Colder months can wreak havoc on our skin, causing dryness, flakiness, and fine lines that make us look older than we’d like to admit. Although applying the right natural skin care products can help keep our skin looking fresh, the foods we eat can also have a profound impact on our appearance and the health of our skin.
I’d like to share with you several foods perfect for the season that contain beneficial nutrients to fight off premature aging from the inside out!
Pumpkin – The most popular of fall foods, the pumpkin is a powerhouse of anti-aging nutrients. It’s loaded with alpha-hydroxy acids which encourage cell turnover and brighten the skin. The flesh is a great source of Vitamin A, which can slow the signs of aging by increasing collagen production. You can even mix pumpkin with honey to use as a face mask!
Don’t forget the seeds, however. Pumpkin seeds are packed with zinc, a necessary micronutrient for healthy skin and protection against colds.
Sweet Potato – This starchy food is normally used for dessert, but skipping the sugary toppings can help your skin keep its youthful appearance. Sweet potatoes are a great source of beta-carotene, which fights against damage caused by free radicals. They also contain copper, which stimulates the production of collagen. Sweet potatoes also provide a healthy dose of Vitamin A.
Mulled Wine – By using mulling spices, which usually include cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, black pepper, and more, you can kick up the benefits of your regular glass of red wine. Combine the spices and wine into a pot and heat it on the stove, then enjoy the antioxidants and polyphenols you’ll drink. Mulled wine can help clear up your skin, restore collagen, reduce inflammation, and beat belly bloat.
Cranberries – Antioxidant power abounds in cranberries, which can aid in keeping your skin looking clear and young. They’re a fantastic source of Vitamin C and other nutrients, and are known to fight bacteria in the body. Cranberries also have anti-inflammatory properties and can help maintain good health.
Winter Squash – Squash is another anti-aging food to add to your diet this season. The Vitamin A and Vitamin C in squash will help protect the skin, and the beta-carotene will fight free-radicals. There’s also a great supply of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids and carotenoid antioxidants.
Hot Chocolate – This may surprise you, but chocolate can provide antioxidant benefits! As long as you consume dark chocolate containing at least 70 percent cocoa, you’re helping your skin. Mix it with almond milk, and you have the perfect cup of hot chocolate to warm you from the chilly temperatures.
Pomegranates – Whether you’re crunching on the seeds, using the juice in your favorite smoothie, or taking supplements, you’ll receive anti-aging benefits from pomegranates. They are high in Vitamin C, polyphenols, and anti-inflammatory compounds. The fruit also contains an active compound to stimulate keratin cells, which assist your skin in keeping its elasticity, volume, and tone.
This season is an exciting time for eating foods that taste great AND improve your health and appearance. Cheers!
Here are the latest episodes of my podcast, The Holistic Plastic Surgery Show. Please SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single information-packed show!
On this episode I’m joined by one of Chicago’s top plastic surgeons. He’s going to reveal to us seven of his top tips and tricks to get his patients the best outcomes possible. He’ll share with us a very simple way to predict how you’ll look after a facelift, how Botox can make your lips look fuller, how squinting can predict the best type of eyelid lift, how to predict the length of a tummy tuck scar by simply sitting down, and much more.
To learn more, listen HERE with Apple devices or HERE with Android phones.
Episode #162 – Holistic Dermatology – How To Get Healthy and Youthful Skin with Dr. Keira Barr – Our skin is whispering (and sometimes screaming) at us all day, every day. As the largest organ of the body, it tells us all about our underlying physical and psychological condition. On this popular episode which originally aired in Episode 76, we tackle several important topics in holistic skin care and holistic dermatology, including how the food we eat affects the aging and health of our skin (and which foods are good and bad for it!), whether you should get your Vitamin D from supplements or the sun, supplements to help prevent skin cancer, Retin-A, and a whole lot more.
