8 Best Foods to Protect Your Skin

Eating right and looking good go hand in hand. The same foods that are good for your health, increase energy, boost the immune system, and detoxify the body, are also good for your skin. Your skin is a reflection of what is going on inside your body, so for glowing skin and optimal inner health, load up on nutrient dense foods. Eating foods high in certain antioxidants also helps protect skin from sun damage and repair and rejuvenate itself. Antioxidants in the body decrease when skin is exposed to sunlight which may accelerate aging, so it is important to replenish with antioxidant rich foods to protect and rejuvenate the skin. To keep your skin well-protected, nourished, and youthful, try incorporating more of these foods into your eating plan:

1) Watermelon:

Lycopene, a phytochemical, helps eliminate skin-aging free radicals caused by ultraviolet rays and protects against sun damage. Watermelon is a great source of lycopene and has been found to reduce redness and inflammation associated with sun exposure. Lycopene is also found in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, papayas, and guava.

2) Dark Green Veggies:

Beta-carotene, another antioxidant that's critical for skin health, is converted to vitamin A in the body and is involved in the growth and repair of body tissues. You may already know that beta carotene is found in deep orange foods like carrots, squash, peppers, papaya, and mangoes. But beta carotene is also found in green produce including spinach, romaine lettuce, kale, chard, collards, and broccoli. Beta carotene provides protection against sun damage and has been shown to reduce the redness and UV damage from sun exposure.

3) Raw Nuts and Seeds:

Sun exposure depletes vitamin E in the skin by up to 50 percent, accelerating wrinkling of the skin. Vitamin E helps protect cell membranes and guards your skin against damage from the sun's UV radiation. Eating raw nuts and seeds (almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds brazil nuts) boosts your intake of vitamin E to keep your skin taut and supple and lower skin cancer risk.

4) Raw Cacao Beans:

Most flavonoids function in the human body as antioxidants to help protect cells from oxygen damage and prevent excessive inflammation throughout your body. Research has shown that the flavonoids in cacao beans can shield skin from free radical damage caused by the sun and reduce roughness in the skin.

5) Chia seeds:

Chia seeds are packed with omega–3 fatty acids that help maintain cell membrane integrity by allowing water and nutrients in, but keeping toxins out. These healthy fats also reduce inflammation throughout the body to help fight wrinkles, erase spots, smooth fine lines, and reduce skin irritation and redness.

6) Aloe Vera:

Aloe Vera is an amazing superfood that offers healing powers not just externally, but also internally. That’s right, aloe vera enhances skin health when eaten! Cut off all the dark green tough skin and scoop out the gel on the inside with a spoon. Add it to smoothies to help hydrate, nourish, and protect the skin. Aloe also accelerates the regeneration of new skin tissue after being out in the sun.

Sunwarrior Superfoods:

7) Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Protein Powders are a fusion of unique, raw, plant-based proteins with a complete amino acid profile that are exceptionally high in Arginine, Lysine, Leucine, and branched chain amino acids. Their natural, raw process is free of solvents, GMOs, radiation, artificial colors, and preservatives, which helps reduce inflammation in the body’s cells and tissues, therefore helping to improve and protect the integrity of your skin. These powders also help with efficient toxin removal and optimal liver health which is correlated with beautiful skin.

8) Sunwarrior Raw, Organic Ormus Super Greens Powders include potent nutrition that is alive, raw, and bio-available from alfalfa, barley grass, wheat grass, spinach, oat grass, parsley, moringa, and ginger, and enriched with trace minerals from the volcanic soil it’s grown on. High in essential oils, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, it’s also naturally cultured and fermented, making it a great blend of superfoods for skin protection and skin glow.

Try both of these products blended in your plant-based smoothies.