Food that Promotes Healthy Skin

Do you want to know what to eat to have beautiful skin? Noted physician Dr. Willie Ong has these suggestions:

1. Avocadoes — Avocadoes are packed with the B vitamins, which help nourish your skin. vitamin B3 (called niacin) acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and may help smoothen reddish and patchy skin. One avocado contains 3.8 mg. of niacin, which fullfills 27 percent of your daily needs.

2. Green tea – Green tea contains polyenols that may prevent sunlight damage and improve the elasticity of the skin’s outer layer (the epidermis). Studies show that green tea may prevent various cancers, including skin cancer, because of the high concentration of catechins. Drink one to two glasses a day.

3. Green veggies — Green leafy vegetables contain many vitamins, minerals, and plant chemicals known to provide health benefits. Green veggies such as cabbage, pechay, kangkong talbos and spinach also help flush out toxins from the body. An international study shows that people who eat more vegetables and fish have less wrinkles, compared to those who eat less.

4. Tomatoes – Tomato paste with olive oil have been known to prevent sunburn within 10 weeks of taking it. Tomatoes are extremely high in antioxidants, especially carotenoids like beta-carotene and lycopene. Studies show that lycopene may help slow down cellular damage from free radicals.

Lycopene is readily released by cooking tomatoes and better absorbed with a little oil added. Therefore, eating spaghetti sauce, around 10 tablespoons per week, is considered very healthy.

5. Watermelon – Watermelon’s beneficial effect comes from its component citrulline, which is converted to arginine in the body. Arginine helps flush out ammonia and other toxins from the body. The deep-red watermelon variety also contains the pigment lycopene, which helps counter the bad effects of free radicals circulating in the body. Once we reduce these free radicals, we can theoretically slow down aging and gain healthier-looking skin.

6. Soybeans — Soybeans contain protein which breaks down into smaller amino acids upon digestion. These amino acids, in turn, help repair the skin cells and collagen beneath the skin. In addition, soybeans contain essential fatty acids that help moisturize your skin naturally. Soybeans are also rich in calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber. Hence, they’re good for your heart, bones, and digestion. You can add soybeans to your diet by drinking soya milk or adding tofu to your soups, stews, and salads.

7. Oily fish — Oily fish, such as sardines, tuna, mackerel, and salmon, are filled with healthy omega-3 fatty acids — a type of fat that makes your blood less likely to form clots. Salmon, in particular, contains astaxanthin, which is a carotenoid that improves skin elasticity.

(source: Abante Online)