Skin Nuturing Superfoods

Spending time outdoors this summer summer may have left your skin dehydrated and craving to be pampered. Well, you’re in luck; fall is here, and with it brings back plenty of delicious, nurturing, and skin-loving fruits and vegetables!

Here are a few of our favorite skin superfoods this season…

Avocados are fruits that will help you achieve a healthy glow, whether you eat it or use it as a spa mask. Due to its high levels of essential fatty acids that are naturally found in skin cells and help to keep your skin smooth and supple, avocado is an age-old beauty secret. When topically applied, it has the added ability to stimulate collagen and elastin production.

For an at-home spa mask: Mix a little avocado with sour cream (which contains lactic acid to help exfoliate dead skin) and apply to your face for about ten minutes before washing it off with water.

Avocado is very low in Cholesterol, 0mg per serving size, and Sodium, 11mg per serving size. It is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Folate.

You may want to give brussels sprouts another try! Based on new research showing their ability to burn fat. Brussels sprouts contain indole-3-carbinol, which increases production of a hormone called adiponectin, which tells your body to burn stored fat for fuel. Think of them as little green fat-burning machines!

Easy tip: Instead of the usual roasting, try shredding your raw brussels sprouts, and tossing with in season fruits and veggies. You can top it with one of our SKINNYFat salad dressings for an unusual (but delicious) twist!

Brussels Sprouts are low in Saturated Fat, 0g per serving size, and very low in Cholesterol, 0mg per serving size. They are also a good source of Thiamin, Riboflavin, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium and Manganese.

Dark purple grapes contain proanthocyanidins, which play a role in the stabilization of collagen and maintenance of elastin. These compounds have been shown to repair and strengthen veins and shrink varicose veins by 41 percent in only two months. Additionally, grape phenolics have been researched for their anti-obesity effect. This means grapes may be your fast track to a younger, leaner you.

For a sweet treat: try frozen grapes! Simply wash and freeze these little gems, and you'll have yourself a delicious, healthy frozen treat next time your craving something sweet.

Grapes are very low in Saturated Fat, 0g per serving size, Cholesterol, 0mg per serving size, and Sodium, 3mg per serving size. They are also a very good source of Vitamin C and Vitamin K.

Bell peppers, also known as sweet peppers, have more vitamin C than oranges–nearly 5 and a half times more (341 mg vs 63). Vitamin C is required for collagen production, which gives skin its elasticity and strength. It gets rid of the free radicals that can age skin. Vitamin C also helps smooth and firm skin and fade dark spots.

Be warned: bell peppers fall on our terrible twenty list in Naked Calories due to high pesticide residue. Make sure to buy your peppers organic.

Bell peppers are low in Saturated Fat, 0g per serving size, and very low in Cholesterol, 0mg per serving size, and Sodium, 4mg per serving size. They are also a good source of Thiamin, Niacin, Folate, Magnesium and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Potassium and Manganese.

Beets contain anthocyanins, which help decrease the formation of wrinkles and inhibit hyperpigmentation. Beets reverse dull skin by stimulating the lymphatic system and removing waste from our cells. Beets can also brighten your glow because they increase the oxygen-carrying ability in the blood, which adds brightness to the skin. There may even be some evidence that they can reduce the appearance of cellulite by strengthening the dermal skin layer.

Easy Ideas: Drinking 16 ounces of beet juice will have skin looking peachy and pretty for up to 12 hours. If juice isn't your thing, try a roasted beet salad or grate raw beets into a spinach salad.

Beets are very low in Saturated Fat, 0g per serving size, and Cholesterol, 0mg per serving size. They are also a good source of Vitamin C, Iron and Magnesium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Folate, Potassium and Manganese.