5 foods that are great for your skin

Berries are great for the skin and two ways to include them in your diet is to add them to smoothies or cereals. Source: Lilia’s photos/Flickr

Nutrition plays a big role in not just keeping you healthy but also to ensure overall well-being. What goes in your body can have far reaching effects, especially when it comes to skin care. Your skin tends to look listless, dry and becomes prone to skin conditions such as acne if the diet that you follow is lacking in nutrients. The trick to healthy, youthful skin is to aim for a balanced diet, rich in essential vitamins and minerals. We speak to Karishma Sakhrani, Masterchef finalist on five foods that are great for your skin.

Citrus fruits and berries are rich in Vitamin C. The antioxidant properties of Vitamin C work to neutralise free radicals and prevent the signs of ageing. It helps stimulate skin’s rate of natural exfoliation. Vitamin C also stimulates collagen production to prevent the formation of wrinkles and enhances skin’s radiance and overall texture.

Spinach is rich in vitamins and minerals essential for healthy skin. Source: Logan Ingalls/Flickr

Spinach is also highly recommended when it comes to skin care. This leafy veggie is packed with iron, and is also a great source of essential vitamins like Vitamin A, C, E and Vitamin K. It also has vital minerals like zinc, potassium and magnesium that help maintain skin health to an optimum. Including spinach in your daily diet can go a long way to keep your skin looking young.

Tomatoes are also rich in Vitamin C and go a long way in maintaining immunity and overall well-being. Their high content of lycopene, a beta carotene helps keep the skin youthful and supple. Lycopene has also been proven to help combat the ill-effects of UV rays and harsh sunlight, thus delaying the onslaught of wrinkles.

Peas are rich in Vitamin E and C and the antioxidant mineral zinc, which helps reduce and neutralise cell damage. These green little globules are packed with antioxidants like flavonoids, catechin, epicatechin, carotenoid, alpha carotene, which help slow down skin ageing and help in keeping your skin looking supple and young.

Papain enzyme is a natural exfoliator and enhances skin elasticity as well. Photograph by Japanexperterna.se/Flickr

Papaya is great for your skin too. The enzyme papain helps reduce wrinkles by enhancing collagen and elasticity of fibre in the dermal layer. Not just that, the enzyme is a natural exfoliator and helps to shed dead skin cells, giving your skin an even tone. A serving of ripe papaya has ample fat, carobhydrate and fat content needed to hydrate and moisturize skin.

Sakhrani believes that eating healthy is to “become more conscious and aware of its benefits. When you know what is going in to your system and its benefits or ill effects, you’re more likely to make the correct choices.” She will be conducting a workshop on healthy salads and has partnered with Kiehl’s India for the launch of their facial oils that can be dubbed as breakfast for skin at Keihl’s, Palladium on October 14, between 12 pm and 3 pm.