Part of looking young is actually feeling young. Truth is, if you’re always low on energy and tired, it probably has something to do with your nutrition. Healthy fruits and vegetables, lots of water and adequate sleep all equate to younger looking skin. Here are some foods to make you look forever young, taken right from the goodness of Mother Nature.
1. Spinach
Don’t take the humble spinach for granted, it has beta-carotene and lutein in it, two nutrients that have resulted in improved skin elasticity, according to a study in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry. That’s reason enough to put some spinach in your green smoothies.
Twist it up with this cool juice combination from Real Activ (Rs 120)
2. Pomegranate
Pomegranates have more antioxidants than green tea and wine, so have a cup every morning, to fight free radicals. Apart from that, they are high in fibre, vitamin K, protein and potassium. One cup of Pomegranate also contains 30% of your recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C, which helps in protecting skin from sun damage which contributes to aging. According to fitness.com, it also has a super nutrient called Punicalagan that increases the ‘body’s capacity to preserve collagen’.
Just get a box of pre-peeled pomegranate seeds (Rs 59) and eat it for breakfast.
3. Blueberries
These berries contain the most antioxidants than any other food, which as we’ve mentioned before is great to combat free-radicals. Skin damaging free radicals can be a result of sun exposure, stress and ever over-exercising. Considering that the modern woman deals with a lot of those things, is safe to say that we should all be loading up on these delicious blue gems.
Pop these Whole Dried Blueberries (Rs 499) in your bag for a midday snack.
4. Salmon
Salmon is uber healthy if you’re on a diet, but it’s also a really great source for Omega-3 fatty acids. Try work in some of this delicious fish twice a week if you’ve got sensitive skin prone to inflammation. Omega 3 helps to strengthen skin cell membranes so that it can lock in moisture.
Keep your freezer stocked with these ready to cook salmon creations (Rs 995).
5. Watermelon
Summer’s favourite fruit should be on your ‘to buy’ list every week. Whether you have a glass of watermelon juice or eat it fresh they are super good for your skin. High in vitamin C, antioxidants, lycopene and potassium, all of which contribute to the balance of water and nutrients in your cells. Not to forget, they are great for hydration which all skin types require!
Get the Usha Nutripress CPJ362F 240-Watt Cold Press Slow Juicer (Rs 20,369), for at home goodness.
6. Green tea
Green tea is packed with catechins and polyphenols, both of which are extremely good for the skin. Catechins are great at preventing hyperpigmentation from sun damage and polyphenols are antioxidants, which as we know are great to reverse the signs of aging.
Steep this loose Darjeeling Green Tea (Rs 460) and brew some skin happiness.
7. Avocado oil
Whether you use it in a salad dressing or in your homemade masks, avocado oil rejuvenates skin. It’s said to reduce age spots as it contains sterolins. It’s also rich in Vitamins A,B1, B2, Vitamin D, also high in beta-carotene and potassium all great for the body and the skin. In oil form or raw, avocados are also said to boost the production of collagen, so don’t feel bad about your avocado on toast addiction!
We totally recommend this Extra Virgin Avocado Oil (Rs 1,890).
8. Cucumber
Apart from being the best snack for any craving, they have a high water content which keeps the skin hydrated. Cucumbers also have natural ascorbic acid and caffeic acid which helps to prevent water retention, so if you want to shed some water weight, we’d start eating these crunchy guys immediately.
Get the Freshfusion Cucumber Bottle Gourd Bitter Gourd Juice (Rs 300) for an amazing system detox!
9. Orange
These yummy citrus fruits are very high in vitamin C as we know, which is great for keeping away cold and for aiding the production of collagen. They are also extremely hydrating which is always a plus for tired looking skin.
We’re totally for juicing, so get this Orange Pulp Juice (Rs 150).
10. Tomatoes
Stock up on your favourite Italian tomato sauce because these bad boys are excellent for the skin. They are high in Lycopene which fights off harmful UV ray damage to the skin. So, whether you eat them as a sauce or fresh, load up on tomatoes in your diet.
Get this easy Raw Pressery Ready To Consume – Tomato Soup (Rs 100).
11. Kiwi Fruit
This tiny fruit has more cell-repairing Vitamin C than an orange, so if you aren’t keen on the taste of oranges this is a great substitute. It also has more potassium than a banana, which helps with the skin’s elasticity. Plus they’re said to be a nutrient dense fruit high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Scoop this delicious fruit (Rs 279) and enjoy amazing skin.
Image: Shutterstock
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