We’ve all heard that beauty starts within and it is true. Even if you already eat healthy, you may not be getting all of the nutrients necessary for glowing, smooth and clear skin.
There are some nutrients, specifically Vitamin C and Vitamin E, when eaten in balance with other key foods, that can really give your skin a boost!
In the U.S., approximately 40% of adults don’t get their recommended daily vitamin C and almost 90% of adults don’t get enough vitamin E each day. This is important to remedy because vitamins C is an antioxidant that prevents dry skin, promotes collagen & protects against the harmful effects of light and oxidation, from the inside out.
Vitamin E is not easily utilized by the body on it’s own because it oxidizes. Additionally, many of the E supplements are a synthesized form of E and does not contribute to E stored in the body. Pairing E with vitamin C, in food, works perfectly to aid in absorption and levels of vitamin E stored in the body.
Here are two C and E combos that are inspired by research at the highly regarded Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University:
SUNFLOWER SEEDS & KALE
Just 1 cup of kale contains 107% of a woman’s daily vitamin C and 89% of a man’s vitamin C requirement!
Just 1 ounce of sunflower seeds, about 1/4 cup, daily provides almost half of the recommended daily vitamin E requirement!
It’s easy to incorporate 1 cup of kale into a daily diet, just mix it in with your salad. Vegetables are best consumed raw for maximum nutrition, but a light saute in olive oil is delicious and still beneficial.
The 1/4 cup sunflower seeds can be eaten on their own or added to a salad.
Just remember to eat them together, if not in the same dish, at the same time for maximum absorption.
ALMONDS & STRAWBERRIES
1 cup of almonds contains about 50% of an adult’s daily vitamin E requirement.
1 cup of strawberries contains about 180% of a woman’s daily vitamin C and about 150% of a man’s daily requirement.
Almond milk and strawberries make a delicious smoothie, simply blend 1 cup of each in a blender with a dash of pure vanilla extract. You can add other ingredients too, it’s delicious with a banana, or pure cocoa powder and pure stevia!
Just remember, combination is key! Consume vitamins C & E together through whole foods and defy age!
Photo credit – @almonds Almond Board of California. Check out the recipe here:
