Great looking complexions are more than skin deep, and fall foods can maximize your inner beauty.
By Mikkel Hyldebrandt
Good skincare that works solely on the surface of the skin is only half the battle. If you really want to have great-looking skin, you need to consider what you eat as well as how to take advantage of the season’s natural bounty.
When it comes to your appearance, taking advantage of the autumn harvest can be good and good for you in multiple ways.
After all, your skin is your body’s biggest organ, so it makes sense that what you eat is reflected from the inside all the way to the outside. With these fall foods to eat as well as foods to wear, your healthiest look gives “feeding your face” a whole new meaning.
Leafy Greens
Spinach, kale, turnip and mustard greens, as well as salad mixes are excellent sources of Vitamins B, C, E. They also boast the more rare Vitamin K, which prevents and heals bruises and marks on the skin, and are rich sources of antioxidants that help prevent damage from sun exposure and pollution.
Go Nuts
Nuts are masters at providing fatty Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids, the building blocks that help skin retain moisture. The protein in nuts also stimulates hair follicles for a fuller, stronger mane. Walnuts, pecans and other tree nuts are better than legumes like peanuts or cashews.
Oil It Up
To ensure elasticity and bounce by supporting the skin’s collagen fibers, the best oils are pure, not processed, so go for anything cold-pressed or “virgin.” Olive and coconut oils are rich in nutrients for the skin, and Avocado is a miracle fruit with fatty Omega-9 acids that closely mimic the oils naturally occurring in our skin. Also consider fish oils rich in Omega-3.
Fruits & Berries
High levels of Vitamin C keep the skin firm, and berries pack antioxidant power to prevent skin destruction on a cellular level. Blueberries and cranberries are the most super SuperFood berries, and while you’ll want to keep your apple a day routine, add more exotic fruits like kiwi for even higher antioxidants.
Food to Wear
While eating right can help you look beautiful from the outside in, foods from the autumn harvest are also great in homemade fall facemasks. Here’s a recipe for one that moisturizes and leaves skin silky.
Ingredients:
2 tsp Steamed, Baked or Microwaved Pumpkin
2-3 Large Grapes
1 Tbsp Grated Apple
1 Tbsp Honey
1 Egg Yolk
Sprinkle of Oat Flour or Oatmeal
Blend everything except oats in a food processor or mash with mortar and pestle. Add only enough oat for consistency. Apply and leave for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water. You can also apply to eyes only with cotton pads and rinse after about 10 minutes.
Adapted from AlkalineFoods.net. For additional masks for your specific skin type, search recipes that use peas, carrots and rosehips, all more plentiful during autumn.
