Eclectic Red Barn: Superfoods for a healthy, glowing skin

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Superfoods for a healthy, glowing skin

Did you make a New's year Resolution is get in better shape or to eat healthier? What about taking care of your skin? We all want to look our best and that includes our skin. As I am getting older, I find it even more important to take care of my skin. It is never too late to start a skin regiment and the sooner you start the better.

Here are 6 Superfoods that are packed with skin-healthy nutrients to keep your skin glowing.

1. Dried seaweed

Seaweed is a great source of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, C, E, K and B vitamin. Vitamin B
helps to draw excess fluids out of tissues - including the fluid that causes puffiness and darkness underneath the eyes.

You can get seaweed and some supermarkets, health food stores and online. The most common varieties include: Wakame, Nori, Irish Moss, Kelp, Kombu, Dulse, Hijiki and Arame. As for what to do with it ... a great way to eat seaweed is to incorporate it into soups, stews, stir fries and salads.

Seaweed is also available dried, pills, and as a powder or flake -- you can sprinkle dried seaweed on vegetable sides, salads and rice.

* Just a note that seaweed is high in sodium, so if you have high blood pressure, you may want to avoid it or talk to your doctor.

2. Cabbage

Did you know that your crow's feet might actually be a sign of stress?

A stress hormone called cortisol makes your skin break down faster, leading to premature wrinkles and sagging - especially for the delicate skin around your eyes.

The best way to fight high cortisol levels is to eat foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E, like cabbage. Purple cabbage has 8 times more collagen-boosting Vitamin C than the green varieties.

Cooking decomposes some of the nutrients. Raw purple cabbage contains a higher level of vitamin C than it does when cooked.

3. Watercress

If you have a patchy or splotchy complexion, poor circulation could be to blame. When blood isn't reaching your cells correctly, your skin becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients.

Watercress, is surprisingly high in iron, which helps the blood carry more oxygen throughout the body. If you need to oxygenate your skin, watercress could help you get a more even, glowing skin tone.

4. Cilantro

Do you ever look at the ingredients in your makeup? Did you know that most makeup products are loaded with heavy metals like mercury?

Mercury exposure can damage the kidneys, lungs, brain - and skin. But thankfully, some studies have shown that cilantro can draw heavy metals out of tissues. By sprinkling some cilantro into your soup or sandwich, you can improve your overall health, and combat dullness in your skin.

5. Walnuts

We've all heard that fish is chock full of Omega-3s, but did you know that walnuts are a great source of those healthy fats too?

Omega-3s aren't just heart-healthy - they actually help strengthen skin and make it more flexible, so it's more resistant to sagging and wrinkles. That makes walnuts one of my favorite snacks!

6. Cumin

The spice that gives chili its distinctive flavor also happens to be loaded with antioxidants like Vitamin E that helps protect skin from future damage.

Cumin also has anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties to help fight blemishes and infections, while its detoxifying effects can help keep your skin bright and clear.

Sprinkle cumin in soups, stews, chili, vegetables or add to salad dressing, etc.

Make no mistake... these foods aren't a cure-all. Nothing replaces a great skincare routine and a healthy lifestyle.

But including these 6 foods into your usual meals is a great first step towards the healthy skin!