EAT YOURSELF BEAUTIFUL
Yes … beauty products are important, I love them and have a slight addiction to new organic botanicals. But personal habits and vitamin intake can go a long way to help you feeling beautiful, fabulous and vibrant.
Vitamins help our body fight aging and help us all age more gracefully.. Antioxidants are particularly effective because antioxidants help your body manage oxidative stress before damage occurs. Most recipes at Nourished are high in antioxidants, which is why I love cooking easy healthy whole food recipes. It is an effective way to promote a vibrant and youthful appearance.
Getting essential vitamins our body needs from food is ideal instead of popping pills. Our bodies are just better equipped to process and utilize the natural vitamins found in food where they are extremely bioavailable and your body can utilize them. Not to say I don’t supplement because I do. Taking a whole-food based multivitamin supplement is good insurance. Make sure it contains D3 and the B complex family of vitamins, instead of taking a dozen different pills.
Here are my top beautifying vitamins and foods to keep you looking your best from the inside out. So Open Your Fridge and Eat Up.
BETA CAROTENE
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Spinach
- Kale
- Turnip greens
Benefits:
Beta carotene converts to retinol, which is an active form of vitamin A. It has immune-enhancing properties that can prevent damage from illness and inflammation and is high in antioxidant activity and anti-aging compounds, which prevent cell damage and promote health.
VITAMIN A
- Sweet potato
- Carrots
- Dark leafy greens
- Winter squash
- Kale
Benefits:
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. It plays a role in maintaining healthy vision, strengthens your immune system, and help maintains cell growth and renewal. It is also an antioxidant that fights oxidative stress.
VITAMIN C
- Citrus fruits
- Bell peppers
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Kiwi
Benefits:
Vitamin C is a great antioxidant, and can provide protection against free-radical damage. It can also help with iron absorption to maintain your blood, as well as assisting with vitamin E regeneration. Vitamin C is also protective against many health conditions, including certain cancers and cataracts.
VITAMIN E
- Sunflower seeds
- Almonds
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Tomato
- Hazelnuts
Benefits:
Another fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin E is an antioxidant that can protect your skin from UV damage, fight free-radical damage both topically and internally, and protect you against disease.
VITAMIN K
- Dark leafy greens
- Romaine lettuce
- Broccoli
- Parsley
Benefits:
Vitamin K helps blood clot, and can help prevent one of the visible signs of aging: dark circles under your eyes. These are often caused by leaky capillaries, so consuming vitamin K-rich foods is a great way to clot the blood before it creates puffy, dark circles. It can also help you maintain bone strength, which is important for osteoporosis prevention.
B COMPLEX VITAMINS
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Sunflower seeds
- Potatoes
- Nutritional yeast
Benefits:
There are several B-complex vitamins, but those that can really help you with aging include niacin, which helps your skin retain moisture, and biotin, which helps keep your hair and nails healthy and strong.