Health products, health shops, health foods

There are myriad health products on the market today that throw around promises of skin hydration, wrinkle prevention, sun protection, etc. Some of these lotions and potions sell at a whopping €10 per gram (and you thought the oil price was crazy!) and yet the manufacturers can provide little proof that it actually provides the plethora of skin maintenance benefits it claims to.

So, before you buy into the hype and spend a bundle of your hard-earned cash, why don’t you head down to your local health shop and see what their health food section has on offer? To help you on your way we have compiled a handy little shopping list. The following health foods all pack a hefty nutritional punch and are tasty to boot:

1. Tomatoes: Great in salads, awesome in pasta sauces and simply delicious on its own with a sprinkling of salt, these ruddy beauties are a powerful weapon to have in your skin maintenance arsenal. The colourful pigments that are the source of the tomato’s distinctive colour are great for replenishing the antioxidants your skin needs to battle harmful free radicals that wreck havoc with your skin’s internal structure and causes everything from unsightly wrinkles to dryness.

2. Grapefruit: Vitamin C keeps supportive collages fibres supple and strong, which in turn keeps your skin from sagging. Since the body can only store a small supply of vitamin C at any given time, it is up to you to make sure that you replenish it regularly. Citrus fruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, so make sure to include a source in your diet every day. Grapefruit is a good choice – half a grapefruit delivers approximately 50 mgs of vitamin C, which is roundabout 80% of the daily recommended intake for an adult.

3. Green tea: EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) is a potent antioxidant found in true teas (i.e. green, black and white tea) and an all-around good guy when it comes to battling the effects of skin aging. It counteracts the inflammatory chemicals associated with acne, aids in preventing skin cancer and socks a big one to potential tumour cells. What more could you ask for?

4. Broccoli: The bane of many a pubescent child’s existence, these friendly little trees actually constitute a nutritional powerhouse. In terms of skin health, it contributes a much-needed supply of vitamin A that is associated with skin growth and cell turnover. When your body experiences a vitamin A deficiency you can look forward to tough, dry skin – a look that isn’t flattering at any age.

5. Salmon: Cold water fish constitute a nutritional double whammy. It is a great source of both protein and essential Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 is invaluable in the fight against inflammation, which is considered to be the big nasty when it comes to all kinds of skin degeneration; while protein is required to repair damaged skin cells and to produce the hormones that keeps you all healthy and glowing.

And there you have it – five yummy health foods that should make a regular appearance on your health store shopping list. Happy munching!