Beauty Tips for Your Skin Found Right in Your Refrigerator

November is National Healthy Skin Month – who knew!  Possibly in preparation for the cold winter months ahead, the American Academy of Dermatology has designated November as the month to increase awareness of how you can keep your skin healthy, fresh and hydrated. 

 I’ve always been a firm believer in the saying “you are what you eat.”  When you take care of your body it shows on the outside and boosts your confidence. Consumers spend countless amounts of money on products that claim to remove signs of aging and turn back the hands of time.  Don’t get me wrong, a good skin regime is essential but there are natural ways to get youthful looking skin (at low cost) and it can be found right in your refrigerator!  Making a habit of these skin beauty tips can help improve your skins elasticity as well as keep it hydrated.   

Stock up on vitamins- from your food!

Dermatologists believe the major antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E) can help decrease the risk of sun damage by disarming ‘wrinkle causing’ free radicals (molecules that damage cells). 

• Vitamin A: Your mother was right when she told you to finish your carrots at dinner!  Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, butternut squash, and spinach are top sources of the antioxidant beta-carotene (which your body converts to vitamin A).  Vitamin A regulates cell production and turnover to keep the skins surface smooth.  It also aids in protection against sun damage.

• Vitamin C enhances the production of collagen, which is the skin’s support structure and assists with wound healing.  It is also an excellent detoxifier, flushing out toxins and free radicals and essentially retaining elasticity of the skin.  Vitamin C can be found in many fruits and vegetables.  Some of the top sources are found in oranges, strawberries, kiwis, red and green peppers, cantaloupes, tomato-vegetable juice, broccoli, mangoes, orange juice, grapefruit juice, grapefruit, cauliflower, and kale.

• Vitamin E is a great skin conditioner which revitalizes the skin making it soft and supple.  This vitamin also aids in eliminating free radicals in the body.  Foods rich in vitamin E are vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, olive, and spinach.

• Vitamin B helps the skin to retain moisture.  Many lotions containing vitamin B complex helps to keep the skin looking youthful.  Natural foods containing vitamin B are whole grain products, eggs, milk, brown rice, legumes, cereals, and potatoes.  Whole grain foods can also help to clear skin. 

• Vitamin K is one of the most effective vitamins to improve skin elasticity.  It also helps healing wrinkles, imperfections, and spider veins on skin.  High sources of vitamin K are found in green vegetables, soybeans, lentils, spinach, cabbage, chicken, and egg yolks. 

Omega-3 fatty acids fight against inflammation in the body usually caused by sun or stress.  Inflammation produces free radicals, which then work to destroy collagen.  Studies still need to be done on the direct relationship between omega-3s anti-inflammatory component and youthful looking skin.  However, studies do show that people who consumed more fish and vegetables over their life had fewer wrinkles.  Omega-3 fatty acids may also help to protect against sun damage.  Top food sources of omega-3s include fatty fish, ground flaxseed, walnuts, and brands of eggs that are higher in omega-3s. 

Iron and zinc can help to give your skin a youthful glow.  Zinc contributes to cell renewal and natural shedding of cells, which keeps dullness to a minimum.  Iron is needed by red blood cells to carry oxygen to skin helping to give you a glow.  These minerals can be found in fortified cereal, lean meat, pork, poultry, and oysters.   

Drink plenty of water!  Skin cells are mostly made up of water so if you are dehydrated it will show through on the surface of your skin.  Dehydrated skin may be dry, itchy, or have a tight feeling to the skin.  Good hydration plays a major role in keeping skin looking healthy and young.  Water has many benefits for our body and helps cells to transport nutrients in and toxins out.  Aim for 8 glasses a day.

Following these simple tips can help give you radiant youthful looking skin!

 What do you do to keep your skin looking its best?

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