health and wellbeing
Do you want beautiful skin?
words by
lee teusner // go vita tanunda
Get healthy skin sorted with the best anti-ageing foods and nutrients.
It’s true: you are what you eat.
Your diet may be the best resource your skin has to help it fight the outward signs of disease and ageing.
Stress, processed foods, and foods lacking in the correct nutrients are common culprits, resulting in faster ageing of the skin, a greater incidence of skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis, and undesirable lines and undereye bags.
A diet rich in the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E and monounsaturated fats has been found to reduce wrinkling later in life.
You need not spend a small fortune at the cosmetic counter on a cream that promises the world – you can support and improve your skin simply by switching up what you eat.
10 of our favourite skin foods
Acai: This berry has one of the highest ORAC (antioxidant) values on earth, making it a supercharged wrinkle fighter.
Avocado: Avocados contain skin healthy fats, which help control moisture levels.
Brewer’s yeast: A rich source of B vitamins, all the essential amino acids and 15 minerals which give your skin the energy it needs to generate new cells.
Dried fruit: A great source of iron, which plays a vital role in the formation of the collagen ‘scaffolding’ that keeps your skin taut, strong and resistant to damage.
Hemp seeds: Full of the rejuvenating fatty acids linolenic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, which are responsible for the shine in your skin and hair.
Soy: In laboratory studies, fibroblasts (the cells that produce collagen) produced more collagen and hyaluronic acid (a structural component of the skin) when they were exposed to soy. Soy’s high concentrations of isoflavones are thought to be the reason.
Sunflower seeds: These contain phytoestrogens, which help to fight wrinkles and strengthen skin against the hormone-induced dryness, roughness and pigmentation which may occur during perimenopause and menopause.
Sweet potato: Packed with vitamin A, which supports the growth of new skin cells and stimulates skin cells to divide and repair, giving you a more
glowing complexion.
Water: Drink up! Water is involved in every bodily function. It also flushes toxins from the body, especially from the skin.
Nutrients to the rescue
More good news: several supplemental nutrients, including vitamin C, marine collagen, and phytochemicals, will help the skin to repair damage, build support structures, stay moist, and prevent disease and infection.
Collagen is the skin’s main structural component.
The body cannot make it without vitamin C, so if you do not have an adequate intake of foods like oranges and strawberries, your skin can lose firmness; if your diet is poor, supplementing with marine collagen is a very effective means of holding the ageing process at bay.
The health of your skin is intimately connected to that of your hair and nails, so ensuring your skin has the nutrients it needs to function properly and look radiant will have the beautiful side benefits of helping your hair regain its softness and shine and strengthening your fingernails.
Our top four nutrients to support skin health
Marine collagen: Verisol® marine collagen has been proven to promote noticeably firmer, smoother skin and longer, stronger nails.
Vitamin C: This powerful antioxidant, water-soluble vitamin can prevent skin damage and reduce the ageing effects.
Green tea: Has gained popularity as an anti-ageing superfood which appears to inhibit inflammation and protect skin from damaging oxidising toxins.
Astaxanthin: Is a powerful antioxidant to protect, nourish, hydrate and revitalise skin.
Beauty boosting smoothie
Blend together:
- ½ frozen banana
- 1 cup blueberries/strawberries
- 1 tbsp hemp seeds
- 1 tbsp Natural Road Almond spread
- 1 tsp NutriVital Beauty Collagen
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- Organic Road Maple Syrup to taste (optional)
