Enjoy discovering which vitamins play an essential role in our diet as what we eat effects our skin with Kat, our resident Registered Nutritionist.
As we enjoy the sunshine this month (!), let's focus on incorporating foods into our diet that can protect our skin from the sun's harmful rays. Consuming foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can fortify your skin's defence against UV damage.
Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that helps safeguard your skin from damage caused by free radicals, which are generated by UV radiation, pollution and smoking. By neutralising free radicals, vitamin E reduces oxidative stress, preventing premature aging, wrinkles and other skin damage. Additionally, vitamin E strengthens the skin's natural barrier, reducing water loss and maintaining hydration. It also aids in repairing sun-damaged skin, diminishing the appearance of sunspots, fine lines, and wrinkles caused by prolonged sun exposure.
Foods high in vitamin E: sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, olive oil, avocado, kiwi fruit, broccoli and spinach
Vitamin A is crucial for skin health, stimulating collagen synthesis to improve skin elasticity and make it less prone to sun damage. It promotes the production of new skin cells and collagen, thickening the dermis (the deeper layer of the skin) and providing better protection against UV radiation and environmental stressors. Retinoids, a form of vitamin A, have anti-inflammatory properties that soothe sunburned and irritated skin, reducing redness, swelling and discomfort associated with sun exposure.
Forms of Vitamin A:
- Retinoids: Found in animal products such as liver, fish, and dairy.
- Carotenoids: Found in colorful vegetables, particularly carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and kale.
Incorporating these nutrient-rich foods into your diet can enhance your skin's natural defence against the sun, keeping it healthy, hydrated and resilient. So, as you enjoy the sunshine, remember to nourish your skin from within with these protective foods.
Our Savoury Flapjacks are packed with both Vitamin E and Vitamin A rich foods.