Using the right beauty products is essential, but glowing skin starts on the plate. Certain vegetables are real allies for obtaining a luminous complexion. Here are the ones to favor.
Sweet potato, a concentrate of beta-carotene
To have beautiful skin, include sweet potatoes in your diet. This orange-fleshed root vegetable is an excellent source of beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, which gives it its characteristic color.
Vitamin A plays a key role in skin health, in particular by stimulating the production of melanin, responsible for the “healthy glow” effect. In addition, sweet potato promotes cell renewal, thus contributing to smoother and hydrated skin.
It also has antioxidant properties, which help neutralize free radicals, the main causes of skin aging.
Little-known variants of the sweet potato
Dietician-nutritionist Anaïs Soize confirms the benefits of the classic sweet potato, but also highlights the benefits of other varieties.
“In addition to the familiar orange sweet potato, there are also white and purple varieties, often available in organic stores, markets or Asian stores. They are particularly interesting because they contain hyaluronic acid, an active ingredient found in many anti-aging creams.“, she explains.
Sweet potato leaf: the unexpected beauty tip
Anaïs Soize also shares a little-known tip: using sweet potato leaves.
“We tend to focus on the tuber, but the leaf is also very beneficial. It contains vitamin C, essential to fight against free radicals.“, she explains.
The best way to consume it? Raw, in a smoothie for example, to preserve maximum nutrients.
Other fruits and vegetables for a glowing complexion
To keep your skin luminous all year round, other foods should also be favored.
“All fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene are recommended: carrots, spinach, cabbage, dark green leafy vegetables, but also orange-colored foods such as pumpkin, melon, apricots and even oranges.“, explains Anaïs Soize.
She also advises opting for foods rich in lycopene, an antioxidant known for its benefits on the skin and the cardiovascular system. “It is found in tomatoes, watermelons and, to a lesser extent, peppers.“, she adds.
A summer treatment based on tomatoes, watermelons and carrots can give you a nice, naturally tanned complexion.