Five Foods for Flawless Skin including Chocolate

Australians spend over $8 billion on skincare products every year¹, but when it comes to achieving a truly flawless complexion, it’s vital to nourish your skin from the inside.

According to Sheila Zhou, expert Scientist at USANA, a leading producer of high quality supplements*, “Most people don’t realise diet is a major factor when it comes to having healthy skin. Older cells are constantly shedding and being replaced by new ones, meaning nutrients and hydration is essential to support this fast paced growth process. By consuming the correct foods, paired with a regular skin care routine, you can count on being blemish free.”

Sheila’s tops five foods that will help you achieve flawless skin:

1. Chocolate. It sounds too good to be true doesn’t it?! Many of us have grown up believing chocolate causes break outs, but it actually contains numerous minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium which are great for your skin. Also, chocolates rich in flavanols provides dietary antioxidants that confer photo-protection from within, and helps keep everything plump and elasticised².

2. Turkey. Turkey meat has a high level of an ingredient called selenium, a mineral that plays a major role in the health of developing skin cells. Recent studies also show selenium has the ability to prevent sunburned cells from forming on human skin³. So make this meat more than a Christmas classic, and enjoy the benefits all year around.

3. Sweet potato. When it comes to vegetables that banish blemishes, sweet potato is the ultimate choice. It is loaded with retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, and this particular ingredient works to speed up the cell renewal process⁴. Not only does this act as a natural exfoliate, but it also nourishes the skin underneath, a win win!

4. Sardines. Whether they’re fresh or canned, sardines are a great way to prevent age spots and wrinkles. This particular fish is loaded with anti-inflammatory omega-3 essential fatty acids and iron which help the body transport oxygen to skin follicles⁵.

5. Spinach. Green vegetables are known for their health benefits, but what most people don’t know, is that spinach may help to reduce the risk of skin cancer⁶. As it is rich in folate, vitamin A, C, E, and carotenoids, spinach may help boost the skin’s natural defence against damage caused by UV rays, helps with DNA repair and cell regeneration. So make sure you slip, slop, slap, and spinach.

*Vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet. Use only as directed. Always read the label.

References:
1. https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/managing-your-money/budgeting/spending/australian-spending-habits
2. http://authoritynutrition.com/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate/
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21177458
4. http://www.dietobio.com/vegetarisme/en/vit_a.html
5. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/prevention/nutrition/food-choices/omega-3-fatty-acids
6. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=43