EVERYONE’S FAVOURITE SUPERFOOD
High-quality chocolate has flavonoids shown to boost blood flow to the top
layer of the skin by up to 100 percent, delivering oxygen, vitamins, and
minerals to the epidermis so it can build new cells, one study found. My
three favourite kinds of chocolate? Dark chocolate with 70% cacao or
more, cacao nibs, and unsweetened dark cocoa powder.Drink up: Start with a cup of green tea. Women who drank it regularly for three
months experienced 25 percent less damage when exposed to UV rays,
according to a study in the Journal of Nutrition. Green tea contains a catechin
called EGCG, an antioxidant believed to promote good skin health by protecting
against sun damage (but you still need sunscreen). Also, make sure to drink
water throughout the day.
Eat one of these:
Option 1: Veggie omelette. Eggs contain lysine and proline, which are amino
acids that help form collagen. Don’t be yolk-shy: They have vitamin B12, which
may fight against dark spots, plus hydrating nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin.
Add any veggies you like, and be sure to include some spinach. (See the recipe
on Spinach-Mushroom Omelette.) Dark leafy greens are full of phytonutrients
called carotenoids, which help keep skin taut. Yellow peppers, carrots, and
squash are good choices as well, because of their carotenoids. One study by
British researchers found that women with a higher intake of them had fewer
crow’s-feet. Add some shiitake mushrooms, which are a good source of zinc, a
mineral that’s been shown to improve skin’s ability to heal itself; they also have
copper, which your body needs to build collagen.