thanksgiving foods

Five Thanksgiving Foods Your Skin Will Thank You For Eating

thanksgiving foods

Several things come to mind with Thanksgiving, including sitting around with family, eating yummy foods, and stretch pants to accommodate both!

Most people fret over how Thanksgiving feasts will affect their waistlines, but including the right mixture of foods can actually provide a serious beauty boost. That doesn’t mean going sans turkey and pie, either. Many Thanksgiving favorites are packed with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that fortify the skin’s complexion and leave it radiantly glowing.

Thanksgiving meal is historically a day to test stomach capacity. While the following five foods provide a beauty-boosting elixir for the skin, everyone should also adhere to the rules of moderation and remember that more isn’t always better. Plate-map these foods wisely and enjoy all the positive skin benefits without the negative weight side effects.

Five Thanksgiving Foods The Skin Will Thank You For Eating

1. Turkey

Feel free to gobble up some turkey. The high content of lean proteins in turkey help add structure to hair, nails, teeth, and skin. These proteins also stave off Ghrelin, which is the hormone that creates feelings of hunger. In other words, turkey helps eaters feel fuller quicker and keeps them feeling fuller longer.

Turkey’s high zinc concentration helps maintain collagen and elastic fibers. Collagen is like the glue that makes the skin look and feel firm and supple.

Dark or white? Skin or no skin? Go for dark meat without the skin. Dark meat has the highest vitamin and mineral content and skin is where the unhealthy fats reside.

2. Pumpkin And Sweet Potato Pie

Pie to help the skin? Feel free to tell friends because this is serious business. Both pumpkin and sweet potato are loaded with vitamins A, C, and E. Beta carotene in them fights free radical damage caused by toxins and the sun, and it promotes cell turn over and regeneration.

Potassium and magnesium in sweet potatoes also help drain the lymph nodes and boost blood circulation to remove toxins from the skin.

Both pumpkin and sweet potato have a plentiful amount of natural sugars. There’s no need to lace recipes with added sugar that only serves to clog pores and create skin breakouts.

3. Cranberries

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant contained with cranberries, and vitamin C is an essential component of hydroxyproline, hydroxylisine and amino acids that support collagen production.

The acidity and antiseptic properties of the cranberry helps to minimize oily skin and breakouts. It’s great for those with acne issues.

Plus, cranberries are natural metabolic boosters in that they get your digestive system moving more efficiently after a big Thanksgiving meal.

4. Spinach

Adding spinach to stuffings, dressings, and other traditional Thanksgiving side dishes is a great way to give skin a clearer, more youthful, and brighter appearance. Spinach is an antioxidant loaded with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients to prevent premature skin aging.

Spinach is loaded with circulation-boosting iron that delivers rich oxygen supplies to the skin for that rosy glow. It’s vitamin K content strengthens blood vessel walls and reduces inflammation to vanish those dark under eye circles. From protecting the skin against UV radiation to fighting off acne, spinach is a skin powerhouse.

5. Olive Oil, Walnuts, and Almonds

Olive oil is another powerful antioxidant. It’s healthy fats are counterproductive to wrinkles. Use olive oil instead of vegetable oil to turn Thanksgiving recipes skin-healthy.

Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids. These help nourish dry skin and can prevent eczema. Almonds contain vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin that can help even and clear complexion. Use these nuts for texture in Thanksgiving side dishes that call for breadcrumbs or other carbohydrate fillers.

Final Thoughts

While dark chocolate, red wine, and certain dairy products do contain some skin-health benefits, many are loaded with counterproductive sugars and alcohol content that can be drying and inflammatory to the skin. Stick with protein-based and plant-based foods like those above this Thanksgiving. The skin will surely thank you.

Advanced Skin Therapy Of Smoky Point is an advanced aesthetics Day Spa, Skin Spa & Medical Spa offering affordable and amazing anti-aging results as well as men facials. Whether you want to look your best going into Thanksgiving or didn’t eat so skin-friendly during Thanksgiving, call today for your free skin analysis and to claim a new client discount.

Related Article: 10 Power Foods for Great Skin“”