The food you eat, whether it is a salad or a pizza drenched with melted cheese, has an impact not only on your body, but on your skin as well.
The more natural foods you eat, the better condition your skin will be in.
To help you get a fabulous glow, we share the top natural foods to eat to give you flawless skin.
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Beetroot
Beetroot extract has many uses in the beauty world, such as a colourant for lipsticks. But this potassium-rich vegetable also acts as a fantastic humectant, encouraging skin to absorb and retain moisture. Add a side of beetroot salad when you have a summer braai.
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Turmeric
This spice not only makes a delicious curry, but it has wrinkle-busting anti-inflammatory properties too. Whether it’s infused in tea, used Indian-style, sprinkled over your dinner, or added to your favourite night cream or foundation (actress Thandie Newton does this), turmeric will help you achieve flawless skin.
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Rocket
According to nutritionist Kimberley Snyder, this non-starch veggie rich in phytochemicals, antioxidants and vitamins is perfect for the body as it’s alkaline in nature and easy to digest.
When the body finds foods difficult to digest, as can happen with processed or canned foods, diary, white flour-containing products or excessively salty foods, it leads to a build-up of acidic “sludge” that leaves us feeling lethargic and uses up valuable beauty energy.
Rocket, spinach, kale and broccoli require much less energy to digest, leaving the body with a surplus that can be concentrated towards making hair shinier and skin smoother and more radiant.
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Peppers
All peppers are rich in phytochemicals, which have antioxidant benefits. They are one of the best sources of vitamins A and C and also contain fibre, folate, vitamin K, and the minerals molybdenum and manganese.
To maximise the nutrients you absorb from these natural foods, opt for the riper red peppers rather than immature green peppers. The capsicum in red peppers also boosts blood flow and circulation to your lips, leaving you with a temporarily fuller pout.
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Watermelon
This big red fruit is packed with antioxidants that lessen the damage visible on your skin caused by free radicals, and reverse the signs of ageing. Its naturally high vitamin A concentration also helps to tone pores and smooth the texture of your skin.
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Cherries
Scrumptious in a trifle (your dessert is sorted for Christmas lunch!), these little red globes are full of flavonoids – a type of antioxidant that destroys free radicals in the skin, thereby strengthening collagen for a plumper, more flawless complexion.
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Ripe fruit
Our bodies just love fruit; it breaks down fast in our system, leaving no toxic residue and plenty of readily available energy, making it the strongest cleanser. However, its effects can only be felt in alkaline conditions.
It’s best to eat fruit on an empty stomach, as otherwise it ferments on top of what you have already eaten creating acidic residue. Remember, not only is ripe fruit sweeter and more juicy, but it is more alkaline-forming, particularly when organic.
Prior to this, it can be acid-forming, so it’s important to tell the difference. Generally speaking, look for deeper-coloured, textured fruit with a sweeter smell.
DISCLAIMER: Before starting any diet, you should speak to your doctor. You must not rely on the information on this website/newsletter as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.
