Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body? It’s primary job is to protect all your internal organs, tissues, and cells from the outside elements. Given its size and function, it’s important to take care of your skin.
Like every other organ system, what you eat affects the health and look of your skin. At Montclair Rejuvenation Center, our team of aesthetic experts, including our medical director Dr. Kelly Destefano, wants nothing more than for you to love the look and feel of your skin.
Though we provide many innovative treatments to rejuvenate and revitalize your look, there are things you can do at home that help, too. Here, we want to share with you some of our skin-friendly snacks.
Sliced peppers and hummus
When it comes to the look and health of your skin, the sun is your biggest enemy. Too much exposure to the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays causes hyperpigmentation and wrinkles, not to mention skin cancer.
Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. Snacking on sliced peppers with hummus can up your intake of these skin-protecting nutrients.
Sweet red bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C and beta carotene, while the hummus provides some vitamin E, not to mention protein, zinc, and fiber.
Berry fruit salad
Vitamin C not only only protects your skin from damaging sun rays, but also supports the production of collagen. Collagen is the structural protein that keeps your youthful skin strong and resistant to lines and wrinkles.
Many of our skin rejuvenating treatments, including microneedling and PDO threads, work by stimulating your skin’s collagen production. Like those sweet red peppers, berries are an excellent source of vitamin C, including strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
During the winter months, make a citrus fruit salad with oranges and grapefruits to get more vitamin C in your diet to protect your skin. Kiwi fruit is also an excellent source of vitamin C.
Nuts and seeds
Essential fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 fats, affect the look and function of your skin. These fats support the structure of your skin, helping to keep out those harmful substances. These fats also act as anti-inflammatory agents.
Snacking on nuts and seeds ensures your skin gets these essential fats. Walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds are good sources of both omega-3 and omega-6 fats.
Almonds, sunflower seeds, and hazelnuts are excellent sources of vitamin E.
Avocado toast
Avocados make a great substitute for butter on your toast for many reasons. In addition to being a good source of monounsaturated fat, avocados also contain vitamin C, beta carotene, and vitamin E.
When it comes to health and diet, fat seems to fluctuate between good and bad. But adding healthy fats like those found in avocados not only benefit your overall health, but may also increase your skin’s elasticity.
Caprese salad
Tomatoes are also rich in carotenoids — beta carotene, lutein, and lycopene, which are nutrients that protect your skin against damage from the sun.
A caprese salad is made up of tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, and olive oil. The fat from the cheese and olive oil increases your body’s absorption of the carotenoids in the tomatoes, making it the perfect skin-friendly salad.
Though diet may protect your skin from the inside out, they also work from the outside in. That’s why we offer treatments that infuse nutrients into your skin like our HydraFacial® and PepFactor® treatments.
Snacking on these skin-friendly foods can improve the look and health of your skin. But when you want to take your look to the next level, we can help. Call our office in Verona, New Jersey, or use the book online tool to schedule a consultation today.
