December is here, and you know what that means! All of the holiday festivities but also a very cold month in most places, which can be damaging to your skin. Dryness is inevitable if you're not taking care of your skin from the inside and out.
It is important to have a skincare routine with high-quality products to keep your skin refreshed on the outside. But what's even more important is to nourish your skin from the inside with foods that promote skin health. And what better way to do it than to combine your daily diet with superfoods that are good for your skin!
Considering your skin needs, we have listed some super foods every guy should know about!
1. Berries:
The juicy, dark-colored, low-sugar variety of berries is packed with antioxidants. This means they contain substances that help your body and skin fight free radical-induced damage by neutralizing them. (Free radicals are unstable molecules produced due to the interaction of the skin with environmental pollutants. They are also a byproduct of metabolism and aging and cause damage to the skin).
Berries also possess potent anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is your body's natural response to infection or injury. Therefore, they contribute to protecting your body as well as your skin from inflammation.1 The good options to choose from are blueberries, blackberries and elderberries. Even low-sugar, organic wines 😉 can be a good option, too.
2. Avocados:
Avocado is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. They are among the richest in fiber, folate, vitamin E, and magnesium among all fruits. This nutrition profile makes it a worthy Superfood. Apart from that, avocados are brimming with healthy, monounsaturated fatty acids!2
If you want to have that holiday glow, eat avocados. They basically moisturize your skin from the inside out, given their unique fat profile. They also help your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins.
3. Walnuts:
Walnuts can turn any dull and lifeless skin into one with a lovely radiant glow. They contain naturally occurring vitamins E (antioxidant) and omega-3 fatty acids.3
Vitamin E can help with free radical damage that can cause premature aging. And our western diets are typically low in the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, so using walnuts can help balance skin moisture. Make sure your walnuts are raw (and preferably organic) since most roasted walnuts can contain rancid oils.
Now that you know what superfoods will help nourish your skin and help it withstand the cold winter months, here's a quick tip!
The perfect way to consume them would be to make a nice salad with walnuts, berries and avocados that complement each other perfectly. And would also complement your skin perfectly and help it radiate and glow! (Make sure you're not allergic to any of these first!). In addition, to consuming superfoods to improve your skin from the inside out continue to use your Only Skin routine on a daily basis to make sure your improving your skin on the outside as well!
Written By: The Only Skin Team
References:
- Joseph, S. V., Edirisinghe, I., & Burton-Freeman, B. M. (2014). Berries: anti-inflammatory effects in humans. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 62(18), 3886–3903. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf4044056
- Dreher, M. L., & Davenport, A. J. (2013). Hass avocado composition and potential health effects. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 53(7), 738–750. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2011.556759
- Sánchez-González, C., Ciudad, C. J., Noé, V., & Izquierdo-Pulido, M. (2017). Health benefits of walnut polyphenols: An exploration beyond their lipid profile. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 57(16), 3373–3383. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2015.1126218
