As you know, the largest body organ is our skin. Our skin covers our entire body (obvi) and has a surface area of around two square meters. It’s made up of two main layers—the outer epidermis and the inner dermis. The cells in the deepest layer of the epidermis create new cells that are pushed toward the surface. As we age, we begin to lose concentration of collagen, elastic fibers, and fat underneath our tissues. This usually results in the loss of skin elasticity, the ability to be stretched and bounce back to its original shape.
A number of factors can influence the loss of elastin in skin tissue, including air pollution, smoking, excessive sun exposure, and poor nutrition. If you want to restore your skin’s elasticity, here are a number of foods and supplements that your skin will benefit from.
Hydration
When your skin is dehydrated, it begins to thin out, causing loss of elastin. Make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin looking plump.
Collagen
Collagen helps skin cells bind to one another, thus strengthening its elasticity. Because your skin and gut are connected via the skin-gut axis, adding a high-quality source of collagen to your nutrient intake can help to replenish skin’s elasticity. If you’re vegan, plant-based sources of collagen include tempeh, soy protein, and black beans.
Collagen Inner Beauty Boost Supercharged
Price: $50
The Beauty Chef
Antioxidants
Foods that are full of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, B, C, and E can help to increase collagen production and protect the skin from harmful damage. These foods include fatty fish such as salmon and sardines, healthy fats from nuts such as walnuts and almonds, leafy greens such as spinach and chard, olive oil, avocado, and teas such as hibiscus and a Poosh favorite, matcha. Colorful fruits such as guava, kiwi, papaya, strawberries, and blueberries are sourced with vitamin C (which is needed to produce collagen) to help strengthen the capillaries that supply the skin.
Matcha Gokoro
Price: $48
Chafinity
Vitamin C and Zinc
Low levels of both vitamin C and zinc not only impact our immune system but can also inhibit the skin’s ability to repair itself. Poosh loves Dr. Nigma’s Vitamin C Cocktail, made with ingredients to promote collagen production and antioxidant activity. Other sources of vitamin C and zinc include citrus fruits, carrots, spinach, mushrooms, oysters, and legumes.
Herbs
Aloe vera, cinnamon, mint, alma, cilantro, coriander, and calendula all help to boost skin elasticity and promote clear skin, and they’re packed with minerals to feed the skin with vital nutrients.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance found in the skin’s connective tissue, whose primary role is to help maintain skin moisture and lubrication. UV ray exposure is one of the factors that contribute to HA depletion. Aside from using skin products that are fortified with HA, there are foods that contain adequate levels of hyaluronic acid. These include bone broth, soy-based foods such as tempeh and edamame, starchy vegetables such as jicama, artichoke, and sweet potatoes, and leafy greens. Citrus fruits inhibit the breakdown of HA in our bodies, so be sure to also include fruits such as oranges and grapefruit.
Neeyaz Zolfaghari is the founder of Unspoken Nutrition, a nutrition and lifestyle business aimed at helping others find harmony and balance with the full body and self. Her journey began over a decade ago, when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Her path toward healing broadened her passion for holistic healing practices. Now as an international nutrition and lifestyle coach, Neeyaz gives her clients the support, guidance, and tools they need in order to live a fulfilled and balanced life.
The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. The opinions and content included in the article are the views of the author only, and Poosh does not endorse or recommend any such content or information, or any product or service mentioned in the article. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
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