You read correctly. What you eat and what you drink can enhance the way your skin appears. It can also impact the way others perceive your beauty.
A recent study found that within 6 weeks of eating approximately 4 servings of vegetables a day participants were measurably more attractive. The carotenoids found in fruits and vegetables can be measured in caucasian skin and are associated with the perception of good health and beauty.
Carotenoids are precursors to Vitamin A. You are probably familiar with Beta-carotene, which is a carotenoid that has received a lot of press for its antioxidant properties. While these highly pigmented compounds are most commonly associated with carrots and other orange foods, they are actually found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Fruits & Vegetables High in Carotenoids
Carrots are high in the pigments that enhance the appearance of your skin.
- Cantaloupe
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Mango
- Sweet Potato
- Spinach
- Asparagus
- Collards
- Butternut Squash
5 Foods That Are Bad For Your Skin
- Trans Fats. These lead to inflammation and skin aggravation.
- Sugar & Refined Carbohydrates. Any food that creates an imbalance in your blood sugar will wreak havoc on your skin.
- Gluten. If you are sensitive to the proteins found in gluten, your skin will let you know.
- Canned & Cured Foods. They lead to inflammation and dehydration.
- Caffeine. No problem with the morning cup of coffee, but anymore and your skin may start to show more wrinkles than you would like. Too much caffeine can leave you and your skin looking and feeling dehydrated. Click here to learn more about how to create a healthy cup of coffee.
Beauty Boosting & Busting Beverages:
- Water. It’s really that simple. It hydrates your cells make them more plump and appear more youthful. It also allows your skin to sweat efficiently, moving out aggravating cellular waste, giving you a fresh glow. If you’ve got dark circles under your eyes, your body may be in desperate need of some hydration.
The doctors I work with recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces of water each day. So, if you weigh 130 lbs you’ll be drinking about 65 ounces of water a day. - Green Smoothies. Anyway you can get more vegetables in is going to help your skin. Make sure the beverage is light on the sugar (no syrups, no ice cream, no frozen yogurt). Blueberries are rich in antioxidants and can do wonders for making blended veggies more tasty.
- Green tea. The antioxidants in green tea help fight the aging process and rejuvenate your skin cells.
Kale is rich in nutrients & vitamins that feed the skin. Try adding it to your favorite smoothie recipe.
- Cow’s milk, even if organic, has growth hormones in it, which may be aggravating your skin. These hormones have an androgenic effect (increased testosterone), especially in women, that can lead to acne.
- Soft drinks cause imbalances in the blood sugar. Increased sugar in the blood can lead to acne and even visible signs of aging. Avoid it!
- Alcohol dehydrates the skin. A little red wine can give you some antioxidants, but too much alcohol can cause inflammation and disrupt hormone metabolism leading to break outs and an aged appearance. Moderation is key!
Ladies should try to limit themselves to one alcoholic drink per day. It is recommended that men have no more than two in a day.