Healing the skin is a whole-body process. Starting from within and working outwards. We put together a list of our favorite acne-fighting foods. They are rich in antioxidants and fight inflammation on an internal level. Shop your local farmers market and fill your body with nourishment.
Papaya //
Papaya was once called the “fruit of the angels” by Christopher Columbus. Bright, beautiful, magical fruit that is full of nourishment. Used over the ages to prevent and heal disease in the body. It is a skin-loving wonder!
Papaya is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and antioxidants like beta-carotene. These prevent the skin from free radical damage keeping the skin healthy and glowing. The active enzymes fuel your body, healing your digestion and in turn allowing your skin to truly heal from the inside out. This fruit is also incredibly hydrating. You know how we feel about water and hydration here at Bella Aura. We love our papaya with a squeeze of lime and a dash of coconut sugar. Delicious and we know every bite is giving is an incredible boost of nutrition.
Zinc //
We know zinc isn't a food, but many foods have a boost of this necessary skin nutrient. Zinc is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial nutrient. It has also been long studied as a way to combat acne and other skin conditions. You can find zinc in foods like whole grains... quinoa, brown rice, millet, buckwheat, gluten-free oats. Nuts and seeds such as sunflower seeds, brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, almonds, etc. Also, legumes are a must when wanting to consume enough zinc. Black beans, chickpeas, pinto beans, black-eyed peas.
Turmeric//
The golden spice that can solve all things. You have seen it. The meme we all love. I got 99 problems and Turmeric solved like 89 of them. We loved it so much we had to include it in this post.
On a serious note, this super spice is skin healing wizardry! Curcumin is a potent polyphenol in turmeric and has been shown to reduce bacteria production that can lead to acne. Remember when using turmeric to always include black pepper. This makes the curcumin more bioavailable to the body.
Cranberries //
Cranberries... Sweet, sour, tart, intoxicating in the best possible way. We love them in every form. Ripe, dried, juiced. All of it. They are not just delicious but insanely good for your skin and body. Second only to blueberries in terms of antioxidants you want to be adding these beauties to your diet as much as possible. A quick way to get them in, buy them organic and frozen to throw in smoothies. Blueberries, cranberries, cherries, nut milk of choice, a little coconut yogurt and maple syrup. Smoothie of dreams.
To get to the science of it now. One particularly powerful antioxidant when it comes to acne is resveratrol, which may have the ability to prevent the overgrowth of the Propionibacterium acnes bacteria. Resveratrol is abundant in a lot of beautiful foods including cranberries. As well as blueberries, red grapes, peanuts, pistachios, red wine, and dark chocolate.
We have more foods to share with you but we are going to break this piece into a series of blogs.
