A Vitamins!

Let’s stir up our bowl of alphabet soup of healthy foods and vitamins and see what pops up. Today it’s all about Vitamin A. Why is it important for your skin?

Vitamin A protects against UV damage, which can help slow signs of aging. It encourages healthy skin by stimulating cell production and turnover to keep skin firm and healthy. This also aids in conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema). Without enough Vitamin A, skin can become itchy and dull.

Hmm, so exactly which foods are rich in Vitamin A. Glad you asked!

Kale
Dark leafy greens: red & green leaf & romaine lettuces. (the darker the leaf, the more nutrient-dense it is.)
Swiss Chard, Turnip, Mustard greens or Collard greens
Spinach
Broccoli
Cabbage
Sweet Potatoes
Carrots
Cantaloupe

The vitamin A found in these carotenoid foods is known as Provitamin A, meaning they need to be combined with a bit of healthy fat in order for the body to absorb and get the most benefit from them. A teaspoon of healthy fat combined with any of these will do the trick. Or add another of one our favorite “A” foods – avocado in a salad.

Active Vitamin A is found in dairy products, eggs, liver and oily fish. These go to work directly in the body, without needing conversion.

A great way to get some greens in your daily diet is to make a smoothie. Try Kari’s “Get Up and Glow” smoothie, full of zippy green goodness.

See how easy it can be to include Vitamin A in your breakfast, lunch, and dinner!