As scientists learn more about diet and the body, it is increasingly clear that the phrase ‘you are what you eat’ is true.
What you eat can significantly affect the health and ageing of your skin. Nutrition is important for your health. An unhealthy diet can cause damage to your metabolism, cause weight gain and even cause organ damage, such as your heart and liver.
We spend a lot of time and money considering what we put on our faces.
But do you ever consider whether or not you're following a clear skin diet?
Here at Merindah Botanicals, we follow the ‘two way approach’ for beautiful, healthy skin. You can buy and use all the skincare products on the market to help your skin look great from the outside but if you neglect looking after your skin from the inside, your skin will show the signs of poor diet on the outside.
Beautiful skin starts with nourishment from within. Eating the right balance of foods will feed your skin the vital nutrients it needs to help it stay soft, supple, blemish-free and hydrated. Simply changing up your diet a bit can keep your skin hydrated, resulting in a more moisturised glow.
Below are six foods that are sure to keep that gorgeous skin of yours nourished from the inside out.
Here's how to eat your way to more hydrated skin:
1. Cucumber
Packed with an army of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, cucumber makes for one healthy addition to any diet. Cucumbers are an excellent source of silica - the beauty mineral.
These vitamins, minerals and nutrients in cucumbers will increase the rate you hydrate your body and skin, leaving your skin rejuvenated. Add cucumber slices to your water, make fresh cucumber juice or simply add it to your sandwich or salad.
2. Oranges
Oranges are loaded with water content and that alone makes them a great hydrator for your skin. They also have a ton of vitamin C, which is a water-soluble vitamin that works as an antioxidant to protect all cells in the body - including skin cells - from free radical damage.
Vitamin C also creates collagen - the body’s main structural protein that holds the skin, bones and other tissues together. Make some delicious and refreshing popsicles from freshly squeezed orange juice, add orange slices to your water or simply eat some an orange a day to keep your skin hydrated.
3. Spinach
In addition to being packed with vitamin A, which is a known skin-strengthener, spinach is also filled with phytochemicals and folates that help hydrate your skin. The water content in spinach is a whooping 91.4%!
Add spinach to your morning smoothies; add it to salads or into your savoury muffins.
4. Watermelon
Watermelon is a staple food in summer, as its hydrating benefits are a great fit for the hot weather. But this sweet fruit packs a punch in the vitamin department; it contains vitamin C, vitamin A, several B vitamins, potassium, zinc, copper, and over 90% of water.
Did you know?! A cup of diced watermelon contains just 45.6 calories!
5. Romaine lettuce
Romaine lettuce is crisp, slightly crunchy lettuce and not far behind iceberg lettuce in terms of its water content. But Romaine lettuce offers more nutritional benefits than iceberg lettuce.
As a general rule, the darker greens the healthier they are. Romaine lettuce is also a good source of vitamins C and K, as well as folate, vitamin A, and fiber.
6. Coconut water
Known for its hydrating and remineralising properties, coconut water is rich in essential amino acids, sugars, vitamins and mineral salts, as well as cell growth factors. The electrolyte concentration of coconut water is comparable to blood plasma. It has a great capacity for the preservation of cell viability.
Popular culture in Indonesia and Malaysia – countries where there is a rich tradition of coconut use and its derivatives – says that “the use of green cleans the face of all its wrinkles and imperfections, returning the dewy tone of youth to the skin.”
What are your favourite summer hydration boosters? Comment below.