10 Amazing Superfoods for Beautiful Skin and Hair

Water? Check. Yogurt? Check. Fruits? Check. You think you’re done with pampering your skin? Not until you’ve read about the hottest superfoods in your pantry that can give you beautiful skin and hair. In this article, we tell you about 10 seemingly unassuming superfoods that you absolutely must make a part of your diet if you want great-looking hair and skin.

1. Spinach

There’s no reason why this should not be the first item on your list of beauty superfoods. Spinach is one sure shot super-veggie since it contains a high level of antioxidants and vitamins. Making spinach a part of your regular diet helps you get healthy looking eyes, thanks to the high lutein content in this leafy green. Spinach is also a rich treasure trove of a number of essential minerals including magnesium, iron and potassium. In addition, it also helps you meet your daily dietary requirement of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Appliance packages will especially help to keep spinach fresh for days.

2. Tomatoes

Another rich source of antioxidants, tomatoes are a staple food in many cultures. Contrary to their humble appearance, the beneficial properties of tomatoes are unimaginable. Tomatoes contain lycopene which is an antioxidant that particularly helps your skin to maintain its fresh and youthful appearance for longer. Tomatoes are also great because they produce fast results. They are easily assimilated into the body and produce visible health benefits faster. They are a versatile fruit, so you can have tomatoes in many different ways, including tomato gravy, tomato salad, tomato soup and tomato juice.

3. Olive Oil

Olive oil and tomatoes often go together. There’s no reason why they should not appear together in this list of beauty superfoods. Whether included in our diet or applied directly, olive oil contributes to skin and hair growth like no other food. Rich in antioxidants, olive oil actually reduces hair thinning and promotes stronger and softer hair growth. The antioxidants in olive oil also save the day when you accidentally damage your hair with a hot curling iron or strong perming chemicals by promoting hair repair.

4. Dark chocolate

Okay, so this one’s not such a big surprise. If you’ve been a regular follower of beauty columns, you already know the benefits of dark chocolate to slow down the aging process. But wait, there’s more. Dark chocolate (chocolate that contains cocoa content of more than 60%) is high in flavanol, an antioxidant that reduces free radicals that can cause skin damage. In addition, it can help to reduce cholesterol and enhance mood. In addition, dark chocolate keeps the skin hydrated and acts as a screen against harmful rays from the sun.

5. Bell Peppers

Found in a variety of colors, bell peppers do more for your body than simply adding a kick to your salad. The best thing about bell peppers is that they are rich in vitamin C, which boosts the production of collagen in the skin and hair. Collagen is the substance that adds elasticity to our tissues, meaning that it can help to delay wrinkles and dull hair shafts. Simply adding one bell pepper to your salad lunch can help you get great looking hair and skin within a few weeks.

6. Lentils

A lot of hair problems occur because of low iron in the body. Hair thinning is especially caused when there is iron deficiency in the body. Typically iron-rich foods such as red meat take long to digest and are bad for cholesterol, but that’s where lentils come to the rescue. They are easy to digest and are a rich trove of iron and proteins, both of which are helpful in building and repairing tissue. If had regularly, you will notice the amazing effects of these nutritious grains on your hair.

7. Chia seeds

Chia seeds are probably the hottest and most recent fad in superfoods since they contain a power-packed mix of nutrients. Like salmon and spinach, chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. At the same time, they offer the benefits of high protein levels without the problems of lactose intolerance that come with consuming milk. Chia seeds also contribute to reduced inflammation because they are a good source of fiber. All in all, they reduce the aging process of skin and hair cells, helping you to look younger for longer.

8. Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds come right after chia seeds in terms of nutritional value. They are packed with powerful minerals as well as omega-3 fatty acids. Making them part of your diet reduces the acidic content in your body over time, leading to slowing down of the cell damage cycle. The high mineral content contributes to better skin and hair growth, especially if you want long hair. While you can eat pumpkin seeds roasted, the best way to have them is raw. And while you’re at it, try going for the organic variety instead of the GMO seeds.

9. Strawberries

We’ve heard about the mythical properties of blueberries, but here’s something you probably didn’t know about their cousins—the strawberries. They are rich in Vitamin C and minerals such as manganese, magnesium and potassium. They’re also packed with fiber which is necessary for younger looking skin. You can buy them in bulk and store them fresh for weeks in an AJ Madison freezer. While eating strawberries can have positive effects on your health, they are an excellent facial scrub because of their natural astringent properties. Applying a mask made with mashed strawberries thrice a week will help you get cleaner and brighter looking skin.

10. Mushrooms

Don’t let anyone ever tell you that mushrooms are only good for pizza topping. Mushrooms are a seriously underrated superfood, given their high Vitamin B content and mineral richness. All of this helps you to get a healthy complexion and glowing skin. Probably the best kept secret about mushrooms is the presence of hyaluronic acid which has excellent skin hydrating properties and prevents the skin from looking tired and dry. Mushrooms contain a high level of antioxidants which enable to skin to maintain its youthful appearance. Antioxidants also promote skin repair when damage occurs.