A lot of people, especially women, are obsessed with beauty products that make their skin glow and their hair shine.

While a lot of these products have been clinically tested and proven to work, their effects are only skin deep. The trick to beautiful, age defying skin, and soft, gorgeous hair isn’t just in what you apply, it’s in what you eat.

The types of foods that are good for the skin and hair are high in antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins C and E. Here’s a list of some of the foods that help make you beautiful from within, and the reasons why:

>>Fruits high in vitamin C like kiwi, oranges, blueberries and grapefruits. Vitamin C has always been on top of everyone’s list of essential vitamins and minerals. Not only does Vitamin C help you get better when you’re down with the flu, it also stimulates the production of collagen in the body.

Collagen, which can be found in all the parts of the body but predominantly in the skin, bones, teeth and hair, helps maintain the skin’s firmness. Vitamin C is also known to prevent the skin from looking aged.

>>Nuts and seeds. Walnuts, almonds and sunflower seeds are high in vitamin E, the vitamin that reduces skin flare-ups and makes hair healthy. They contain nutrients that prevent inflammation as well as enhance immunity. Not only will you have healthy, glowing skin, you’re also protecting yourself against cold and flu.

>>Dark chocolate. Before you get all excited about how chocolate can be good for your skin, remember that only those chocolates with high levels of cocoa flavanols, phytonutrient compounds that have an antioxidant effect, like the ones with at least 60 percent cacao, fit in this criteria.

A small piece of dark chocolate hydrates the skin, leaving it soft and supple.

>>Sweet potatoes. This “superfood” contains beta carotene for healthy, bright eyes, and antioxidants that help prevent the skin from aging. Eating sweet potatoes regularly keeps us young and sharp. Who doesn’t want that?

>>Spinach. The nutrients packed in this green leafy vegetable give us an overall sense of well-being on top of its beautifying properties. It’s a good source of all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients we need for younger looking skin and hair.

>>Wild salmon. Salmon that hasn’t been grown in fish farms is one of the best sources for omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 keeps your skin moisturized and prevents acne breakouts. It is also good for your heart, so go ahead and indulge!

Here is a simple recipe you could try to start adding these “beauty superfoods” to your diet:

Simple and Delicious Baked Salmon

Ingredients

2 six ounces salmon fillets

2 cloves of minced garlic

6 tablespoons of light olive oil

1 teaspoon of dried basil

1 tablespoon of fresh parsley (chopped)

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of ground black pepper

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Directions

>>Set the salmon aside in a medium-sized glass baking dish while you mix the rest of the ingredients in a bowl to create a marinade.

>>Pour the marinade over the salmon fillets and leave it to marinate in the refrigerator for an hour. Turn the fillets occasionally to cover the whole fish in the mixture.

>>Preheat the oven to 190 °C.

>>Remove the fish from the refrigerator and place them in an aluminum foil. Pour the remaining marinade over the fish before sealing the foil.

>>Place the sealed salmon back in a baking dish and bake for about 35 to 45 minutes or until the fish can be flaked easily using a fork.

Vanity shouldn’t be the only reason to eat these healthy and delicious treats. As we beautify ourselves from the inside out, we should also consider the other health benefits these great foods can give you.

When she is not getting her fingers green in her English country garden, Nicole is a keen writer with a particular interest and passion for travel. She has been writing for four years now, and always enjoys researching new topics.

 

 

Editor: Anne Clendening

 

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