Perfect Skin Foods

Americans spend more than $7 billion on beauty products each year, and $100 million of that goes toward acne treatments. Now, if each product did exactly what it says it does, the cost would be worth it. But we’ve all felt the disappointment when a pimple cream doesn’t produce the results you want. Instead of washing your money down the drain, try shifting your focus to the fridge. That’s where you’ll find foods like mushrooms, leafy greens and tomatoes, which can all soften your skin and reduce annoying breakouts. Mushrooms can help anyone brighten their complexion, but they work double duty for expecting moms by diminishing the risk of developing stretch marks, too! Mushrooms are high in zinc, a mineral that speeds up healing. Duke University researchers have linked zinc with enhanced wound healing. But they’re not the only ones who have witness the therapeutic power of vegetables. Many dermatologists recognize zinc, along with vitamin A, and tea tree oil as over-the-counter remedies for treating acne. Leafy green vegetables are known for their ability to restore elasticity to the skin. The antioxidant lutein - found in spinach, kale and collard greens, as well as broccoli, corn and egg yolks - helps destroy the free radicals that damage collagen and lead to wrinkles. According to a new French study, a daily lutein supplement leads to increased skin hydration and elasticity. Participants took 10 mg of lutein every day for 12 weeks. But with 27 milligrams of lutein - just one cup of raw kale serves up more than twice that amount. We can’t talk about skin health without mentioning the importance of sun block. But I’m not talking about thick, greasy lotions. I’m talking about lycopene. Lycopene is the phytochmical that makes tomatoes red and helps to eliminate free radicals caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Cooking tomatoes helps concentrate their lycopene levels, so marinara sauce, salsa and even ketchup pack on the protection too. So does a hunk of lycopene-rich watermelon for those hot summer days. Just beware the added sodium in processed tomato foods. Stock your fridge with these foods, and you’ll have skin that looks and feels great. To learn more about the best foods for every part of your body, check out other videos in this series.