SKIN FOOD | Quenching your skin's thirst with Watermelon
With the hot summer days upon us, it's a great time to reach for a delicious thirst-quenching watermelon to combat the heat while hanging at the beach, having a picnic in the park, or at a backyard BBQ. Watermelon isn't only a tasty summertime treat, but is also a great hydrator for the skin as it has a water content of 92% and is packed with Vitamins A, C, and the antioxidant lycopene.
What do these nutrients have to do with your skin?
Vitamin A: a nutrient required for sebum production that keeps hair moisturized. Vitamin A is also necessary for the growth of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair.
Vitamin C: one cup of watermelon provides 21% of daily requirements of Vitamin C, needed for the building and maintenance of collagen, which provides structure to skin and hair.
Lycopene: Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant, which can reduce the inflammatory response to UV damage by neutralising harmful molecules that are produced in the skin as a result.
Try incorporating this great recipe while watermelon season is at it's peak! If you have any leftovers, you can apply the juice of the watermelon straight to your skin to help cool inflamed skin due to sunburn or even acne.
Refreshing Watermelon Salad Recipe:
Serves 2
Ingredients
1/4 watermelon, diced into bite-sized chunks
1/2 cucumber, diced into bite-sized chunks
1 lime
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
4-5 fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Enjoy!