No matter how much you rummage through your makeup bag, you’re unlikely to find the elixir to beauty living in there. That magic potion comes from within you, much the same as your luminous personality projects inner beauty on the outer world.
The results depend on the ingredients you throw into your potion and how you enhance the recipe with exercise and healthy lifestyle habits. While sugar, alcohol and fried foods can sap the natural moisture from your skin and hair, certain superfoods will enliven your appearance and create the magical glow that shines from good health.
Put your white witch’s hat on and get ready to whip up your own magic potion, with 6 foods to eat your way to beauty.
Salmon
Cold-water fish, like salmon and mackerel, are widely considered superfoods for their rich omega-3 content. As well as contributing to heart health, omega-3 fatty acids can help your skin replace natural fatty acids, which keeps it hydrated, toned and less prone to wrinkles.
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may also help with skin disorders and burns, by reducing swelling and redness, while aiding in a fast recovery.
Coconuts
What could be better than popping a straw into a fresh coconut, sitting back and pretending you’re on a tropical island? The fact that while you’re drinking it, you’re staying hydrated with electrolytes that help move nutrients into your cells.
High levels of complex B vitamins and the plant hormones, cytokinins, help minimize the aging of skin cells and balance pH levels. The healthy fats assist with forming the structure of cell membranes and help to keep skin moist and if you’re looking for a natural product to swap for moisturiser, organic coconut oil will keep your skin supple and silky smooth.
Avocados
The creamy texture of avocado is a treat for your taste buds and full of nutrients your skin and hair love. Free radical quenching compounds, such as the antioxidant carotenoids alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lutein, provide protection for your skin from environmental damage.
Good amounts of vitamin C helps in the creation of elastin and collagen to maintain firmness and vitamin E can reduce the effects of UVA and UVB radiation from sun exposure. To top it off, high oleic acid content contributes to maintaining moisture in the epidermal layer of your skin, keeping it soft and hydrated.
Spinach
Though we all know Popeye grew his muscles with spinach, it’s also a fantastic food to help banish under-eye circles and repair your skin. Vitamin A acts as a free radical buster, vitamin C manufactures new skin cells, vitamin K reduces skin inflammation and iron helps carry oxygen through your body to combat pale, tired-looking skin.
For your hair, as the follicle and the root are fed by a nutrient rich blood supply, sufficient iron levels can help ward off hair growth cycle imbalances, which may lead to thinning. To promote iron absorption from spinach, add sources of vitamin C, like lemon juice.
Eggs
Hair and nails are made of protein, therefore ensuring you have enough of it in your diet is imperative for healthy growth. If your hair or nails are brittle and weak, it could be a sign of protein deficiency, so seek advice from your naturopath and consider eggs as a great source of complete protein.
For your skin, the sulphur content in eggs helps you glow from the inside out, as a necessary ingredient in the production of collagen. It’s also beneficial in treating skin disorders, such as acne.
Tomatoes
You’ve probably heard that delicious tomatoes are good for your eyes, bones and blood sugar levels. They’re also packed full of goodness for your overall appearance. High amounts of lycopene make your skin less sensitive to UV rays, vitamin C is helpful in treating acne and oily skin and a glittering array of nutrients ensure your hair growth cycles are stimulated and balanced.
So, next time you’re at the supermarket, head to the fresh produce section, instead of the cosmetics aisle, to fill your basket with superfoods to eat your way to beauty, from the inside out.
