Photo by James Carrier

Today’s woman would pay an arm, a leg, and possibly her second born if it would guarantee eternal youth and beauty, but don’t fret as no selling of your offspring is necessary. Top cosmetics, creams, and oils cannot hold a candle to the power of what can be found in your kitchen to enhance internal and external youthful aesthetics. The secret lies in feeding your body the proper ammunition to combat what causes the signs of aging, such as free radicals, UVA light, environmental toxins, and so on. Skin is attacked from within daily by toxins and free radicals as well as bombarded externally by dangerous UVA light which penetrates deeper than the UVBlight most seek for a tan. UVA light damages skin cells before visible signs are even present, breaking down skin collagen which holds skin’s firmness and leading to premature aging. Hair and nails easily grow brittle due merely to a lack of common nutrients. Cosmetic products serve to complement a woman’s natural beauty and not replace what some good self-care can gracefully bestow. The most advantageous way to achieve long-lasting glowing youth is by adding these powerful foods to your daily menu, thus giving your natural beauty a chance to shine through.

1. Blueberries- These delicious little berries are not only low in calories (about 80 calories per cup), but they are also ranked higher than any other fruit for antioxidant power. These antioxidants combat environmental toxins, collagen breakdown, UV damage, and so much more internal madness. One cup contains about 24% of the suggested daily consumption of vitamin C, an antioxidant which protects your hair and skin from free radicals and can also help boost collagen levels.

2. Tomatoes- This juicy vegetable is known for being rich in lycopene, a carotenoid (nutrient) that prevents premature aging and assists the skin in guarding itself from potential damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. With lycopene as a regular part of your nutrition, you will naturally develop smoother, healthier skin.

3. Wild Salmon- Omega-3 fatty acids are vital to any level of health as they maintain strong healthy cell walls to keep everything running smoothly. Wild salmon trumps most of the other food sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3’s prove to be an effective beauty “treatment” by assisting your skin in retaining moisture, which keeps your skin smooth and vibrant. The oil in salmon also promotes healthy, beautiful locks because it keeps your hair from drying out. If you aren’t a fan of fish, you could try walnuts, flaxseed, flaxseed oil supplements, or fish oil supplements.

4. Water- Up to 60% of the human body is made of water so it is no surprise that it is vital to a youthful and healthy body. Obviously water hydrates just about anything and everything you can think of and keeps that beautiful collagen strong. Water will also help detoxify you by flushing out the impurities your body produces.

5. Leafy greens- Greens such as spinach, kale, and broccoli contain high amounts of vitamin A and C. These vitamins help your body produce a natural oil known as sebum from your hair follicles to moisten your scalp and hair. Washing your hair too often with harsh shampoos can strip away this sebum, causing dry, brittle hair. Spinach also happens to be rich in vitamins B, C, and E, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. An easy way to incorporate more spinach is to simply trade out any use of lettuce for nutrient-dense spinach.

Sources:

WebMD: Blueberries: Nutritious Things Come in Small Packages – http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/blueberries-nutritious-things-come-in-small-packages_

The Water In You: USGS – http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html