-->

Friday, August 23, 2013

7 Secret Foods Giving You Gorgeous Skin

Looking for natural ways to improve your skin and place the cosmetics on the back burner?  Here are a few foods to get you what you want in your complexion and save you money when you may need it.  A lot of the foods listed below can be combined throughout recipes during your day, giving your skin a natural regimen to enjoy everyday while being a convenient and easy-to-follow system for you.

1. Pumpkin Seeds 

If you're only eating pumpkin seeds in October, you're missing out. Loaded with zinc, vitamin E, sulfur, and omega-3 fats, the seeds heal, nourish, restore, and hydrate the skin. They can also repair blemish marks when you've had a breakout. 
The Quick and Easy: Eat pumpkin seeds raw because their delicate fats are destroyed when exposed to too much heat. Toss them into an arugula salad, add a tablespoon of pumpkin seeds to a smoothie, or simply snack on them.
2. Papaya 
You've probably used papaya in a facial scrub, but are you eating it, too? Papaya is not only an exfoliant, but also a Vitamin C serum.  Containing two days' worth of vitamin C, which helps to brighten and tighten skin. papaya is packed with vitamin A compounds, which regulate cell turnover in much the same way as topical retinol-A. Papaya also contains the digestive enzyme, papain, which helps decrease redness in the skin by combating inflammation.
Quick and Easy Papaya Concoctions: A golden smoothie made with papaya, almond milk, and raw honey is a skin elixir. Or for dinner, fish topped with a papaya and cilantro salsa.

3. Beets 


Beets reverse dull skin by stimulating the lymphatic system and removing waste from our cells. Beets can also increase the oxygen-carrying ability in the blood by 400 percent, bringing brightness and vitality to the skin. They may even help reduce the appearance of cellulite by strengthening the dermal skin layer. 
The Quick and Easy: 16 ounces of beet juice will have skin looking peachy and pretty for up to 12 hours. If juice isn't your thing, try a roasted beet salad or grate raw beets into a spinach salad.
4. Coconut Kefir

You've heard of coconut water. Now it's time to get acquainted with its even richer counterpart, coconut kefir, which is made by fermenting coconut water with beneficial bacteria. A shot of coconut kefir contains 15 billion CFU of probiotics, which is three times more than most commercial yogurt. These beneficial bacteria keep skin clear by crowding out pathogenic microbes, which can cause acne and hormonal imbalances. 
Sweet-Tooths Rejoice! - Coconut kefir is naturally sweet, which means it can also help to appease cravings for sugar.
The Quick and Easy: Drinking coconut kefir first thing in the morning on an empty stomach helps keep more of the active probiotic enzymes alive. 
5. Black Sesame Seeds 
Black sesame seeds help restore your skin's radiance and elasticity; containing a high abundance of skin-beautifying nutrients. Packed with essential fats, oleic acid, amino acids, potassium, and fiber.
The Quick and Easy: Sprinkle black sesame seeds over an organic green salad or mix into a quinoa salad; add them to avocado on toast in the morning.
6. Lemons

Lemon juice helps remove fat-soluble toxins and old hormones, which may trigger breakouts and worsen oily skin. Lemon and hot water in the morning is no secret in the world of health and beauty.  Lemon juice also emulsifies fats, which helps keep skin hydrated. Lemon rind contains the flavonoid limonoid, which kills bacteria in the mouth and intestines, preventing bacterial-driven acne flare-ups. 

The Quick and Easy: Using the juice of at least half a lemon will yield great detoxifying benefits. Also add more lemon into your diet by using a lemon and olive oil dressing (versus a balsamic vinaigrette) and by topping sautéed vegetables with organic lemon zest.
7. Red Cabbage 
Anthocyanins, the same purple pigment found in blueberries and found in red cabbage are phytonutrients, they help to decrease the formation of wrinkles and inhibit hyperpigmentation. Red cabbage has six times more vitamin C than green cabbage. It also contains the detoxifying nutrient sulforaphane, which helps clear the toxins from the body that studies have shown, can lead to fine lines and wrinkles. 
The Quick and Easy: Red cabbage and Kale; make a tasty summer salad or summer slaw.  Pair grated carrots, drizzle with lemon and olive oil.

In Health, 
Zeke Samples - IFA, - IDEA Personal Trainer
Fitness and Wellness Author
Surrealbody@gmail.com


No comments:

Post a Comment