The world is on the hunt for the secret to healthy, radiant skin, but the answer may be right under our nose.
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides an immeasurable number of benefits. However, certain colored fruits and vegetables may be the key to unlocking better looking skin.
Red colored produce contain antioxidant compounds, such as polyphenols, that have been shown to help protect skin from damage, prevent wrinkles, and even increase blood flow for a radiant glow.
What Fruits are Considered Red Fruits?
The good news is, red fruits and veggies are easy to spot. Simply check the color. For example, berries, grapes, pomegranates, cherries, beets, and acai are a few nutrient-rich options your skin will love.
Because these foods share a similar spot on the spectrum of color, they all contain anthocyanins. This is the compound responsible for the red coloring of these fruits and veggies. It also acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory to protect your skin from damage [1].
Reds Can Improve Blood Flow
One of the biggest perks of many red foods is the high polyphenol content. Polyphenols act as antioxidants that can help to protect the skin against damaging free radicals from our environment. Polyphenols also help to boost our body’s nitric oxide levels.
Nitric oxide helps to maintain and regulate the health of our skin. It acts as a strong vasodilator, a compound that helps to increase the flow of blood through our circulatory system. Vasodilation allows more blood to flow to the skin which can create a healthy glow, enhancing the physical quality of our skin [2].
Benefits of Reds for Skin Health
Consuming plant foods that contain this rich red color comes with many health benefits. Aside from polyphenols and anthocyanins, red foods vary in type and amount of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Consuming a variety of these different foods can help to ensure you are getting the proper protection for your skin from the inside out.
There are many environmental factors that can wreak havoc on the health and appearance of our skin. Pollution, smoke exposure, sun exposure, and certain cosmetic products can cause us to age prematurely. In this case, there aren’t enough topical products in the world to help you fight the damage these can cause.
Although it may sound easy to eat more red foods, it can be easier if you have access to a high-quality concentrated supplement to help you ensure your needs are met. These are usually marketed as reds powder superfood supplements, such as Naked Nutrition’s Naked Reds.
This product uses a blend of apple, blueberry, maqui, cranberry, elderberry, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, acai, dragonfruit, and pomegranate to help you boost your skin’s health without the extra sugar.
Other Foods that Help with Skin Appearance
There are many skin-loving foods out there besides just red foods. For example, foods that are rich in healthy fats, such as avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish like salmon, help skin retain moisture and look more youthful.
Avocados, nuts, and seeds are also rich in vitamin E. This vitamin acts as an antioxidant and is commonly lacking in the American diet. Some nuts and seeds, such as walnuts, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These fats help to fight inflammation and reduce our skin’s sensitivity to UV rays.
Additionally, drinking green tea has also been found to have benefits for skin health. Green tea contains compounds known as catechins. These are antioxidants that can help protect the skin against sun damage.
Lifestyle Habits for Beautiful Skin
Aside from choosing a healthy and well-balanced diet, there are other important lifestyle habits you need to know in order to protect your skin.
The food we choose is important, but so are the beverages. Skip the sugar and caffeine-laden drinks for water. Staying hydrated can help to keep your skin hydrated and plump. Bonus, it also gives you more energy and helps you maintain a healthy weight.
Avoiding certain lifestyle choices such as smoking or heavy drinking can help to keep our skin youthful. Always wear sunscreen whenever you plan to be outside and avoid using a lot of products on your skin.
Lastly, limit stress and be sure to prioritize sleep. Sleep deprivation and high-stress levels can age you dramatically. Your health and your happiness are more important than staying up late or stressing about deadlines at work.
TL;DR
Red-colored produce contains antioxidant compounds that can help protect skin from damage, prevent wrinkles, and even increase blood flow for a radiant glow. Foods such as berries, grapes, pomegranates, cherries, beets, and acai fall into this category.
One of the biggest perks of many red foods is the high polyphenol content, which helps to boost nitric oxide levels, bringing more blood flow and nutrients to our skin. Aside from choosing a healthy diet, maintaining adequate hydration, avoiding sun damage, smoking and heavy drinking, stress, and getting adequate sleep can help to keep your skin healthy and beautiful.
