You probably see the word “antioxidant” tossed around all your favorite food and beauty labels. It’s one of those words that make you feel like you’re going to become a whole new woman, complete with a better mood, better hair, and of course, better skin. An antioxidant is a substance that protects your body against the damage of free radicals. By adding more antioxidants to your beauty routine and diet, you’re helping protect your cells, leaving you with strong, healthy, glowing skin.
If you’re wanting to boost your antioxidant intake, add these antioxidant-rich foods to your regular diet for glowing skin.
Dark Chocolate
Go ahead, treat yourself to something sweet! Really, you’ll be doing your skin a favor. Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants, making it the perfect indulgence. Dark chocolate has about 15 mmol of antioxidants per 100 grams, making it even more abundant in antioxidants than blueberries or strawberries. The antioxidants in cocoa and dark chocolate work wonders for reducing inflammation, making it a great option for those struggling with inflamed skin. If you have eczema, rosacea, or stubborn acne, treat yourself to dark chocolate to help soothe your skin.
Blueberries
Another sweet treat, blueberries can give your skin the antioxidant boost it needs. Blueberries are low in calories, making it a great snack or light dessert. Blueberries are believed to have the highest antioxidants out of all fruits and vegetables, giving your skin a beautiful, healthy glow.
Strawberries
If you prefer a big bowl of strawberries, you’re in luck. Like blueberries, strawberries are extremely high in antioxidants. Strawberries are also high in vitamin C, giving your skin that extra boost of glow. Strawberries are more than a pink delight, they also pack a type of antioxidant called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins help reduce your cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease in the process. With your next smoothie bowl, make sure to give it extra toppings of berries and even dark chocolate shavings for a special treat.
Spinach
Popeye’s favorite does more than make you strong, it gives your clear, even skin, too! This vegetable is one of the most nutrient-dense of them all, making it a great base for your salads or smoothies. Spinach is an antioxidant-rich food, particularly high in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants help protect your skin and eyes from the harmful damage of UV rays.
Goji Berries
Looking for a more unique topping for all of your smoothie bowls? Goji berries are an antioxidant-rich option that stand out in a crowd of fruits. Goji berries are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, making it a great superfood to add to your meal. These dried berries contain the antioxidant Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, known for potentially having anti-aging skin benefits.
Beets
Add a little color to your diet with beets, another antioxidant-rich food. Beets are an outstanding source of fiber, potassium, iron, folate and antioxidants, so your body will be thanking you from head to toe. Beets can help reduce inflammation, making them a great choice for evening the skin tone and reducing skin-related inflammation.
Antioxidants are practically everywhere, but load up on these delicious foods for extra health and skin benefits.
