Best Foods For Skin And Radiant Health!

I believe everyone wants to be radiantly healthy. Our skin reflects our health and is the first impression people have of us when we meet; so it’s no surprise that many of us want to have the best and healthiest skin possible. I consider food to be my medicine and as it becomes our cells, tissue and blood it is only logical to try to eat the best foods for skin health and overall well-being.

Good nutrition is the fundamental key to protecting the cells of our skin on a cellular level. I feel the body is amazing and can do miraculous things,

if given the opportunity. Making the decision to eat healthier can be the way to rejuvenate the skin and your overall health.

I want to age gracefully and have my skin look as youthful as possible, and so I’ve researched this topic. I believe it’s a combination of things that helps us look and feel our best, including our skin. Getting enough sleep, exercise, reducing stress, staying hydrated, consuming a whole, fresh, anti-oxidant rich diet, and using non-toxic body care lotions and soaps, all play a part in our skin health and appearance.

Here are 8 of my top choices for best foods for skin

1. Foods with Omega-3 fatty acids can help with more youthful looking skin, because they contain crucial nutrients needed to help repair damaged skin cells and their anti-inflammatory properties may lead to smoother, younger-looking skin and a reduction of inflammatory skin conditions like acne or psoriasis. Some of the top sources for omega-3’s is: cold-pressed, organic hemp or flax seed oil, hemp seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and certain fish like sardines, salmon, mackerel, tuna, anchovies, and black cod.

2. Foods rich in Vitamin A, C and E  will provide the antioxidants that can help protect the cells from free     radicals that can damage skin and cause wrinkles. Organic, fresh, and unprocessed food will provide the most nutrition. Always consume fruits in their whole form with the fiber, never drink pure or processed fruit juice. (Fruit juice goes straight into the blood stream too quickly and it’s much better to have the fiber of the whole fruit to slow down the sugar from going into the blood stream to quickly.

a. Vitamin A rich foods are: apricots, Goji berries, Acai berries, butternut squash, carrots, cantaloupe, leafy greens (especially kale, Swiss Chard, romaine, as well as sprouts and wheat grass), mangoes, pumpkin, sweet potato, spinach, and tomatoes (Not only are tomatoes high in vitamin A, but they are also high in lycopene, which can act as natural sun protection and help prevent sun damage to the skin. In a study, “Volunteers who consumed 5 tablespoons of high-in-lycopene tomato paste daily for 3 months had nearly 25% more protection against sunburn. Even better, skin had more collagen, which prevents sagging. German scientists report that higher skin levels of this antioxidant correlate to fewer fine lines and furrows).”

b. Vitamin C rich foods are: apricots, Goji berries, blueberries, strawberries, bilberries, cranberries, raspberries, grapes, oranges, grapefruits, papayas, strawberries, kiwis, (red, yellow and orange) bell peppers, cantaloupes, tomatoes, broccoli, mangoes, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, leafy greens (including kale), sprouts, and wheat grass.

c. Vitamin E rich foods are: avocado, sprouted nuts (ex. almond, Brazil, pine, hazelnuts), sprouted seeds (like sunflower seeds), olives, raw red sweet pepper, turnip greens, spinach, asparagus, mango, kiwi, wheat germ and wheat grass. (Sprouted seeds and nuts makes them easier to digest and more nutrient dense. I explain more about this in my nutrition/cookbooks).

3. Wheat Grass: Wheat grass has many benefits taken internally or used topically. Wheatgrass is the young grass shoot of the common wheat plant, which is commonly taken as a juice. It can be taken in a capsule or tablet form as well. You may want to ease into taking wheatgrass, because it is such a powerful food.

Wheat grass juice is a great detoxifier and if it’s consumed too much too quickly or with a meal, it may make you feel nauseous or headachy. So, start off slow and add a little more to your diet as you can.

I recommend starting with one ounce a day and slowly adding a bit more to the diet as you get used to it. Take wheatgrass on an empty stomach or in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables. (I take mine first thing in the morning with a dash of Ceylon Cinnamon and pinch of Bolivian Sea Salt.  I think it makes it taste better and also adds some health benefits.)

You can also use the wheat grass in your non-chlorinated bath water or put on your skin topically as a wash in it’s pure form. It’s been shown to help detoxify the cells, oxygenate the blood, and have antiviral effects. In addition to this, wheat grass has been researched and found to help with lowering the risk of various cancers.

Wheat grass juice is an excellent source of concentrated chlorophyll (rich in antioxidants), vitamins A, C, and E, as well as containing about 98 of 102 of the earth elements found in soil (which include phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, selenium, iron, and potassium), electrolytes, 19 amino acids and powerful enzymes.

Wheatgrass juice is a powerhouse of nutrition.

4. Walnuts – Walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, as well as alpha-linolenic acid. The alpha-linolenic acid helps keep the skin moist and supple. Walnuts also have been found to help with sleep. Getting enough sleep is great for healthy skin. Our body rests and heals when it is truly resting at night in a deep sleep. Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center discovered that walnuts contain melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep.

5. Cacao – Yes, you can eat dark chocolate for your skin’s health! Cacao is one of the highest antioxidant and flavonoid containing foods. It is wonderful at improving circulation. a great source of flavonols — a group of plant metabolites that have excellent antioxidant effects. These flavonols can fight against skin damage. Flavonoids also fight free radicals (molecules that have lost an electron and attack DNA, enzymes and proteins or cell membranes) in the bloodstream.

Women who drank 1/2 cup of dark cacao cocoa every day for 12 weeks in a study had significantly softer, smoother, and better hydrated skin.  The British study, had the volunteers consume an 8-ounce cup of cocoa and found that they had improved blood flow to the brain for 2 hours. Besides better functioning on complex tasks, participants showed more brain activity in MRI scans–an indication of enhanced brain function that may reduce the risk of dementia.

6. Avocado – The avocado is a super powerhouse food! This fruit is packed with nutritional benefits and has a delicious creamy rich flavor. What could be better? Avocados contain monounsaturated fat, which is a “good fat.” According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “Unsaturated fats are called good fats because they can improve blood cholesterol levels, ease inflammation, stabilize heart rhythms, and play a number of other beneficial roles.”

The healthy fat, like the fat in avocados, is essential for every cell in our body. It can support our brain, boost our immune system, increase our nutrient absorption and best of all, it can create a glowing complexion.

7. Coconut – Coconut (meat, water and oil) can be used in many ways as food, lotion and beverage.. Talk about a health food, coconut oil is one of my favorites.

Coconut oil contains a high amount of saturated fats but these are very different from saturated fats from creature meats. The saturated fat of coconut oil contains Medium Chain Triglycerides, These medium chained fatty acids are absorbed differently by the body. These fatty acids go straight to the liver from the digestive tract and are then turned into ketone bodies. These ketones have a therapeutic effect on the brain, by allowing the brain to absorb glucose from the blood stream. Coconut oil has been studied for its positive effect on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.

Coconut water also has Cytokinins, kinetin and trans-zeatin, which have antithrombotic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-ageing effects on the body. Coconut water is delicious and can a good alternative to drinking regular water.

I cook with coconut oil, add it to my recipes and use it as a body lotion. Topically, coconut oil is great for contributing to having radiant skin.  Coconut oil also is able to penetrate your skin on a deeper level than your average product. If you have a problem with dry skin, using coconut oil as your body lotion, is a effective remedy. Coconut oil is very stable and will be either hard or more liquid depending on the temperature. If it’s hard, simply rub the coconut oil in hands to warm it up, then just smooth over your body and any dry, rough areas.

8. Liquid Biocell, by Modere. This supplement is made up of food grade ingredients that creates an incredible supplement for skin. I have used this personally for over 5 years and I feel like my skin looks years younger in appearance. I’m 63 now. When I started using it and had taken it over one year,  I had people ask me if I’ve had a face lift, and I hadn’t. Today, people say I look 15 to 20 years younger than my age. I started taking this supplement to help get rid of my back pain from scoliosis and I no longer have my back discomfort. But the “side effect” was it made my skin feel and look incredible. My skin is more hydrated, moist, soft and youthful looking.

Liquid BioCell® is the new generation of collagen, redefining the way we age and how we perform. Every product is formulated with our exclusive Collagen/HA Matrix® Technology to support joint and muscle fitness, connective tissue health, counteract skin photoaging, restore youthful skin, and support healthy hair, nails, gums and eyes.*

“Clinical trials show that Liquid BioCell® counteracts  skin’s natural aging and photoaging from the inside-out.It reduces deep lines and wrinkles, eliminates dryness,increases skin’s collagen content and improves skin’s microcirculation, hydration and skin tone.*

Conclusion

So, now that you have an idea of the best food for the skin and overall health and well-being, let’s get your started on your rejuvenation eating plan to support your health (become radiantly healthy), with a recipe using a combination of these best foods for the skin.

Green Smoothie

This is a delicious and satisfying smoothie that packs a powerhouse of nutrition with the best foods for skin and overall health and well-being.

Use organic, non- GMO ingredients if possible.

Serves 1

Ingredients

1 banana, washed well, chopped into chunks including the skin.

½ cup of fresh, baby spinach or kale

1 teaspoon wheatgrass powder or 1 ounce wheatgrass juice

1 tsp. cold-pressed hemp or flax seed oil

1 peeled and pitted avocado

2 Medjool dates, pitted

1 T. fresh lemon or lime juice

¼  tsp. grated lemon or lime rind.

Dash of Ceylon ground cinnamon

1 cups of coconut water or pure non-chlorinated water

Directions

1. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. (Add more water, if it’s too thick.)
2. Drink immediately, or within 20 minutes.

Variation: Add a cup of berries or mango to this smoothie for extra anti-oxidants.

By Nancy Addison.

copyright@nancyaddison2018

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The information from Nancy Addison and Organic Healthy Lifestyle LLC is not offered for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease or disorder, nor have any statements herein been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We strongly encourage you to discuss topics of concern with your health care provider.

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article, book, podcast, website, email, etc. is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC, AADP. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.