5 Foods for Your Beauty
If you're like me, after a long, harsh winter, your skin is dry and in need of some exfoliating and moisturizing. You probably know that you can go to any store and find a lot of skin products that will help you achieve smooth skin radiating with a healthy glow. But did you know that eating certain foods can give you that healthy, glowing skin? Some of these beauty-enhancing foods include strawberries, asparagus, lemons, shiitake mushrooms, and kumquats.
Strawberries
Strawberries not only are delicious but can also protect your skin against wrinkles, cardiovascular disease, and immune system deficiencies. Strawberries also contain more vitamin C than oranges, but be sure to eat these berries quickly—their vitamin C content decreases rapidly.
Asparagus
Asparagus is a great source of vitamins A and C, which protect and strengthen your hair, skin, and nails. This green veggie is also rich in iron, which is essential for proper blood circulation. Blood carries nutrients to your cells, helping your skin look vibrant.
Lemons
If you're feeling a bit puffy and dry, your sodium level may be too high. But don't worry—a glass of warm lemon water will help remove the extra sodium from your body. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, folate, fiber, and potassium, all of which are good for your skin. For example, potassium helps regulate the water in your cells and therefore can help prevent your skin from becoming dry.
Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms may be wrinkly, but they won't make your skin look that way. Eating these magic mushrooms is a great way to get enough vitamin D. This vitamin boosts skin elasticity and collagen, which minimize wrinkles. Shiitake mushrooms also contain the mineral selenium, which increases the antioxidant activity of vitamins C and E.
Kumquats
Though kumquats are low in calories, these small fruits are loaded with vitamin C and other antioxidants, which can enhance your overall skin health, reduce hyperpigmentation, and stimulate collagen production. To get the most benefits from kumquats, eat them with the peel left on since that's where most of the fiber is.
I don't know about you, but I definitely plan on adding more of these foods to my diet. Why not enjoy their deliciousness and also reap the benefits to your body, both inside and out? I'm looking forward to the glowing, healthy skin these foods will help me achieve! What other foods do you enjoy eating that also enhance your beauty?
References
Lansdown, A. B. "Iron: A Cosmetic Constituent but an Essential Nutrient for Healthy Skin."
McEvoy, Kara. "Nutritional Values of Kumquats."
Morton, Julia F. "Lemon."
Patterson, James. "Why Low Potassium Causes Skin Problems."
Stein, Natalie. "Selenium and Vitamin C."
Verhoff, Natalie. "Selenium and Vitamin C."
Asparagus and shiitake mushroom images courtesy of SheKnows.com.
I get a lot of compliments on my skin and people think that I am 10 to 15 years younger than I am. I attribute this to keeping sun exposure on my face to a minimum, and as well as drinking lots of water, skim milk and eating salmon and broccoli regularly.
Thanks for the great tips Carol!
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