“You look tired.”

It’s not a compliment, and it may be a note of concern.

When people say it or think it, it’s often about the dark circles under your eyes. They make us look worn out and sick.

There are a lot of reasons why dark circles appear. For some, it’s our genes. If we’re born with thin skin and we don’t get the sleep we need, the capillaries under our eyes leak blood, and it shows.

Age can add to this problem because as we age, our skin loses collagen and gets thinner.

If you have dark circles, the first thing to do is to make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep. If sleep isn’t the problem, you need to plump up your skin by giving it better nourishment. You'll love my skin boosting salad recipe for that!

Drink plenty of water, and eat whole clean foods. This alone can make a big difference in getting rid of dark circles.

The foods that make your face look fresh are the ones that have the vitamins that make your skin and blood vessels strong.

5 Foods to Rid Dark Under Eye Circles

 

1. Eat foods high in Vitamin C.

Not only is Vitamin C a powerful antioxidant that boosts your collagen production and thickens skin but it also builds the walls of your blood vessels and keeps them from leaking.

Reach for:

• strawberries and grapefruit
• broccoli and Brussels’ sprouts
• Bell peppers and tomatoes
• kale and spinach

2. Think Vitamin A and remember the color orange.

Foods that are loaded with Vitamin A include:

• sweet potatoes
• carrots
• cantaloupe
• dried apricots

You can also get a Vitamin A boost from dark greens such as:

• mustard greens
• collards
• green peas

3. The Collagen and Vitamin E link

Collagen is one of the most important building blocks of healthy skin. Foods that are rich in Vitamin E fight the enzyme that breaks collagen down. That includes:

• sunflower seeds and almonds
• shellfish
• legumes

4. Am I Anemic?

Sometimes dark circles are a sign of anemia, which is a sign that you need more iron.

Eat protein-rich foods that will boost your iron like:

• lentils
• lean beef
• egg yolks

Eating prunes and spinach will help your body to better absorb that iron.

5. Don't Forget About Vitamin K.

Often forgotten, it's one of the most important foods for fighting dark circles.

It helps prevent blood leakage from broken capillaries. Foods rich in Vitamin K include some of our favorites:

• green leafy vegetables
• Brussels’ sprouts
• asparagus
• carrots
• strawberries

Plus, you can add Vitamin K with tasty dried herbs such as basil, sage, thyme or chili powder.

For a delicious way to get all these nutrients, try this skin-boosting salad. It will make you feel good on the inside and look good on the outside!

 

Yours in Health,

Danette

P.S. Please share this with your friends and I always love hearing from you in the comments below.