Eating Tips for Fantastic Summertime Skin
By Donna Stark
Beautiful skin is great to have all year long, but doesn’t it seem more important to have that healthy glow during the summer than it does the other months? After all, it’s during this time that we are usually baring more of it, so of course most people want their skin to look its best. But beautiful skin doesn’t come simply because you want it, and those really expensive jars of fancy creams won’t help either if your body isn’t first getting the proper foundation of nutrients that it needs.
Eat the Rainbow
Summertime comes with weekend barbeques, swim parties, and luxurious vacations, which means you may be faced with eating foods that aren’t the best option for great skin health. In addition to throwing your diet off track, eating those “party-type” foods may also be the root cause of skin breakouts, so slow down at the buffet table and eat with intention. Here are some tips on what to look for when it’s time to sit down for dinner so that you can improve the appearance of your skin … and save big bucks on your next run to the beauty counter.
- Vitamin C – Vitamin C helps to stimulate collagen production, which is important to keep the skin looking young, fresh, and firm. In addition to its anti-aging benefits, Vitamin C also helps to protect your skin from sun damage, speed healing for cuts and blemishes, improve hydration, and reduce skin discoloration. You can find Vitamin C in fruits and veggies such as kiwi, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes.
- Vitamin A – Vitamin A helps skin look and feel more youthful and radiant. It does this by balancing the skin’s oil production, reducing the appearance of discoloration, promoting collagen production, supporting natural hydration, and preventing breakouts. Vitamin A can be found in many fruits and veggies such as spinach, carrots, bell peppers, and cantaloupe; if you want something more substantial, try a tuna steak or some salmon!
- Vitamin E – Vitamin E is an antioxidant and its main function is to protect the skin from sun damage. It also helps to prevent skin discoloration, wrinkles, and inflammation. Foods rich in Vitamin E may not be offered at every backyard picnic, but that’s OK, you can bring them yourself! Just grab a jar of almonds, peanuts, or sunflower seeds … or bring along some homemade guacamole because all of them are rich in Vitamin E!
Nourishing Your Skin
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so instead of slathering it with creams and moisturizers that may be loaded with chemicals, try improving it first with food! Giving your body the proper nutrients and drinking plenty of water will help to get you on the right path to achieving the glowing skin that we all secretly wish for.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Culver City, Calif.