6 Foods That Keep You Looking Young

There are so many products out there designed to keep us looking young, from our skin to our hair. But youth, like many other things, comes from within.  One of the easiest and most effective ways to stay healthy and youthful is to pay close attention to what you put inside your body, and take advantage of the natural benefits that come from certain foods.  We’ve explored many natural beauty remedies here on the blog and it is amazing how many things come down to what you eat.  Today I wanted to share 6 foods that can keep you looking young if made a regular part of your diet – read on to find out how!

1. Leafy Greens

Leafy greens like kale and spinach are packed with lutein, which protects your skin from sun damage and wrinkles. These greens are also very rich in vitamin C, an essential building block of collagen. Collagen is a vital element of youthful looking skin that begins to break down as we age. Getting a healthy dose of leafy greens in your diet will help keep your skin looking smooth and youthful. Try this healthy green smoothie recipe!

2. Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects your skin from sun damage.  The lycopene works from within, reducing skin redness and UV damage to keep your skin healthy. To take it a step further, you can blend tomatoes and almonds to create a face mask! If you’d prefer to stick to eating them, try this French Tomato Soup with Gruyere.

3. Carrots

Carrots contain beta-carotene, which when ingested is converted to Vitamin A, which stimulates skin cell growth and builds collagen.  Beta-carotene is also a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from damaging free radicals.  Eating carrots can also whiten your teeth, adding to your youthful appearance – they act almost like a natural toothbrush that cleans the surface of the teeth.  Try this carrot ginger juice recipe!

4. Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are known for their high levels of Vitamin C, which is essential to building collagen.  Citrus is also rich in bioflavonoids that protect the skin from sun damage. In addition to consuming citrus there are a number of ways you can use it topically as well – lemon body scrubs are great for exfoliating and brightening your skin!

5. Blueberries

Blueberries are the highest in antioxidants among all the berries, which help protect your body from damaging free radicals (read more about antioxidants here). Their powerful anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce skin redness and wrinkles, and they can even reduce the mental effects of aging.  Blueberries are full of anthocyanin – giving them their dark color – which can slow down the loss of mental function that comes with aging.  Get a healthy dose of blueberry with this healthy juice recipe!

6. Sweet Potato

Last but certainly not least, sweet potatoes are another food rich in beta-carotene, which works to balance your skin’s pH and combat dryness, resulting in healthier, smoother skin. Purple sweet potatoes also have tons of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  Try these Curried Sweet Potato Chips!

More natural beauty tips from the BLDG 25 Blog.

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