5 Foods more Beneficial to your Skin than Chemical Treatment

17 June 2015 Back

5 Foods more Beneficial to your Skin than Chemical Treatment

How many of us have ever had a skin issue, rushed off to the drugstore and hoped to find a miracle in a bottle that didn’t cost an arm and a leg? I bet we’ve all been there and at some point, we’ve all had skin issues that we know have made us desperate to find a solution. If you’ve ever had acne, struggled with discoloration, wrinkles, dry skin, or other skin conditions you know they can be quite disheartening to deal with.

While it might sound superficial to some, our skin health is actually quite important and much more than about appearance. Our skin reflects what is going on internally in our bodies, whether that’s how healthy our diet is, our stress levels, possible toxicity, hormonal imbalances, or more serious health problems. Food allergies often start out as skin abrasions, breakouts, rashes, and even eczema. And while we’re quite comfortable with aging, premature wrinkles and fine lines can actually set in early due to a high sugar and diet high in processed foods. Acne is often a correlation between what we eat and our hormone health—as you can see, our skin health tells a story. What do we want ours to say about our health?

Food is the best medicine you can use to take care of your body—which includes your skin, the largest organ you have. It’s not to be ignored or brushed off. Many foods you can eat daily contribute to great skin; whole foods are a fantastic place to start and don’t have to be expensive.

If you need to pull out the “big guns” though, try using these five foods below.

1. Pumpkin

Lower sugar foods enhance the skin because blood sugar spikes mean insulin spikes, which triggers acne and breakouts, not to mention nasty sweets addictions. Plus, pumpkin contains 4 grams of fiber per serving to keep you full and is very easy to digest. Using pumpkin each day is a great way to get in your vitamin A in a small serving. Vitamin A is nature’s best acne medication—eat it daily and you’ll see results in no time.

2. Camu Camu

This superfood is one of the best natural acne and wrinkle fighters you can use. Containing over 1000 percent of the vitamin C you need each day in just 1 teaspoon, it’s the highest source on Earth! It’s also free of sugar.

Vitamin C fights wrinkles, acne, and internal inflammation; it’s also one of the best to reduce anxiety, pain in the muscles and joints after a workout, and will also help keep your immune system thriving. You’ll notice your skin is clearer all within a few days of using camu camu powder. Remember, you only need a teaspoon a day!

3. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are another wonderful source of beta-carotene that converts to vitamin A in the body. They’re also lower on the glycemic index than white potatoes, so they’re friendly to your blood sugar and won’t cause insulin ups and downs. They also contain trytophan, a calming amino acid that reduces stress which your skin benefits from as a result.

4. Spinach

It’s a food that promotes lean muscle mass, keeps you full, powers your muscles, gives you energy, and yes, it makes your skin glow too! A top source of chlorophyll, spinach is a fantastic option if you’re tired of, or don’t really like, kale.

Spinach is also higher in vitamin E than any other green, which is a powerful antioxidant that softens the skin, fights inflammation, and promotes a healthy level of moistness in the skin.

5. Almonds (or Avocados)

Almonds and avocados are two powerful sources of healthy fats, B vitamins, and vitamin E for the skin. They lubricate the cells which reduces inflammation and aids in collagen production in the body; they also produce healthy hair and nails as a bonus. Almonds contain the added benefits of zinc, biotin, and a higher dose of amino acids which also improves the look over your skin—much more than anti-acne medications and anti-wrinkle creams will.

Source: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/