Accredited Practising Dietitian and author of The Australian Healthy Skin Diet Geraldine Georgeou shares her top five tips and recipes for getting your post-Covid skin feeling fresh again.
Berries
Berries will boost your vitamin C content in your diet and provide a good source of antioxidants and aid your immune system.
Try increasing green beans in your meals
They are rich in silica and is the building block of skin, hair and nails — is important for wound healing and keeping the skin firm by helping with collagen production and repair from winter. Not having enough silica can lead to weak nails and dull, brittle hair, which is why it’s used in so many herbal ‘skin, hair and nail’ formulations.
Silica is antiaging
Many of my patients with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and insulin resistance can suffer with not just adult acne but even hair loss. Supporting return of hair growth is very important as androgenic hair loss (male pattern balding) in women can be devastating.
- The best dietary sources of silica include leeks, green beans, strawberries, cucumbers, celery, mango and asparagus.
- Try adding green beans rich in silica to your meals such as my Tuna niçoise salad
Beetroot
It is known as one of the “superfoods” that have been identified in providing great sources of antioxidants and polyphenols. The richer the colour of foods such as purple including berries the more antioxidant properties that can be found and has been associated to reduce risks of cancer and even antiaging. Try my Za’atar- rolled eggs with beetroot and barley for a breakfast alternative.
Fresh herbs
Fresh herbs such as parsley are anothergreat source of antioxidants including Vitamin C and if added to a meal can also enhance the absorption of iron in a meal and is great served with lean lamb. Try my Lamb Skewers with pomegranate tabbouleh and mint and cucumber yoghurt.