Have you ever thought about the roles that skin plays? Skin holds our body fluids in, skin keeps harmful microbes out, skin is chock-full of nerve endings that help us feel cold, heat, and pain, skin helps regulate the body temperature via sweat glands, and skin comes into contact, every day, with a plethora of elements. These are a lot of amazing things, right? And all the more reason why each of us should take care of our skin. Did you know that when skin is exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays, it produces vitamin D? Vitamin D is an essential vitamin for healthy skin.
Another amazing thing is that there are certain foods that can help diminish wrinkles, give you a more glowing complexion, and keep your skin soft and smooth. Here are some foods that you'll want to put on your grocery list.
Dark Chocolate. High in antioxidant properties from cocoa flavanols, dark chocolate can help improve circulation and hydrate skin.
Kale. Kale is high in nutrients called lutein and zeaxanthin, which absorb and neutralize free radicals created by UV light.
Olive Oil. It has been noted that the monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant polyphenols found in olive oil plays a role in boosting youthful skin.
Rosemary. A study by the International Journal of Epidemiology found that people who consumed four or more herbs regularly had a 60% reduced risk of melanoma.
Sardines. Just one serving of sardines contains 1.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 found in sardines is called DHa, which is an anti-inflammatory.
Tomatoes. Tomatoes contain an antioxidant called lycopene, and lycopene improves skin's natural SPF.
The next time you're enjoying, say, tomatoes you can delight in the fact that they're helping you stay healthy!