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Are you practicing self-care?
We spend a lot of our time thinking about how to combat fine lines, dark spots, and acne by using skincare, and while a good skincare routine is important, it is not everything. You also have to consider the foods you’re eating, the vitamins your body needs, and how much sleep you are getting.
Here at ScissorCut, we want you to feel good inside and out. When you eat well and sleep well, you feel better, and you have more energy to do the things that make you happy. Not only will your body feel better when you take care of yourself from the inside out, but your skin and hair will improve too.
The Benefits of Antioxidants
An antioxidant is both a natural and man-made substance that can help prevent cell damage. Some antioxidants help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. These include vitamin C and E, as well as carotenoids. If you are unfamiliar with carotenoids, they are pigments in plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria.
There are over 600 types of carotenoid, and in humans, they are an antioxidant. The best part is that cooking and handling the vegetables that carry carotenoids enhances their benefits. They are known to increase your eye health, help prevent cancer, and promote cardiovascular health.
Must-Have Antioxidants
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The next time you go to the grocery store, make sure you’ve added the following to your grocery list; you won’t regret it.•
Blueberries —help maintain a healthy metabolic function and regulate glucose delivery. They also have vitamin C, which directly contributes to skin and follicle health. Because blueberries are such a great source of antioxidants, they can help offset damage to your DNA.
• Sweet Potatoes —purple sweet potatoes specifically, have a higher total amount of antioxidants. Followed by orange flesh sweet potato and yellow flesh sweet potato. They are rich in vitamins, dietary fiber, and minerals, in addition to being an antioxidant. Sweet potato contains phenolic acid, an antioxidant that if consumed regularly can act as an anti-inflammatory and promote gut health.
• Turmeric —is not only an antioxidant but also an anti-inflammatory, an antimicrobial, and has antineoplastic properties. Turmeric has been shown to improve acne, alopecia, atopic dermatitis, facial photoaging, psoriasis, radiodermatitis, and other skin conditions.
• Avocados —are known to have 20 vitamins, be an antioxidant, be full of folate and fiber, and contain no cholesterol. Its biggest nutritional factor is carotenoids, which keep your eyes healthy and fight damage from free radicals. Not only does it have a substantial amount of carotenoids, but it also helps absorb antioxidants from other foods.
• Dark Leafy Greens —include salad greens, spinach, bok choy, broccoli, mustard, and kale are rich in vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as B vitamins. Dark leafy greens promote heart health, and because of the antioxidants found in them, they have been shown to be a cancer-preventing food. They are easy to include in your diet and so beneficial to your health.
What are Omega Fatty Acids Good For?
A key structure to your cells, omega fatty acids, are nutrients and supplements that keep your body healthy. Foods rich in omega fatty acids are fish and nuts. Many benefits exist to including omegas in your diet. There are three types of omegas: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
Mental health can be influenced by consuming omegas. There has been research that has found they can help lower depression, including in children and teens. In addition, some tests show that Omegas may prevent schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Consuming omegas can contribute to better mental health, which is a major component of personal care and happiness.
A natural way to protect and care for your skin, omegas are an anti-inflammatory that helps treat sunburn and protect you from sunburn. If you consume omegas through diet or supplements with consistency, your skin is less likely to burn. They provide systemic photoprotection, protecting your skin from photoaging.
Some studies show that omegas can reduce acne in some people. Of course, you’ll always want to consult with your dermatologist if you suffer from severe acne, but this is a natural way to combat it.
Omegas are also a great way to help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth because they provide vital nutrients to hair follicles and skin. A 2015 study found that when participants took omegas and antioxidants, they experienced improved hair density and a decrease in hair thinning and loss.
Beauty Sleep
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You’ve heard the term beauty sleep and know that you inherently feel lighter and more energetic when you get better sleep. But, a 2018 study shows that people with a greater quality of sleep show a higher satisfaction in their life because it reduces the zero-sum mindset. Meaning you don’t believe that other people’s gains are your losses. When you compare yourself to others, you experience less happiness overall. Better sleep allows you to evaluate your life more positively.
If you are sleep-deprived, you usually crave more sugar, which means that when you get the appropriate amount of sleep for your body, whether that’s 5 hours or 8, you naturally reduce your sugar intake. All this to say, your eating habits are better when you get quality sleep, which keeps you healthier overall.
Sleep also affects your immune system greatly. The more sleep you get, the more efficiently your immune system works. However, if you are not getting the right amount of sleep, you can increase the risk of infection. When you sleep better, inflammation decreases; this is noticeable if you are someone who suffers from chronic swelling or other inflammatory health concerns.
Personal Care and Love is Vital
Ultimately, taking care of your physical health and mental health leads to a more enjoyable life. Not only are you more energetic, you appreciate the life you have more because you can see things in a positive light, and you physically have more stamina. All of this allows you to live a fuller life.