Radiant, healthy-looking skin makes every smile brighter.
If you want radiant, healthy-looking skin, it could be as easy as eating more veggies and fruits rich in carotenoids.
Here’s why. These naturally occurring compounds impart a warm color to plants, including those you eat. Think yellow, red and orange. Once absorbed in the intestine, some carotenoids can make their way to your skin where they help give you a natural, healthy-looking glow.
What’s more, carotenoids have powerful antioxidant properties. This action allows them to absorb and filter the high-energy, blue light waves of sunlight, which are especially harmful to skin cells.
In this way, carotenoids work like nutritional armor that protects your skin from damage. And, since all layers of your skin can retain relatively high levels, carotenoids play a critical role in your overall skin health.
Ready, set, glow
To move closer to the radiant skin you want, aim to eat three to four servings of carotenoid-rich vegetables and fruits every day. Research shows this is the sweet spot for boosting healthy-looking skin color. Here are three simple ways to get started:
1. Lean towards foods rich in beta-carotene and lycopene.
These are the two carotenoids most likely to give your skin a healthy glow. Apricots, pink grapefruit, carrot, tomatoes and sweet potatoes are a great start. Spinach, kale, broccoli and other greens are good sources too. (See list below for more!)
2. Measure for accuracy
One serving is typically about one cup for raw foods and one-half cup for cooked foods.
3. Enjoy the radiant rewards
Watch your skin take on a healthy glow in as little as a few weeks.
Bottom line: For radiant skin, eat carotenoid-rich foods every day—think of them as your edible glow filter to put your best face forward.
You’ve Got This!
Lorna & Kathleen (The EatingFor Team)
P.S. Like this tip? For more, check out You’ve Got This! 45 Doable Tips for Teens to Feel Good, Look Good & Succeed. Available at IngramSpark, Amazon.com and other online retailers.