The Younger Skin Diet: 5 Foods to Feed Your Skin

While creams and body lotions can give you a quick-fix to your skin problems, eating the right foods will give you the most benefits. Here are the best foods that will give you a smooth, flawless and young-looking skin!

1.  Olive Oil for Silky, Smooth Skin

The next time you prepare vegetable salad, swap the mayo with olive oil. This chef’s favourite is rich in antioxidants and essential enzymes that don’t just benefit your body on the inside but also makes you look younger and beautiful on the outside. Olive oil can make your skin more radiant and smoother. Aside from making it a part of your daily diet, you can also use olive oil as your beauty regimen. Use it as a lotion if you have dry skin and make it your lip gloss. In just a few applications, you will see the magical effect of olive oil! Do you have rough elbows or heels? Olive oil as a topical solution will certainly help.

2.  Pumpkin for Wrinkle-Free, Young-Looking Skin

Pumpkin contains a huge amount of carotenoids which give the vegetable its orange colour. Carotenoids are wrinkle-fighting plant pigments that help neutralise the free radicals in your skin, protecting the cells from damage that cause ageing. Pumpkin is also rich in vitamin C which is essential in the production of collagen – the building block of healthy skin. It also contains vitamin E and A which help cleanse your skin. You can also create a pumpkin facial mask. In a food processor, combine 2 cups of canned pumpkin, 4 tablespoons of honey, 4 tablespoons of low-fat vanilla yogurt, and one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Apply the mixture on your face for 10 minutes and rinse it off.

3.  Green Tea – the Natural Astringent

It’s no wonder why the majority of Chinese and Japanese people get to maintain their beautiful skin until old age. Green tea, the most popular beverage next to water, does have lots of healing and anti-ageing effects. Researchers from the Case Western Reserve University and the University of Alabama found that consuming green tea on a regular basis may reduce the risk of skin cancer. This rich, appetising drink has anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants that leave your skin soft, beautiful and gorgeous-looking. Experts recommend drinking 3-4 cups of green tea every day. But don’t throw away the used tea bag! Just store them in you fridge. Green tea contains tannins, healthy chemicals which act as an astringent when applied on the skin. They also reduce puffiness.

4.  Pomegranate for Healthy Skin Cells

Research reveals that pomegranate has more inflammation-fighting antioxidants than green tea or red wine. This fruit also contains tannins. You can eat it fresh or use it as a body scrub. In a food processor, combine 2 tablespoons of pomegranate seeds, 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 cup of uncooked oatmeal, and 2 tablespoons of buttermilk. Apply the mixture on your face for a few minutes. Dermatologists recommend applying pomegranate on the skin twice a week to remove dead cells.

5.  Strawberry for a Beautifully, Toned Skin

In a study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it was found that people who consume vitamin C have fewer wrinkles and less age-related dry skin than those who don’t. Strawberry is a nutritious and delicious fruit loaded with vitamin C and other antioxidants. You can eat it raw or apply it on as a facial mask. Strawberry smoothie is a perfect snack too!

Alternatively, I offer a great range of skin conditioning treatments here at the suite, including detox programmes , Kizhi, body scrubs, weight loss programmes, manicures and pedicures, facials, Lymphatic Drainage and Hot Herbal Massage.

Best wishes, Steve