Superfoods for skin

There are many ways to nourish your skin: getting enough beauty sleep, following a carefully curated skincare routine, and stressing less. But there’s one thing experts unequivocally agree on: what you eat directly impacts your complexion. Want an enviable glow? Look no further than the food on your plate.
 
Here are some of the best skin-friendly nutrients to cram into your diet.
 

Anthocyanidins

Members of the flavonoid family, some call anthocyanidins the ‘Big Daddy’ of the antioxidant world. These highly active plant compounds give berries their dazzling blue, purple, and red hues. Their role in skin health is widely documented – and tremendously promising.
 
Antioxidants are powerful molecules that help fight free radical damage in the body. Air pollution, cigarette smoke, alcohol, UV exposure, and toxins can lead to excessive free radical production, which is known to damage the skin.
 
A regular dietary intake of antioxidants, like anthocyanidins, may support the skin’s renewal process and collagen formation.
 
Eat them: Blueberries, or try Colladeen Visage (which contains more anthocyanidins than any supplement!)
 

Green tea

The properties of green tea have long been used for skin health. As a drink, it’s crammed with skin-loving antioxidants, which is why you often find green tea extract in so many skincare products.
 
Drink it: One to two cups daily.
 

Vitamin A

Vitamin A plays a hugely important role in maintaining overall skin health. And that’s why retinol (a topical vitamin A) is so widely hyped by skincare experts.
 
Eat it: Sweet potato
 

Vitamin C

Arguably the best-known antioxidant in the skincare arena, vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation in the skin. And that’s why healthy skin needs high concentrations of vitamin C.

Eat it: Spinach
 

Biotin

Biotin doesn’t only support the metabolism of glucose, fats, and proteins; it also contributes to normal skin. Many experts in the skincare world tout biotin as the secret to a radiant complexion (not to mention stronger nails and hair!).  
 
Eat it: Eggs
 

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an old hand at the beauty game – and no wonder. This little guy works hard to keep the skin radiant by protecting cells from oxidative stress.
 
Eat it: Sunflower seeds
 

Zinc

Zinc supports your complexion in two ways: firstly, it works hard to maintain normal skin; secondly, it contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress (aka the loss of collagen and elastin fibres).
 
Eat it: Pumpkin seeds
 

Astaxanthin

 

Evidence suggests astaxanthin is somewhat unrivalled in its antioxidant properties, surpassing other well-known skincare superfoods, like vitamin E.¹ Perhaps most notably, astaxanthin is said to be 6,000 times stronger than vitamin C!²
 
Eat it: Wild salmon
 

Selenium

Another important antioxidant, selenium protects cells from oxidative stress, which is known to play a role in skin ageing. Take that, free radical damage.
 
Eat it: Brazil nuts
 

Sea buckthorn berry oil

The berries found in the sea buckthorn plant aren’t only tremendously rich in skin-loving antioxidants, but also in the omega-7 essential fatty acid, palmitoleic acid, which works hard to keep the mucous membranes in the skin healthy.
 
Find it: Nutritional supplements
 

CoQ10

Widely believed to function as an antioxidant, CoQ10 is another important nutrient for skin health. Since the body’s ability to make CoQ10 declines with age, ensuring a plentiful intake is essential.
 
Eat it: Mackerel
 

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Want to find out more?

 

Read more of our resources on ageing and related content here.

References:

1. Naguib YM., Antioxidant activities of astaxanthin and related carotenoids. J Agric Food Chem. 2000;48(4): 1150-4.

2. Ambati RR. et al.,, Astaxanthin: sources, extraction, stability, biological activities and its commercial applications--a review. Mar Drugs. 2014;12(1): 128-152.

 

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