(Published in The Observer on Sunday, 11 March, 2012)
http://www.compasscayman.com/observer/2012/03/11/Eat-your-way-to-better-skin/
The benefits of a healthy diet have long been touted to improve your overall health. But, did you know that a healthy diet can also help prevent aging too and improve the overall condition of your skin? It seems that beauty really does come from within.
Complexion boosting foods rich in antioxidants can help give you smoother more radiant skin by providing the body with essential vitamins and nutrients to help fight off wrinkles and boost collagen production. Here are a few foods which you can easily add to your daily diet to help you put your best face forward.
Oranges : Vitamin C serums are huge in the skincare world right now and for good reason too. Vitamin C helps combat wrinkles and gives your skin a smoother, radiant look. An orange a day really could help keep the wrinkles away. Other fruits rich in vitamin C include papaya and kiwis.
Blueberries: Are rich in antioxidants which can help your skin combat environmental aggressors. Sprinkle a handful on your morning cereal to give your skin a boost.
Red wine: Contains resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that comes from the skins of grape, which helps prevent skin cells from aging. Vintners add the grape skins back to make red wine, but they don’t do the same process for white wine—so white wine has no resveratrol benefit.
Oysters: Better known for their aphrodisiac qualities, oysters are a great anti aging food too. Oysters are packed with zinc, which helps with skin renewal and repair. Romantic and anti aging? Pass the shucker.
Salmon: Is rich in omega-3, a fatty acid which is a known to help prevent moisture loss in the skin. It also helps decrease skin damage caused by UV light and has also been shown to contribute to wound healing because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
Tomatoes: These super fruits are rich in Lycopene, which protects skin from the oxidation that results from sun damage and leads to wrinkles. Drizzling tomatoes with a little healthy fat like olive oil helps you better absorb the lycopene, as does cooking or chopping this red fruit.
Wheat germ: May not be the tastiest super food in the world but it is packed with vitamin B, which helps to support rapid cell division, which slows down as we age. Sprinkle some over your morning cereal to do wonders for your skin.
Joanna Lewis 