YOU CAN MAGAZINE Vol 6 | Page 24

- Vitamin A rich foods: Cooked sweet potato, cooked  carrots, steamed kale, cooked butternut squash, romaine lettuce,  cantaloupe, colorful sweet peppers, cooked tuna fish and mangoes. These foods help with healing and construction of new skin tissue. 7. Inflammatory Habits. Behaviors that increase inflammation in the body can actually make  sun damage worse and contribute to premature aging of the skin. Some of the worst foods for skin — dairy products, -Vitamin C rich foods: Strawberries, citrus fruits, chili peppers, red bell peppers, papaya, kiwi, blackcurrants, guava, Brussels sprouts and dark, leafy greens. Plant foods provide necessary micro and macro nutrients that help to fight dreaded free radicals and strengthen the capillaries that feed the skin and form collagen, giving our skin its flexibility. -Vitamin E rich foods: Almonds, raw seeds, swiss chard, mustard greens, spinach, turnip greens, kale, wheat  germ oil, coconut oil, olive oil, pine nuts, avocado,  broccoli parsley, and papaya. Vitamin E protects the skin against free radicals that can cause damage and age skin. -Essential fatty acids: Omega-3s and omega-6s are the building blocks of the skins cell membranes. Polyunsaturated fats also contribute to the skin’s natural oil barrier and are key to helping the skin stay hydrated which improves its appearance. Nuts, seeds, fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, grains, and avocados are all excellent sources of essential fatty acids. sugar, processed foods and foods with artificial ingredients also have an opiate like effect on the brain that makes them addictive. Artificial ingredients end up stored in the soft tissue of the body affecting hormones and causing inflammation. Stop eating crap. It is bad for every part of you and will show up in your skin. And if you smoke, quit. Smoking will age your skin, ruin your health and give you ugly wrinkles around your mouth. Find a good cosmetic dermatologist to make sure you are using the right products and getting the best treatments to keep your skin at its healthy best. Remember, skin is your body’s largest organ. Protect it, nourish it, keep it healthy, and it will love you back. Visit me at www.theculinarycure.com for more healthful information and tips to help you live like you mean it and age like you want to.