Best antioxidant fruits that work the skin like magic

I am sure you've heard of the word "Antioxidants" several times especially when discussing creams or skin, but you don't really know what it means and its uses? Well, Antioxidants are naturally occurring vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C, E, that protect your skin against free radicals which can damage skin cells. With a lot of companies and industries promising to provide individuals with anti-aging solutions that are either consume as foods, beverages or even pills. A lot of people take supplements to supplement all the essential nutrients they are lacking or insufficient in their body, and on the other hand, you can actually study about all the interesting foods that can naturally provide you  with healthy antioxidants. 

As we grow, we become more self-conscious about our health and general appearance, our skin and body start to fade or lose its greatest potentials if not accurately maintained. Antioxidants are known for doing wonders by calming inflamed skin, reducing wrinkles, erasing dark spots, tightening, toning your skin and so much more.

Antioxidants are naturally found in the food we consume like vegetables and fruits. If you recall earlier, I made mention of free radicals damaging the skin, well "free radicals" are the molecular substance that gets trapped on your skin either from polluted air, cigarette smoke or all impurities that get trapped on your skin and if left unchallenged, they can cause a wide variety of disease and illness on your skin and health. Even though the human body system is strong and produces its antibody and antioxidant to fight off toxic components off your body. However, in most cases, the free radicals can far outnumber the naturally occurring antioxidants. In order to maintain the balance, a continual supply of external sources of antioxidants is necessary to obtain the maximum benefits of antioxidants. Just like everything, the antioxidant found in nature is of different range and category, with each providing different benefits to different parts of the body.

Fruits and vegetables are great sources of natural antioxidants, your eating habits have a direct effect on your body, skin and how much your skin glows. Healthy eating requires minimizing or cutting down a lot of processed or chemical food and leaning towards much more natural and organic products. consuming a lot of sugar can make your skin appear dull and saggy. There are a lot of ways you can consume antioxidants in your body, but the antioxidant present in fruits and vegetables helps a lot in repairing worn-out tissues, reducing wrinkles, clearing black spots and do so many wonderful things to your skin.

Lets look at some of the natural fruits we have around that provides us with natural antioxidants:

Cucumber is rich in water and great for beautiful skin. cucumber is packed with caffeic acid and vitamin C which are both antioxidants and great for the skin. Cucumber is terrific because it can be made into a juice, eaten alone or grated up, chilled and then used as a face mask or compress.

It is made of 96% of water which means consuming a lot of cucumbers can help your skin stay hydrated. Some of its beauty benefits are that it promotes healthy gums and fresh breath, sparkling eyes without the eye bags, dark circles and puffiness, and beautiful skin owing to the nutrients it contains like biotin, vitamins A, B1 and C, and potassium. Overall, cucumber is good for your body. 

Even though watermelon is said to have originated from Southern Africa, countries like India and China are the largest watermelon cultivators. Watermelon is rich in potassium and vitamins A, C, and B. What makes the watermelon fruit a must-have is lycopene, the antioxidant that renders the fruit is known to reduce the risk of stroke and also lower the blood pressure levels. Even though watermelon does not have a lot of fiber as other fruits, it still contains a lot of juicy water. Stress has a way of making your skin look dull, and watermelon as a source of antioxidant has a special way of giving your skin a youthful look. Other benefits of watermelon to the skin are:
 

•  Fights off wrinkles and dryness
•  Protects your skin from sunburn
• Brighten skin
• eliminates and reduces dark cycles and spots 

Blueberries are one of natures gift to mankind, this berry fruit is juicy, tasty and very beneficial as well. It provides a high source of antioxidants for the body. It is sometimes referred to as a superfood with great scientific benefits. Blueberries provide huge vitamin to the skin and healing power as well. The following are some important benefits of blueberries to the skin;
 

• Combat early sign of aging 
• Reduces red spots and spider veins
• Control acne 
• Even out skin tone 
• Reduces dark cycles around the eyes

For another berry rich in antioxidant power, strawberries are an excellent choice. These berries are another one of the most highly concentrated antioxidant fruits. The antioxidants found in strawberries have been shown to fight cholesterol that is known to cause heart disease.

Strawberries contain anthocyanins, the antioxidants that protect against cardiovascular diseases. They are also a great source of vitamin C, which protects your body’s cells from free radical damage.

Red grapes provide great antioxidant benefits. The peel of a red grape is a rich source of an antioxidant called resveratrol, an antioxidant known to fight cancer. It has been known to keep cancer from the beginning or spreading. the juice is rich in vitamin and nutrients that are good for skin tone and skin color.

It also helps in keeps the skin radiant and glowing. Antioxidant in grapes also helps prevent cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative and other diseases. It is an anti-inflammatory agent. 

Mango as an antioxidant helps in preventing diabetes, it can be used both internally and externally for skin nourishment. Mangos help clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples. 

Mango leaves are extremely medicinal, it helps in normalizing insulin levels in the blood. Mango fruit also has a relatively low glycemic index, so moderate quantities will not spike your sugar level. Mangos as a source of antioxidants provide a great source of vitamin E. Even though we all love the mango juice itself, the mango back/peel is very nutritious and high in antioxidants.

Even though spinach is most consumed in Asia, it has gained a lot of attention in our domestic homes. It is one of the richest sources of antioxidants, with one cup containing over 4000 beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant known for preventing cancer, acts as anti-aging properties, and heart-protecting properties.

Spinach also offers an abundance of the antioxidant, lutein, which is beneficial in protecting your eyes from macular degeneration and cataracts. Studies has also shown that increase consumption in greens and vegetables like spinach has helped a lot in de-stressing the body, mind and heart.

I am sure a lot of us had a tough time eating broccoli, especially when our parents were forcing and encouraging us when we were young. This vegetable is a powerhouse of nutrients. It's reputed to benefit digestion, the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and to have anti-inflammatory and even cancer-preventing properties.

Plus, broccoli is low in sodium and calories, It helps a lot in reducing fat and body weight, so if you are planning on losing weight, you can also add broccoli to your diet. Broccoli has an impressive nutritional profile. It is high in fiber, very high in vitamin C and has potassium, B6 and vitamin A. It is also responsible for giving you healthy radiant skin and reducing hair loss or breakage. 

Below are a compilation of the best antioxidant fruits and vegetables smoothie easily illustrated using videos!

Antioxidants are found in natural fruit and vegetables. It is important for the development of healthy skin and protects the body from a lot of diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease and so many more. The antioxidants are a great source of vitamin and nutrients. Even though our body produces antibodies and antioxidant that fight off disease and infection, it is also important for the body to acquire more antioxidants from an external source by consuming foods that are rich in them either vegetables or fruits.

Antioxidant acts as a source of anti-aging mechanism in the body by minimizing wrinkles, dark spots, blemishes, and repairing worn out tissues. Even though consuming fruits with antioxidant directly gives high content of antioxidants, you can also enjoy it by mixing it up with other healthy ingredients to make smoothies or to drink your favorite yogurt, or you can also blend the fruits mentioned above to use as a natural face mask to get a glowing skin.