Want glowing skin in just six weeks? It’s easier—and cheaper—than most people realize.
Researchers at the University of St. Andrews analyzed the connection between skin color and diet.1 Participants who ate one extra portion of a certain food combination a day had an increase in flattering undertones and overall darkness of skin color. And it only took six weeks.
“Everybody wants a pill or a short cut and I’ve always said that if you want to have beautiful healthy skin, you have to eat the right foods,” said Dr. Doris Day, spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology.2
| Brighten up your complexion with strawberries. Mash them up and rub them directly on your face. They are loaded with vitamin C and high in ellagic acid which helps moisturize and fade dark spots. They’re a natural exfoliator and they combat oil. |
So where do you find the secret to healthier, rosier-looking skin?
Visit the produce aisle. You’ll get your radiant skin from fruits and vegetables. And the more colorful they are the better.
Fruits and vegetables contain carotenoids that give them their rich hue. They make carrots orange and tomatoes red. Those carotenoids build up in your bloodstream and skin to give it that glowing color.
But how much do you need to eat to look healthier?
Not as much as you think. Using pictures of two men and two women researchers created 22 versions to show how they would look if they ate various quantities of fruits and vegetables. Participants thought the men and women looked healthy at 2.9 servings and more attractive at 3.3 servings a day.
No make-up, no tan, no chemicals… Just 3.3 servings of fruits and vegetables a day and you have beautiful skin. A study published by the journal Evolution and Human Behavior found that people actually preferred the golden skin color caused by eating carotenoids over coloring from the sun.3 And that’s good news of course. Too much sun damages the skin. Carotenoids protect it. They repair damage caused by everyday stresses and strains. That includes sun damage.
And the benefits don’t end there…
Beta-carotene, a type of carotenoid, not only prevents and repairs damage, it helps decrease wrinkles.4 So you not only look healthier, you look younger. Great sources of carotenoids include carrots, papaya, tomatoes, peaches, and bell peppers. But don’t be fooled by color. You can also get them from dark green vegetables. For the biggest benefit, eat your fruits and veggies raw or lightly steamed.
Fruits and vegetables are vital for a healthy diet. And they’re crucial for healthy, beautiful skin.
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References:
1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22412966
2 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/08/veggies-change-skin-tone_n_1324549.html
3 http://www.ehbonline.org/article/S1090-5138(10)00116-9/abstract
4 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20516658