Food Beauty: Carrots Beat Sunshine in Creating Attractive Skin Tones
With the super snowstorms hitting the country right now, schools closing, and streets turning to outdoor ice rinks, it’s a good time to learn about getting gorgeous, naturally radiant skin –even in the middle of winter. There are numerous ‘superfoods’ that can give your skin a healthy, youthful appearance and even some color due to various compounds such as carotenoids (found in carrots).
Even broccoli and sprouts contain carotenoids, even though it is often hidden under the bright green of chlorophyll – another skin boosting phytonutrient and overall health booster.
Skip the self-tanners and cancer-causing tanning booths, and instead, start eating your veggies. According to a study at University of Nottingham, carotenoids are a better way to naturally tint your skin while acting as free-radical scavengers so your skin will be more elastic and less wrinkled in appearance. Dig into sweet potatoes, apricots, cantaloupe, and many more carotenoid-abundant foods.
Dr Stephen said: “We found that, given the choice between skin colour caused by suntan and skin colour caused by carotenoids, people preferred the carotenoid skin color, so if you want a healthier and more attractive skin colour, you are better off eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables than lying in the sun.”
The researchers from U of N think a predilection for the carotenoid-hued skin could be a result of evolution — it makes sense to pick a partner who looks healthy, and that’s why we tend to like people with a bit of color in their skin.
“This is something we share with many other species,” said researcher Dr. David Perrett in a press release. “For example, the bright yellow beaks and feathers of many birds can be thought of as adverts showing how healthy a male bird is.”
Even if your skin is already naturally dark in color, the ‘hue of health’ is apparently enhanced by carotenoids. This is likely because carotenoids give the immune system a much needed boost – and really do signify greater health in someone who eats them profusely. There are literally dozens of carotenoids. These compounds are known cancer-preventatives associated with greater heart health, eye health, and more.
You don’t need to take a trip to the pharmacy to achieve beautiful skin – you merely can alter your diet and reap the rewards. In addition to consuming more fruit and vegetables, you can also utilize coconut oil for healthy skin. Alternatively, check out these top 10 ways to use lemons for beauty.