For beautiful skin, eat and drink your colours!
We hear a lot about antioxidants, but what are they exactly?
An antioxidant is a molecule that neutralizes and fights free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable compounds that form when we are exposed to sunlight, pollution and smoke. In addition to external factors, our bodies make free radicals through various cellular processes during metabolism and inflammation. For the most part, free radicals are harmless. In fact, we need them in order to sustain life. They only become problematic when there are too many of them.
When our bodies get overwhelmed with too many free radicals, they can have negative impacts on our skin. They can destroy collagen and elastic fibers and reduce skin hydration. These lead to skin wrinkling and saginess. A key way to prevent and reduce free radical damage is to eat/drink antioxidants.
What foods are high in antioxidants?
A good rule of thumb to follow is to go by colour. It's the antioxidants in a food that give the food its colour. The more vibrant the colour, typically the higher the antioxidant level.
The best and easiest way to boost your intake of antioxidants is to eat a variety of colourful foods. See how many colours you can get onto your plate at each meal.
If you want to take it up a notch, try to eat as many of these colourful foods raw. This will help to preserve the food's antioxidant capacity, since heat from cooking can destroy it.
The best antioxidants for the skin include the following:
vitamins (A, C, E)
minerals (selenium and zinc)
polyphenols (plant chemicals)
Here are some personal favorites for antioxidant food sources:
Vitamin A - sweet potatoes and butternut squash
Vitamin C - red bell peppers, kiwis, strawberries and papaya
Vitamin E - almonds
Selenium - Brazil nuts and wild-caught salmon
Zinc - pumpkin seeds, lamb and grass-fed beef
Polyphenols - dark chocolate, green tea, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, pomegranate seeds
What’s next?
If you are experiencing skin issues like eczema, acne, hives etc., and are looking for support, book a free meet-and-greet with me. I would like to hear about the skin issues that you’re struggling with and discuss natural healing options! No pills, no creams, no needles. Let’s get your healthy skin back safely!
Want to learn more?
Jennifer Ide is a BIE Practitioner and Holistic Nutritionist, based in Toronto. She has helped many people with eczema, acne and hives, heal their skin naturally. She is here to support you and answer any questions that you have. There are many ways to connect. You can email directly (hyperlink to email), send a message on instagram @jenniferide, or book a free meet-and-greet. Connect and see how she can help you!
Disclaimer: Note that content on this website is intended for informational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, nor is it meant to diagnose or treat a health problem, symptom or disease.