Welcome to another day of learning. Today is all about knowing your vitamins, especially the ones needed for a glowing and radiant skin. Most people are only conversant the Vitamin C and heard of others like Vitamin E, and D but do not know their benefits to the skin or the food rich in those vitamins.
Vitamins are essential nutrients because they perform hundreds of roles in the body. They are organic compounds that people need in small quantities. Our body produces some of these vitamins but is not in sufficiency or do not even produce it that is why we have to get the vitamins from food.
Why are Vitamins needed, you may ask? The importance of vitamins to us is not far fetched. Vitamins are needed in order to keep our bodies in good working order, for healthy aging and also to cover our nutritional bases as all nutrients cannot be gotten from food even though we try to eat healthy.
This health we talk about includes your skin. While some vitamins keep your nerves healthy, some fight maladies and others resuscitate your skin. Now let us move to the Vitamins that are tipping points for your skin.
- VITAMIN A: Popularly used in a number of skincare products due to its antioxidants properties. Some products which are likely to contain this promising ingredient are serums, sunscreens and moisturizers. Vitamin A is perfect in reducing the appearance of signs of aging by interrupting the collage damage – Retinoids are a form of vitamin A. Vitamin A prevents sun damage and sunburn. Food rich in Vitamin A are eggs, cereals, cod liver oil, fortified skimmed milk, orange/green/yellow veggies and fruits.
- VITAMIN B3 (Niacin): Though not stored in the body naturally, getting it through diet is essential. This Vitamin helps the skin restore its moisture content, improve smoothness and texture. It also is effective in reducing non-inflammatory acne symptoms. You want your skin hydrated, soft and supple, run to diets containing Vit B like nuts, seeds, meat and vegetables; very good free radical scavenger.
- VITAMIN B5 (Pantothenic acid): Contributes o healthy and firm-looking skin. This is another Vitamin that works in retaining moisture. Not only does it do that, it also improves skin barrier functions and prevents moisture loss. It reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. You can get this Vitamin in foods like whole grains, avocado and chicken.
- VITAMIN C: To know the true benefits of Vitamin C, you should visit www.vspbotanics.com and place an order for the Vitamin C face masque. Vitamin C is widely known to treat numerous skin concerns like dark spots, acne, fine lines and hyperpigmentation. We have a supply for this Vitamin in the topmost layer of our skin and even the inner layers. It enhances collagen production in the skin. When consumed orally, it speeds up the body’s healing process by reducing cell damage and can also boost the effectiveness of your sunscreen. Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, papaya, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower and many more are foods rich in Vitamin C.
- VITAMIN D: A gracious supply of Vitamin D is that 10 minutes of sun exposure in the early hours of the morning. It is safe to stay away from sun during its peak hours; 10am to 2pm. Your body produces Vitamin D when sun rays penetrate through your skin. Why you then use sunscreen is to protect your skin from the harm of UV rays. Eggs, dairy products, soy products and fatty fish are what you should be eating when you want to create healthy cells in your body.
- VITAMIN E: Although our bodies produce this Vitamin through oil sebum that is vital but you can find Vitamin E in vegetable oils, some cereals, nuts and seeds, and green vegetables. When you use products that contain Vitamin E, it reduces sun damage by absorbing the UV rays of the sun. You need protection from irritants and your skin moisturized, consume foods containing Vitamin E.
- VITAMIN K: This vitamin plays a major role in treating different skin conditions and issues. From adding in the body’s healing process to fading of dark spots, dark under-eyes, stretch marks, varicose veins, scars, dark spots, Vitamin K plays a paramount role. You either take in foods rich in Vitamin K like fish, sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, kale, spinach, romaine etc or you are prescribed topical creams rich in this Vitamin.
WEEKLY CHALLENGE
Try your possible best to add the foods rich in the aforementioned vitamins and comment on what you noticed on your skin within 3 to 4 days of consistent consumption. It’s a great week to try new things. Let your food be colourful.