Five Superfoods for a Glowing Complexion

Living in a place like Florida, where temperatures 9 out of the 12 months range between the mid '70s-'80s, the warmth often calls for baring your natural skin in the daylight. Many brands and products claim to hold the secret to perfect, glowing skin that they sell in small serums and topicals that can sometimes be quite overpriced --with results that range with each person. However, the unfortunate truth is that there is no one special ingredient that magically makes your complexion glow or fixes those pesky breakouts that appear out of nowhere. While you can spend money on different types of treatments with the hopes of improving your skin, there are superfoods out there that are just as effective for achieving a naturally glowing, healthy complexion from the inside-out. Not only do these foods hold other health benefits for your body, but they are much more affordable than many high-end skin treatments and topicals on the market, here are a few suggestions that I have found to be beneficial for me and research has shown to help brighten your skin:

Image Courtesy: San Louis Farmers Market Association

Image Courtesy: Fruitful Yield

1. Water

   While this option seems obvious, many of us (including myself) are guilty of depriving our bodies and skin of water. Not only is water a healthier choice in comparison to sodas and juices loaded with sugar, but staying hydrated is essential to replenish your skin and brightening your complexion.

2. Avocado

   Packed with vitamin E and C, which boost skin vitality and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, avocados are not only delicious but can also make your skin look younger and reduce inflammation. Additionally, avocados contain mono-saturated fatty acids to help keep the epidermis moisturized and are helpful for your overall skin health.

3. Broccoli

   This green contains vitamins A, C, E, K, and B-complex to revitalize skin as well as omega-3 fatty acids that support skin cell function for firmness.

4. Green Tea

   Aside from being beneficial for your overall health, green tea is known for its properties that defend against not only visible aging, but also skin cancer and sun damage as well. Powdered green tea leaves, referred to as matcha, is said to be the most beneficial form of green tea, with its higher concentration of vitamins and antioxidants.

5. Eggs
   Eggs contain biotin, an essential vitamin that protects against dry skin. In addition, eggs are high in protein, which aids in the generation of new skin cells due to amino acids. The two major antioxidants found in eggs, lutein and zeaxanthin, are known to increase more than four times the protection against UV damage that leads to brown spots and cancer.

   With this in mind, I would like to remind you that these are foods that I have learned through online research and my own experiences to help improve and brighten one’s skin. Just as there is no miracle serum to improve your complexion, there is no one miracle food that will do the same. In addition, it is also important to moisturize and use SPF to protect against UV damage, which leads to lines, brown spots, and even cancer. I have found these superfoods to be very helpful in brightening my own complexion, and I would also like to reiterate that diet can sometimes play a factor in how healthy your skin is. For example, I personally have discovered that cutting out dairy has helped to clear my skin of acne tremendously, however everyone’s bodies are different, and different methods will work for different people.  If you want to take a more natural approach to better skin, these superfoods are generally known to improve all skin types in general.

   Strike Out,

   Writer: Kailen Bender

   Editor: Giselle Parks and Savannah Tindall

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