Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein.
While many people tend to rely on creams and medication to help heal their skin, simply adding certain foods into your diet can do the job as well. The nutrients found in certain foods are what allow them to help skin heal cleanly with minimal scarring. Foods rich in vitamins A and C, proteins and honey are all ideal in promoting your skin's natural healing processes.
Proteins
Chicken breasts are a source of essential amino acids.
A diet rich in proteins helps skin to remain elastic and heal wounds. When cells become damaged, proteins are the building blocks that they use to repair and maintain themselves. The proteins themselves are made up of amino acids, the most common of which come from animal sources. When eating amino acids that come from a plant source, it's important to eat them as part of a healthy diet in order to gain the values of their complete proteins (essential amino acids). Lean meats such as chicken breasts, lean cuts of beef and salmon are all ideal sources of proteins. Different types of beans -- especially kidney beans -- are the next highest sources of protein in a regular diet followed by eggs and dairy products.
Vitamins A & C
Drinking orange juice helps increase your levels of vitamin C.
Vitamins A and C increase skin strength as well as cell growth and development. When searching for natural sources of vitamin A, the best place to look is in vegetables. Dark green and orange vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes and kale are all excellent sources of vitamin A. Orange fruits such as cantaloupe, papayas and mangoes also provide vitamin A. Be aware of how much vitamin A you consume in a day because if you ingest too much it can build up in your system and cause problems. Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits are a great source of vitamin C. Red and green bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes and kiwis are also an excellent source of vitamin C. Unlike vitamin A, you can't overdose on vitamin C so feel free to eat as many of these foods as you want.
Honey
Honey can help heal wounds that conventional antibacterial agents cannot.
Used to treat skin conditions for centuries, honey is different because rather than eating it, honey is used as an ointment to treat burns and open wounds. What gives honey its ability to treat skin injuries is its naturally occurring antimicrobial properties. As it mixes with the liquid that leaks from a wound, the two compound to produce hydrogen peroxide. This natural antibacterial agent doesn't damage the healing tissues and can actually help remove dead tissues painlessly. When used to treat burns, honey acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that reduces the pain and swelling of the injury. Using honey on an injury helps promote fast healing and minimizes the appearance of scars.
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