Eat Your Way To Beautiful Skin This Fall!
Eating seasonal foods is a delicious route to beautiful skin. (Photo: HBFIT)
We subscribe to the belief that beautiful skin starts on the inside. Eating a plant-based diet and avoiding dairy, gluten, and refined sugar can lead to both physical and internal benefits — a brighter complexion, improved mood, and more energy are just a few of the many you’ll experience.
We also know that eating seasonally is important, for the Earth and our health. To give us the scoop on what to munch on in the transition from fall to winter, we turned to holistic health and skin guru, Shamara Bondaroff of SB Skin.
Here’s our list of HBFIT x SB’s seasonal selects. Hint: We want you to taste the rainbow!
Beets
This root vegetable is a great source of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorus. In practical terms, this means that beets stimulate the lymphatic system and help remove waste from our cells. This superfood also increases the oxygen-carrying ability in the blood, thus adding brightness to the skin.
Brussels sprouts
A fall staple that contains a great concentration of nutrients like vitamin E, potassium, iron, phytochemicals, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, chemoprotectants, and protein which ensures blood purification and strengthening of the immune system. Added bonus: Brussels sprouts also contain other nutrients like folic acid, zinc, niacin, riboflavin, copper, and magnesium which make your hair long and strong!
Butternut squash
Winter squash is a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, thiamine folate, and fiber. Vitamin A is especially key in the growth of all bodily tissues, particularly for your hair and skin.
Pears
Pears have fiber, copper, and vitamin K. Fiber helps maintains blood sugar levels (sugar spikes can damage collagen), and is full of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that helps fight free radicals. It is also great at regulating your digestion, and in turn giving you better skin.
Cranberries
Cranberries are rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, manganese, salicylic acid, and fiber — all of which keep your skin looking healthy throughout the winter. With a high concentration of antioxidants, cranberries and unsweetened cranberry juice may also shield against environmental damage to skin and slow down the overall aging process.
Pumpkin
Fresh pumpkin contains a host of minerals with massive health benefits! Primarily, they are high in carotenoids, the antioxidants that are also responsible for the bright orange color. Eating foods with these bright colors can help to reverse UV damage and improve skin texture. Potassium is another vitamin in this veggie that helps promote healthy hair and regrowth. Zinc protects cell membranes, maintains collagen, fights acne and promotes skin renewal. Additionally, the B vitamins in pumpkin help treat acne and improve circulation, which leads to an increases in cell turnover and renewal.
Colorful food gives your skin diverse nutrients. (Photo: HBFIT)
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