Superfoods for Glowing Skin

We all want that super glowing flawless skin yet how many of us are willing to change our eating habits to achieve it?

Our body doesn’t recognize calories or portion sizes but it is aware of phytochemicals, enzymes, nutrients and hormone balance. It’s as simple as that! Give these miracle foods a chance to make you glow from within!

Fish

Fish that are high in omega 3 fatty acids have incredible beauty benefits, including glowing skin and shiny strands. About three percent of the hair shaft is made up of omega-3 fatty acids. They’re found in cell membranes on your scalp and in the natural oils that keep your scalp and hair hydrated. While salmon is usually the superstar choice, Sardines and mackerel are also good for O3.

Red Bell Pepper

Did you know that red peppers contain far more skin-boosting vitamin C than oranges? ‘Vitamin C is a pre-cursor to collagen production and is also an antioxidant. When light hits your skin, it creates free radicals. These bounce around inside your skin and lead to DNA damage, which turns into aging.’ The antioxidants attach themselves to free radicals and neutralize them so that they can’t do damage. Loading up on red peppers will help keep your skin younger-looking.

Spinach

Not only does spinach give you strength, but it’s also a major anti-ager. It is rich in beta carotene, which converts into the powerful anti-aging vitamin A. This nutrient is crucial for allowing proper moisture retention to the epidermis, helping to prevent wrinkles and remove dead skin. For premium absorption, pair spinach with a food that’s high in vitamin C. Try a squeeze of lemon in a homemade dressing drizzled over a spinach salad.

Coconut

The water from coconuts is a great natural hydration aid and contains potassium, an electrolyte that helps move nutrients into our cells. Coconut oil, which is high in healthy fats, vitamins E and K and minerals, is one of the best natural nutrients for your hair, boosting growth and shine by moisturizing the scalp. It’s also highly effective in reducing protein loss when used as a pre-wash conditioning treatment ‘protein loss can leave strands weak and prone to damage. You can also try swapping vegetable oil for coconut oil when cooking ‘it has a high smoke point, which means it’s great for high-heat cooking.

Avocado Oil

We all got the message about the benefits of eating whole avocados; now it’s the oil that’s getting all the attention. Avocados contain good amounts of vitamins A, D and E and omega-9 fatty acids ‘one of the building blocks of healthy skin’, which is highly concentrated in the oil. All of these nutrients help to even out skin tone over time when added to your diet regularly. Avocado oil has a high smoke point, so it’s versatile enough to use when sautéing or roasting veggies or as a drizzle on a cold summer salad.

Eggs

Whether you enjoy them sunny side up for breakfast or boiled and sliced cold over a green salad, eggs are serious healthy-hair helpers. One of their key ingredients is sulfur, an essential nutrient that helps with everything from vitamin B absorption to liver function (your body’s detox organ). Sulfur is also necessary for the production of collagen and keratin, which help create and maintain shiny locks, strong nails and glowing skin.

Garlic

Truly one of nature’s best medicines, garlic also helps prevent breakouts and maintain clear skin. To make the most of its naturally antibiotic compounds, it’s best to crush or chop garlic and leave it on the cutting board for a few minutes before cooking.

Walnuts

These nuts have omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which help the body retain moisture, giving your mane a healthy-looking shine. The protein content of the walnuts helps boost hair follicles, making hair fuller and stronger.

Tomatoes

Greens

All greens are great for our health, but collard greens are one of the most underappreciated. They are extremely high in vitamin C, a major antioxidant that fights toxins (just one cup of collards provides 70 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C).

Sadia Salman:

Sadia Salman is a certified nutritionist from Tufts University, USA and the CEO of Diet by Design(Int’l). She has over seven years of experience in treating patients with various health issues through food both in Pakistan and in Canada. Most of her work is on managing diseases like hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes etc through weight management. She believes in building a healthy community by educating the masses in any capacity that she can.