You will know if a person’s skin is healthy not by the way he or she dresses or the jewelry he or she wears or by the cost of skin products they are using, but by the quality of skin they actually have. In order to get a healthy glowing skin, the best way to do is to feed it with foods that have specific components to keep the skin healthy. Below are some of the power foods for your skin’s health.

1.   Almonds

Almonds are actually seeds of the almond tree. But this is not your ordinary seed since it is considered a powerhouse of protein, as well as it is composed of nutrients that are beneficial to overall health. But what do almonds do to the skin? Since almonds contain rich source of antioxidants, just one-fourth cup of the seeds can already provide almost 50 percent of the vitamin E daily value, almonds can help in the removal of toxins, such as skin pollutants, that can help the skin stay healthy and glowing from the inside. As a result of its being an antioxidant, almond can help in the reduction of wrinkles or skin aging characteristics. Moreover, the protein in almonds keeps the skin always healthy.

2. Carrots

   Eat your carrots! That’s what we always hear from our mom. Carrots are well-known for protecting the eyes. In fact, a cup of carrots can already provide the body with 407.6 percent required daily allowance for vitamin A. Added to that are vitamin K, vitamin C, the B-vitamins and several important minerals that are known to function as antioxidant. Being rich in antioxidant makes carrot an effective food for healthy skin. In a study published by Journal Evolution and Human Behavior, foods that are highly rich in carotenoids, such as carrots, are effective in fighting against compounds that can damage skin tissues, causing it to wrinkle and age faster. Eating carrots daily will give that glowing golden colored-skin.

3. Dark chocolate

   Unless with allergy, who can resist that delicious chocolates? But the best in chocolate is the dark one. Although not as tasty as milk chocolate, dark chocolates are very rich in nutrients important for a healthy glowing skin. In the first place, chocolates are rich in flavonols. Flavonols have been known to be an effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Several studies were conducted showing dark chocolate to have large health benefits in the heart, brain and the whole body. The phytonutrients it contains makes the skin healthier, allowing it to function properly by protecting the body from invading microorganisms.

4. Flaxseeds

   The best thing about flaxseeds is its omega-4 fatty acids content. Just two tablespoon of flaxseeds can already provide 132.9 percent of the daily value for omega-3 fatty acid. What more are the various vitamins and minerals that are abundant in the food, such as manganese, vitamin B1, fiber, magnesium and tryptophan. Omega-3 fatty acids alone provide several health benefits. For one, it is effective in promoting health skin cell membrane. With healthy cell membrane, cells are able to hold fluids and nutrients more effectively. With healthy cell membrane, wrinkling of skin is reduced and healthy glowing skin enhanced.

5. Green Tea

   Among the different types of tea in the market, the least processed is the green tea. Because of this, it has the most amounts of catechin, an antioxidant that is known to be responsible for the many health benefits green tea can offer. While green tea does not contain major nutrients compared to other types of food, it is powerful in antioxidant that can help in preventing skin cancer. Studies have shown that green tea causes cell suicides specifically in cancer cells and not in normal cells. Development of skin cancer cells is also arrested because of green tea’s polyphenols. It is found out that the phytonutrients found in the plant, called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (ECGC), works on the keratinocytes of the outer layer of the skin making it stronger and healthy as it could be.

6. Spinach

   Just a cup of spinach can already provide the body with huge amounts of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, B-vitamins, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium and many more.  As a result, spinach provides the skin with huge health benefits especially it’s through its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer health properties. In studies made with human and animal subjects, it showed that there is slowing down of cell division of skin and mucous membrane. When there is slowing down of cell division, inflammatory tendencies are reduced, and development of cancerous cells decreases. This therefore indicates that spinach is indeed excellent source for healthy and glowing skin.

7. Sweet Potatoes

   You will never go wrong with sweet potatoes as a source for getting healthy skin. Not only are sweet potatoes rich in vitamin A (a cup of baked sweet potatoes provide 438 percent of vitamin A RDA), it is also rich in vitamins B3, B5, B6 and C. The root crop is also high in mineral content, such as manganese, potassium, copper, as well as fiber and tryptophan. All these make the food good source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits for the skin. Specifically, sweet potatoes have a protein called sporamins that is stored in the potato and activated for healing when the sweet potato is damaged. This protein is highly significant in the human body’s need for healing the skin. Additionally, sweet potatoes are effective in successful blood clotting through its effect on fibrinogen, a substance responsible for faster healing of the wounds.

8. Tomatoes

   Just like carrots, tomatoes are rich in antioxidant. In fact, tomatoes are considered treasure chest of phytonutrients, especially though its vitamin C content. As a result, tomatoes became popular for the health benefits it provides, such as its support on the cardiovascular system, the protection it provides against cancer and its support on the health of the bone and skin. As an excellent source for skin health, the phytonutrients in tomatoes help in reducing the free radicals and toxins that can cause damage to cells, rendering it looking aged and wrinkled. When the free radicals are reduced, skin becomes tighter and healthier looking.

9. Tuna

   Just 4 oz. of tuna provides the body with huge supply of daily vitamins and minerals. But tuna is widely known for its rich supply of omega-3 fatty acid, and this is actually beneficial for skin health. In one study, persons who have increased intake of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as tuna, are more likely to be protected against sunburn. This is because omega-3 fatty acids can actually help in reducing the inflammation caused by the ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, the common reason for skin cancer development.

Sources
womenshealthmag.com
justalmonds.com
sciencedaily.com
whfoods.org