the oil the preservative property. Being a cellular antioxidant, it slows the aging of cells and consequently of the person himself.
In addition, olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, associated with greater elasticity and firmness of the skin. On the other hand, as a study published in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology points out, the use of a soap made with olive oil can favor the treatment of acne.
2. Tomato for radiant skin
One of the key components of the tomato is the lycopene, a carotenoid (or natural pigment) with properties antioxidant and antiinflammatory. This element is characterized because it protects the skin from sun damage and can also combat the risk of suffering some cardiovascular diseases.
A British study in middle-aged women showed how lycopene helped reduce wrinkle depth in 15 weeks by increasing collagen production in the skin.
It is important to note that cooking the tomato, especially in combination with a healthy fat such as olive oil, increases the absorption of lycopene by the organism.
Other fruits and vegetables such as berries, blackberries or blueberries are also rich in antioxidants and vitamin E. These are compounds that help slow skin aging and combat the damaging effects of the sun.
3. Spinach and other green leafy vegetables
Leafy green vegetables, like spinach, help the skin stay healthy and strong thanks to its content in a substance called lutein. Lutein is a carotenoid with a function similar to that of lycopene, that is, it also protects the skin from damage caused by ultraviolet rays.
Spinach and kale are the richest vegetables in lutein, but Swiss chard or beet or radish leaves also contain a good amount. Furthermore, they are an important source of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant.
4. Almonds
One of the main characteristics of almonds is that they contain a significant amount of vitamin E. Tocopherol or vitamin E is an antioxidant present in many nuts, fruits and vegetables, and especially in almonds.
In this way, the vitamin protects the skin from the damaging effects of the sun and also fights aging.
On the other hand, as has been shown in recent research, vitamin E and polyphenols in almonds appear to have photoprotective effects, that is, they protect the skin from damage by exposure to sunlight.
5. Bluefish
As the professional María Isabel Castro-González shows in her studies, omega 3 essential fatty acids are essential for the body. In addition to protecting us from the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, regular consumption of omega 3 fatty acids can help us combat inflammation and damage caused by exposure of the skin to the sun’s rays, as scientists show in different investigations.
In this sense, fatty bluefish (salmon, herring, sardines or mackerel) is one of the best omega 3 sources that exist. Specifically, salmon also contains astaxanthin, a carotenoid that, combined with collagen, improves elasticity and increases skin hydration.
If you are on a vegetarian diet, it is advisable to incorporate products such as walnuts, flax seeds and chia seeds into your diet, in order to increase the consumption of omega 3 fatty acids and obtain their properties.