30 Sec Answer: Eating foods rich in Vitamin C, carotenoids and flavonoids can help to give your skin a healthy pinkish hue.
Introduction
When it comes to maintaining the youthful appearance of our skin, many of us look for quick-fix solutions. But before you start looking into expensive treatments, take a step back and consider what we eat – the food that makes up our diets could be making a big difference when it comes to keeping our skin looking its best. What we put into our bodies is just as important as what we put onto them when it comes to skin health. So, let’s look at what kind of foods make your skin pink?
What are Carotenoids and Flavonoids?
Before we jump into what types of food are most likely to give you that rosy glow, let’s quickly look at two key nutrients found in fruits and vegetables: carotenoids and flavonoids.
Carotenoids are red or orange pigments produced by plants and algae. They are fat-soluble and act as antioxidants, meaning they protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. The human body cannot produce carotenoids on its own but must get them through diet.
Flavonoids are plant-based compounds known for their antioxidant properties and are found naturally in fruit and vegetables. Flavonoids also provide structure to plants, helping them absorb sunlight more efficiently. Similar to carotenoid molecules, flavonoid molecules can also scavenge free radicals in the human body, protecting our cells from damage caused by these unstable atoms.
Foods Rich in Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient found in many fruits and vegetables. It is responsible for keeping tissues strong, repairing wounds, supporting collagen production and providing protection against disease-causing germs. In addition to all of this, vitamin C can also help keep your skin looking pink! Vitamin C helps increase the circulation of blood around your body which results in giving your skin a healthy pinkish hue. Fruits high in Vitamin C include oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, pineapples and kiwis; while green leafy veggies such as spinach and kale are good sources too.
Foods Rich in Carotenoids
As previously mentioned carotenoids play an important role when it comes to keeping your skin looking healthy with a rosy hue – so make sure you include plenty of carotene-rich foods in your diet! Some excellent sources include carrots (obviously!), sweet potatoes, pumpkins and squash; along with apricots, mangos, peaches and papayas! Leafy greens such as spinach, kale and Swiss chard are great sources too!
Foods Rich in Flavonoids
Just like carotenoids flavonoids have been proven to help give your skin a natural pinkish colour – plus they’re packed with antioxidants which will protect your skin from environmental aggressors! Great sources of flavonoid-rich foods include blueberries, blackberries, apples and pears; along with dark chocolate (yes really!) nuts such as almonds and walnuts; tea leaves; legumes such as lentils and beans; red onions; garlic; peppers; citrus fruits; parsley; ginger; tomatoes; olives…and even wine (in moderation)!
Getting Creative With Recipes
Now that we know which foods contain these key nutrients for keeping our skins looking its best – why not get creative with recipes! There are endless ways to combine ingredients to create tasty meals that deliver essential vitamins & minerals directly to your plate! Get experimenting with soups & stews filled with winter squashes & root vegetables (which happen to be abundant sources of both carotene & flavonoid molecules); try adding some turmeric or chilli powder for added flavour & extra spice (which come loaded with their own powerful anti-inflammatory compounds!). Try blending up smoothies made with tropical fruits rich in Vitamin C or baking delicious muffins using blueberries full of flavonoid antioxidants…the possibilities really are endless!
Final Thoughts
Including plenty of nutritious whole foods into our daily diets plays an incredibly important role when it comes to having healthier looking skin. From vitamins & minerals that protect us from free radical damage & oxidative stress – to nutrients that help improve circulation & boost complexion – there are so many incredible benefits we can get simply by making smarter eating choices! Eating foods rich in Vitamin C, carotenoids & flavonoids can help keep your skin glowing with a healthy pinkish hue – so don’t forget about the power of nutrition when it comes to taking care of yourself inside & out!