Super foods to help your skin

IT's coming to the end of September which means summer is officially over and Autumn is setting in *sigh*
I'm sure most of you, like me, gave your poor old skin a good sun bashing over the last few months, which, although you can't see it at the moment, has probably caused a lot of damage to your largest organ (the skin) in the long run.
But never fear, there are certain foods you can eat to rejuvenate your skin and even help prevent further sun damage — skin superfoods.

Tomatoes — These little babies are possibly the best food to help skin damage. Tomatoes are filled with  a powerful anti-oxidant called lycopene, which especially when cooked, helps to combat the damaging effects of UV rays. Tomatoes can be used in so many different ways when cooking so why not try to incorporate tomatoes into your meals a few times a week? (or indulge in a Bloody Mary!).

Colourful fruits and vegetables — yes we've all heard about needing our five a day but there is reason behind this. A rainbow of fruit and veg have a number of substances in them to add protection against the sun's harmful effects, such as apigenin (found in broccoli, cherries and celery) and resveratrol (found in grape skins). These are not only anti-oxidants but they also have structured water, which penetrates cells better to better hydrate you when you drink water. Eat Fruit and vegetables in their raw form as often as possible as they lose nutrients when cooked.

Coffee — Yes rumour has it that coffee not only gives you an energy boost but it also may help to protect your skin. Research has shown that the anti-oxidant in coffee destroys sun-damaged skin cells before they turn cancerous. But before you start bouncing off the walls after drinking copious amounts of coffee - I did say it was rumoured. But it is nice to know that our favourite mid-morning beverage could be good for us!

Even if you eat all these super foods, it is best to remember that prevention is better than cure so ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS use sun cream to stop your skin cells getting damaged in the first place! And sun cream isn't just for the summer, as the winter sun can be just as harmful, be sure to use moisturiser or foundation with a decent SPF to avoid sun damage and prevent wrinkles and sun spots.

Manths xx

(images from google)