Incorporate these foods for skin that glows from inside

When it comes to the biggest organ of the body, our skin - It is so important to be thinking about what we are eating and not just what we put on the surface. There are countless skincare and beauty products being promoted, that people forget the power of simple everyday foods and nourishing their body with the essential nutrients it needs. The ultimate goal is to have skin that glows from the inside out. So try incorporating these foods in your diet on a regular basis to swap inflammation, dryness and acne for glowing, radiant and healthy skin!

avocado

Who doesn't love some good smashed avo on toast… Avocados are very high in healthy monounsaturated fats which is going to benefit the health of your skin by keeping it moisturised and protected from the inside out and reducing inflammation. Avocados also contain vitamin E which is a good antioxidant. When you are exposed to pollutants or in the process of metabolising certain foods, free radicals are produced by the body and cause damage to our cells, including your skin cells. Vitamin E will help prevent this damage from occurring by neutralising these highly reactive substances.

Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are an amazing source of beta-carotene which your body converts to vitamin A once you eat it. About 100 grams of baked sweet potato contains a huge three times the recommended daily intake of vitamin A! Vitamin A, as well as being another great antioxidant, is required for cell production and growth so increasing your intake may help with increasing healthy skin cell production.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds also known as pepitas, are packed full of zinc, a mineral required for over 300 different chemical processes in the body! Zinc is an essential nutrient for skin health as it protects cell membranes, regulates hormone production, helps in collagen maintenance and promotes skin renewal. Enjoy them as a snack, sprinkle them on porridge in the mornings or add them to your granola. Zinc is also required to release vitamin A from the liver, so zinc in combination with vitamin A is particularly effective.

CHIA SEEDS

Chia seeds are also a great seed to incorporate for skin health due to its high omega-3 fatty acid and fiber content! Omega-3 is a powerful anti-inflammatory nutrient, so really beneficial for people who suffer with inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis and eczema by inhibiting arachidonic acid, leukotrine B4 and prostaglandin E2. Omega's also help in managing sebum production therefore preventing clogged pores. As well as helping to maintain hydration and reduce premature aging. Another reason I love chia seeds for skin is in addition to the healthy fats, chia seeds are a fantastic source of fiber. Fiber aids in detoxification processes.  It does this by binding to the toxins, helping to get rid of them by encouraging regular bowel movements. I love putting a tea spoon in my water bottle sometimes, or chia pudding makes a delicious breakfast, snack and even dessert.

WATER

I know, I know — boring, but our bodies are made up of more than 65 percent water and people underestimate how important water is for healthy functioning of our bodies. I really like to think about this at a cellular level, you want to hydrate each individual cell so it is nice and full and plump! Not shriveled and dry from being dehydrated. Not only this, water is essential for flushing out toxins. If the body can't do this, a build up will start occurring and may begin coming out in your skin causing congestion and lack luster looking skin.

Aim for 2 liters every day especially if you are upping your fiber intake! If plain water is too bland for you, you could always incorporate some herbal tea or add some fresh fruit to spruce things up. Some of my favourite combinations are strawberry and mint and lemon and cucumber — yum.

Need extra personalised support to get to the bottom of your skin concerns for good? Book a consultation or free discovery call with our Naturopath.