You know that the foods you eat affect your health. Specifically, what you consume can make or break your hair and skin. The wrong foods can dry out your skin while leaving your hair lank and lusterless. A healthy diet of foods with essential fatty acids, vitamins, and nutrients leads to a glowing complexion and a stunning mane of hair. Here are a few of the foods that deserve a place in your daily diet.
Eat All the Avocados
Good news, millennials. Eating avocados is more than a trend. It’s a surefire way to boost the health of your hair and skin, as well. The high quantity of healthy fats in every avocado results in smooth, silky skin. Trust us, you’ll feel like you bathed in avocado. Just as the fruit makes your skin more flexible and moisturizes it from within, it softens and strengthens your hair, as well. Indulge in that extra slice of avocado toast without an ounce of guilt. Tell people that it’s part of your beauty regimen.
Boost Your Blueberry Intake
According to the Department of Agriculture, no other fruit or vegetable has nearly as many antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential for fighting the signs of age, you know. Blueberries are also high in vitamin C, which firms and strengthens your skin. It ramps up your collagen production, too. Those benefits are more than enough to convince you to throw a handful of blueberries into your smoothie or on top of your oatmeal. You can even look for skincare products that contain blueberries.
Get Those Greens
Forget about eating lettuce in your salad. You can put the kale craze in your rearview mirror, too, unless you genuinely like the stuff. Replace both with spinach, or at least add it to your daily diet to amp up the look of flawless skin. Spinach is rich in antioxidants, too, not to mention lutein, a must-have for bright, healthy eyes.
More than anything, spinach is a powerhouse of vitamins and nutrients. It’s a can’t-miss source of Vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. The leafy green veggie is also full of calcium, iron, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and potassium. Who needs lettuce?
Introduce Red Bell Peppers into Your Diet
To reap the benefits of vitamin C, you need to start munching on red bell peppers. They contain even more vitamin C than citrus fruits, including oranges. Remember, vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen. A diet that includes a steady influx of gorgeous red bell peppers ensures that your skin won’t age. Turns out it’s not the Fountain of Youth, after all; it’s the Pepper of Youth.
Feast on Fatty Fish
No-Meat Monday is great, but include fatty fish in your meal plans throughout the rest of the week. Herring, mackerel, and salmon are full of omega-3 fatty acids. They’re vital for keeping your skin healthy, supple, and hydrated from within. Anytime you notice your skin drying out, check your diet first. Salameh Skin Care makes the point that the secret to relieving dry, flaky skin is what you put in your body, not on your body. Those omega-3s are must-haves for moisture.
The healthy fats in omega-3s have a positive effect on inflammation, too. Eating fatty fish may reduce acne and other blemishes, as well as any redness in your complexion. Vitamin E also helps to shield your skin from damage caused by free radicals and UV rays.
Snack on Walnuts
The next time you need a snack, reach for the walnuts. Dermatology Practical & Conceptual advises on the importance of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, and linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid for hair growth and strength. They’re both polyunsaturated essential fatty acids. It just so happens that walnuts are chock-full of both. Why not pair them up with the next pick?
Indulge in Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is sublime. It’s decadent, rich, and good for you! What could be better? Dark chocolate is full of flavonoids, which protect the skin from free radicals and UV rays. They fight against fine lines, wrinkles, and an uneven complexion. The Journal of Nutrition is all about chocolate consumption. They published a study suggesting that you can drink a dark chocolate beverage for hydrated skin that’s not as sensitive to sun exposure.
Do you eat healthy fruits and vegetables as part of your beauty regimen? Let us know your favorites so that we can benefit from them, too!
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