5 Festive Foods for Beautiful Skin

5 Festive Foods for Beautiful Skin

I don’t know about you but I am a true foodie and I LOVE cooking.  Christmas is a time of the year where I get to spend a little more time in the kitchen.

With everything that’s going in the world outside right now I thought I’d share with you my favourite 5 festive foods for beautiful skin and good health and wellbeing.

Introduce these into your diet to help counteract the negative effects of stress and the extra pressures we are dealing with this Christmas.…

Festive Food #1 Nuts

Nuts are a strong source of essential fatty acids and Vitamin E which is vital to improve skin elasticity, prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

Swap a bowl of sweets for some fresh unsalted nuts – walnuts, pistachios, almonds, brazil nuts and are particularly good for you and your skin.

Or chop some up and add them to yoghurt or porridge.

Some nutty facts…

Macadamias are an excellent source of antioxidants which safeguard your body agains cellular damage and disease.

Walnuts have the highest level of Omega-3 essential fatty acid recognised for it’s anti-inflammatory properties and positive role in heart health.

They are high in monounsaturated fats that help to reduce levels of bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol.

Pistachios are my personal favourite and I so I was pleased to discover that they have the lowest level of fat and calories when compared with other nuts.

Shell on ones can be a bit fiddly to open so it is harder to get carried away when eating them which is good if you are monitoring how much you are eating (although I think I would win a competition with how fast I can open these!).

Brazil nuts are the largest nut and have very high levels of selenium – a very powerful antioxidant and is believed to have anti-cancer properties.

Festive Food #2 Brussel Sprouts

Love them or hate them eating this vegetable can do wonders for your health.

Brussel sprouts are packed with Vitamin C and also contain omega 3 fatty acids which are good for the heart and brain and cancer-fighting glucosinolates. 

They also contain a good source of vitamin K, folate and iron.  Vitamin C is fundamental at stimulating collagen growth in your skin and this is what gives your face that fresh and youthful appearance.

They take minutes to cook and avoid over boiling because you will boil away the Vitamin C.  Sprouts cooked with chestnuts is a lovely combination, go on do something different with them.

They can be grated and added raw to salads or a stir fry. Go on be creative!

Want to watch a cute video of a lot of guinea pigs munching their way through a bow of raw sprouts? Click here.

 

Festive Food #3 Cinnamon

I just love this spice. The scent certainly triggers festive moments and is often served with other warming spices including clove and nutmeg.

Ground cinnamon is a good source of calcium and also iron, which is required for good immunity and maintaining health red blood cell production.

Some research suggests that this spice may also help to lower blood sugar levels.

I love adding a generous teaspoon of this to a warm cacao drink.

 

Festive Food #4 Dates

In our house it’s not really Christmas without some Dates.

These wonderful festive fruits are nutritionally packed with natural sugars, fibre, vitamins and minerals and antioxidants.

They are excellent at replenishing energy and revitalize the body instantly.  A good hangover cure.

Festive Food #5 Dark Chocolate

Chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa is a wonderful source of antioxidants which help your skin to protect itself and in turn prevent signs of ageing.

This is all due to flavonols (the type of flavonoid found in chocolate) which help your skin look its best.

Isn’t that good news?!

I hope you have enjoyed discovering my favourite 5 festive foods for beautiful skin and if you feel you need a little TLC when it comes to your skincare and wellbeing, you may be interested in my Winter Face Rescue Set or facials here.

Good luck!

Feel free to leave a comment or ask any questions below. 

Until next time, I wish you a very Merry Christmas & remember take care of YOU!

Best wishes, Louisa