Summer is almost here, and that means that soon everyone you know will be scrambling to make their summer look as perfect as possible. One of the most important areas that we focus on when it comes to our summer appearance is healthy, glowing skin. From bronzers that make our skin darker to sunblock lotions that protect our delicate skin from irreversible and dangerous sun damage, people put their skin through a lot of every year to make it look its best.
One of the simplest ways to keep your skin healthy and vibrant all summer long is to feed it nourishing, naturally-skin strengthening foods! Everyone knows that you are what you eat, and that means that what you eat can either be beneficial or harmful to your body. Your skin’s health is a combination of many factors, including sun damage, genetics, and skin or immune conditions. While those factors are out of your control, the foods that we include in our diet can be.
Not only are there foods that help our skin look its best, but some foods can actually contribute to the radiance of your skin too. If you’re looking for an organic way to get that shining summer skin, skip the expensive lotions, creams, and serums and add these skin-boosting foods to your daily diet instead.
Carrots
There are few vegetables that are more versatile than the carrot. Dressed up or down, served sweet or savory, and always a welcomed addition to any meal or snack, carrots are great for keeping your skin healthy. The secret is in all that beta-carotene and Vitamin A, which prevents cells from overproducing on the skin’s surface while preventing the development of cancer cells.
Tomatoes
Fresh, juicy, red tomatoes are a summer staple food, but cooked tomatoes can be more beneficial than the raw when it comes to your skin. Lycopene, which makes tomatoes red, defends skin from UV rays and reduces the hormones that cause acne. Tomatoes are so good for you that it is recommended that you enjoy tomatoes in juice, raw, or sauce forms 3 to 5 times a week.
Berries
Strawberries, blueberries, cherries, blackberries, raspberries – all those delicious summer fruit favorites should be enjoyed as often as possible, and ideally all year long, to fight blemishes and make your skin glow. One cup of berries has 130% of your daily value (DV) of Vitamin C, the vitamin that keeps your skin smooth and boosts collagen fiber production to make your skin supple and healthy-looking.
Edamame
Edamame, the Japanese name for soybeans, are tiny little powerhouses of flavor and nutrition. You may only think of edamame as a pre-sushi appetizer, but start incorporating these little guys into your salads, hummus, sandwiches, and daily snack lists for beaming summer skin. Edamame contains aglycone, a compound that helps your skin stay firm, reduces fine lines, and omega-3 fatty acids which improve skin’s elasticity.
Coconuts
Coconut water, coconut oil, flaked or fresh coconut flesh, and coconut milk are all great for delivering monolaurin and lauric acid (antifungal and antibacterial agents) to your skin, minimizing breakouts. Coconuts contain cytokinins, which help protect your skin against the impact of daily carcinogens. Coconut oil is the new natural skin protectant and moisturizer du jour because it has been proven to help retain skin’s natural moisture while making your skin shine. Unlike other moisturizers, you are extremely unlikely to have a skin reaction to coconut oil, and it is the chemical-free way to keep your skin clean and healthy.
Green Tea
Two cups a day of green tea can do wonders for your skin. Green tea is packed with antioxidants, and skin inflammation-fighting vitamins. Green tea can keep you blemish-free and reduces acne flare-ups by balancing hormone fluctuations that are linked to acne development.
