“ We are what we eat ”. We have all said or heard this phrase at least once in our lives. It is the synthesis of the thought of Ludwig Feuerbach, a philosopher who in the 19th century dealt with and concerned himself with the essential connection between soul and body, asserting that the diet of a person or a people affects his behavior, his thought, and his consciousness.
We are what we eat, in slightly more concrete and practical terms, it is an absolute truth even on an aesthetic level. The foods we eat greatly influence our appearance, and the first part we show people, the most visible, is our skin. There is a direct connection between what we eat and the appearance of our skin. It happens to wake up in the morning with a few pimples too many, sadly thinking back to the binge of sweets or fried foods made the night before. But if it is true that some foods tend to "dirty" our skin and worsen it aesthetically, it is also true that other foods help to make it more beautiful and "clean".
So here are the 10 best foods to have healthy, beautiful, and glowing skin.
1. Avocados
Avocado consumption has increased a lot in Europe and Italy in recent years, thanks to a trend imported from overseas, from the United States. It is very popular on social media, so much so that the " avocado toast " or the colorful avocado salads are among the most photographed and posted dishes. However, not everyone is aware of the incredible properties of this fruit. In fact, avocado is rich in healthy fats that help protect the skin and keep it hydrated, thus slowing down skin aging. This fruit is also a good source of Vitamin E, a strong antioxidant.
2. Carrots
Carrots, rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, are excellent allies in the fight against aging. Vitamin C is very important in our body for the synthesis of new collagen, one of the two proteins essential for the structure of the skin (the other is elastin).
But the benefits of carrots don't end there, in fact, they contain very high levels of beta-carotene, a vegetable pigment that is transformed into vitamin A inside the body. This vitamin is useful for protecting the skin from UV rays and for repairing it, in fact, it is used in many treatments for acne, irritations, or eczema.
Beware of excessive consumption: if you eat too many carrots every day, some beta-carotene pigments may not be transformed into vitamin A and remain in the bloodstream for a long time. This stagnation of beta-carotene could "stain" the orange plasma and consequently also the skin. This condition is called carotenosis.
3. Green tea
Green tea is now omnipresent in all lines of cosmetic products currently on the market. As far as skincare products are concerned, it is mainly used for two reasons. The first is the presence in it of catechins, a group of substances capable of slowing down the degradation of collagen.
The second reason is the concentration of tannins, which with their dermoastringent and purifying properties are very useful in the treatment of oily and impure skin.
4. Salmon
Salmon is part of the fatty fish family, so defined because it is rich in Omega-3 fats, which are essential for skin health. In fact, Omega-3s are important because they keep the skin compact, elastic and hydrated. A lack of these fats can lead to dry skin and speed up skin aging.
5. Pomegranate
Pomegranate is certainly not among the most consumed fruits in Italy, but it is among the best anti-aging allies that can be found in nature. This fruit contains an incredible amount of anti-oxidants capable of counteracting the action of free radicals and preventing premature skin aging. In particular, these anti-oxidants are flavonoids, which in addition to having anti-aging properties also have anti-inflammatory and gastro-protective properties.
6. Almonds
In the aesthetic field, almonds are famous for an acid that is extracted from them, mandelic acid (Mandel in German means almond). However, this is not the only benefit that can be obtained from these seeds.
Almonds also contain many flavonoids, although less in percentage than pomegranate. On the other hand, however, they have a high concentration of alpha-tocopherol, a nutrient that is part of the vitamin E family. Alpha-tocopherol is able to offer strong protection to the skin against harmful UV rays.
7. Broccoli
Broccoli is part of the large family of plants commonly called cabbage, in fact in some parts of Italy, they are called broccoli. It is a plant whose unripe inflorescences are eaten instead of the leaves.
Broccoli is rich in vitamin C, a collagen production stimulant, and vitamin A, which protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation. These plants are also rich in glucoraphanin and when consumed it turns into sulforaphane, a substance that stimulates the skin's repair process and helps it stay healthy.
8. Garlic
Garlic has been famous for its incredible antibiotic properties for centuries, dating back to medieval times. On the other hand, it is less known for its excellent properties for the skin, but no less effective for this. Garlic is a good source of vitamins C and B6, potassium, iron, magnesium, and calcium, making it a food with strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics.
9. Red wine
The famous legend that a glass of red wine a day is good for you may have some truth to it.
The red grape from which the wine is made is rich in resveratrol, known to be one of the best anti-oxidants found in nature. It is considered a real fountain of youth, but it must be specified that actually, it would be better to eat red grapes directly, rather than drinking wine.
This is obviously because wine contains a dose of alcohol which is an accelerator of skin aging.
10. Oysters
Of all the foods we have listed, oysters are certainly the least economical, but they could be a small luxury to indulge in every now and then to help our skin.
The fundamental element of this thesis is the presence of high concentrations of zinc in oysters. Zinc, in addition to having anti-oxidant properties, plays a fundamental role in the production of new collagen, together with vitamin C.
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