The adage, “you are what you eat” is one that just keeps getting truer as time goes on. The more we know about nutrition, the more important our diet becomes. The great news is that some of our favorite summer fruits are also wonderful for our skin, too!
That’s right, the sweet, fresh treats you look forward to getting at your local market are great for your body and your skin. So, enjoy them while they last.
1. Strawberries
An early summer favorite, these bright red beauties are bursting with flavor and antioxidants. The reason this is so important is that oxidative stress is known to cause premature aging with wrinkles and age spots. Antioxidants fight oxidation to help keep your skin looking youthful and “plump.”
In addition to the antioxidants, strawberries contain salicylic acid, which is also known as alpha hydroxy acid, a popular ingredient for fighting acne. If you’re battling acne, make strawberries a frequent treat, and you can stop pimples before they form.
2. Plums
Plums are another fruit that’s packed with antioxidants, which will boost your cell-damaging free radical fighting abilities. One known benefit of plums is the fact that they relive constipation and while this might not be obvious, it’s a great way to improve your skin’s appearance and health.
Plums contain sorbitol, which is known to relieve constipation and improve regularity. When you’re regular toxins are removed from your body in a natural manner. If you’re not regular, then your body will look to expel toxins through your skin, which is your largest organ. This can lead to unhealthy looking skin and acne issues.
You’ll also find sorbitol in cosmetics because it’s a humectant, which means it pulls moisture from the air to prevent drying and dehydration.
3. Papaya
Papayas are a popular fruit for cosmetics, and you can get all the goodness from them by eating them or making a papaya mask at home.
It’s the papain in papaya that makes it so amazing. Papain helps the skin in a variety of ways which includes, functioning as an antioxidant, fighting acne, working as an exfoliator and skin softener, lightening skin, and boosting skin renewal.
4. Tangerines
If you want a boost of vitamin C and vitamin A together, try a cup of tangerines. Tangerines have about 1300IU of Vimatin A and 52mg of vitamin C for every cup of tangerines you eat. That’s a powerful dose of immunity-boosting power, but vitamin A also helps with skin cell regeneration and protects against UV damage.
In addition, vitamin C is proven to have a beneficial effect on the skin when taken both orally and used topically. Include tangerines in your favorite salad or look to Simple Beauty’s Daily Purifying Cleanser, which contains tangerine oil.
5. Raspberries
Is there anything more delicious than a sun-sweetened raspberry fresh off the plant? While this taste is pretty unbeatable, the little raspberry also makes a big case for its skincare properties.
Raspberries boost skin health in four impressive ways.
♦ They fight the signs of aging with vitamin C and antioxidants.
♦ Raspberries have ellagic acid, which can protect your skin from UV rays, reduce wrinkles, fight inflammation, and possibly prevent chronic diseases.
♦ Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents work together to reduce swelling, redness, and sensitive skin symptoms.
♦ The anthocyanin in raspberries makes your skin look brighter, healthier, and more youthful.
6. Blueberries
These little blue balls of sweetness are a delicious treat in the summertime, and they’re full of amazing nutrients. Blueberries contain vitamin C, anthocyanins, gallic acid, resveratrol, and antioxidants. All of these things work wonders on your skin, and when combined, give you just the edge you need to keep your skin looking youthful and vibrant.
To put it simply
Berries are abundant this time of year, add to them some other fruits, and you’ve got the perfect cocktail for fantastic skin. Whether you’re going to make a dynamic face mask or you’re going to consume these foods, they’re sure to give your skin an added boost of health and a youthful appearance.
Look for the different nutritional features of your favorite foods and see how they play into your skincare needs. Try mixing them in different ways to see if you can combat your skin issues and battle back in the way nature intended.
Remember, eating fruits can be great for skin and overall health, but they can be used in other ways too. Try creating your own masks and moisturizers to reap rewards you didn’t even know were possible.