Fall is now here, which means it's time for all of the yummy fall recipes to be made! What does this have to do with your skin, you ask? Why, that's a very good question. In short, certain foods are very good for helping your body produce collagen, a.k.a the stuff that helps your skin look healthy and young. Aside from amino acids, the body relies on vitamins and minerals to make collagen. This includes Vitamin C, zinc, copper, and sulfur sources. Luckily, there are plenty of fall foods that include these things, so below you will find a list of these foods and maybe some meal ideas to help include them in your diet!
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are a classic fall favorite - and fall is all about pumpkins, anyway! Pumpkin seeds are rich in the mineral zinc, which is important for the synthesis of collagen. They provide about 19% of the recommended daily value! To easily include these in your diet, you can make a trail mix with your pumpkin seeds, make a fresh pumpkin soup, or just enjoy some roasted pumpkin seeds on their own!
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, and grapefruits are great Vitamin C sources, which is very important for collagen production. Without enough Vitamin C, it is impossible for your body to make the collagen you need. Lemons, oranges, and grapefruits would all be the perfect addition to a nice, hot cider!
Potatoes
Both potatoes with skin and sweet potatoes can help to provide you with the supplements that help you make collagen. Sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamin C, which as stated above, is very important. You can make a sweet potato pie for dessert, or just have some good old sweet potatoes as a side to your main dish! Eating potatoes with the skin is a good copper source for your body. Some food ideas for this may be easy for you to figure out, but in case you need help, there's always potato soup (yum!), a hot roast, or a simple baked potato. I don't know about you, but I can never get enough of some good potatoes!
Cruciferous Veggies
Cruciferous veggies include things like broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens and so on. The word cruciferous is defined as relating to or denoting plants of the cabbage family. These are a good source of sulfur to help your body produce its collagen. Try including a side of steamed broccoli to your thanksgiving meals, and you can never go wrong with the classic collard greens.
Nuts
If pumpkin seeds aren't really your thing, you can always get your zinc from other sources like walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts. You can eat them by themselves for a little snack or mix them in your salads. You can also make a crunchy almond turkey casserole, a broccoli walnut and almond spread (a three-in-one!), or just top off your desserts with your favorite type of nuts!
Even if you already eat most of these foods during the fall months, this year you can eat them knowing that they are doing good things for you, your body, and your skin! Enjoy!