Our skin is the largest organ of our body as it covers the entire body. The skin has many duties to perform as it protects you from the pollutants present in the environment, helps in thermoregulation, water, and fat cells storage.

The world is flourishing with all sorts of cosmetics that are made from various formulations that claim to nourish our skin. We all have at least once tried all sorts of creams, ointments, and various other supplements to maintain healthy skin. Isn’t it?

All these fancy cosmetics the cosmetology has given birth to might seem like a quick heal but the truth is that these external ointments and creams help to an extent only. To fix the skin immensely one should consider and monitor what they are eating.

Skin’s Anatomy

Our skin is made up of three layers: epidermis, dermis, and fat.

Epidermis – The most layer of skin is called the epidermis. This layer of skin consists of different cells like melanocytes. These melanocytes are made up of melanin, which is responsible for giving the skin its color.

Dermis – The second layer just beneath the epidermis is the dermis, which comprises blood vessels, lymph vessels, hair follicles. It is the middle layer that provides strength and flexibility to the skin.

Fat – The very last layer is the subcutaneous fat layer which helps in conserving the body’s heat and protects the body from getting injured.

Quite often due to our fast-paced and overblown lifestyle most of us find it extremely challenging to take care of our skin, which results in premature aging.

Taking care of our skin is a very tedious task and if you are looking for some easy and quick skin improvement remedies then this article is definitely for you.

Ayurveda Herbs For Nourishing And Healthy Skin

 In the ancient Ayurvedic medical text the Ashtanga Hridaya, various foods are mentioned in a separate chapter. This post is entirely dedicated to listing all the different foods that help us maintain healthy lifestyles.

There are various drugs (medicinal herbs) that are mentioned in the Ayurvedic scholar Charaka. These drugs are varnya, meaning drugs that give complexion to the skin. Some of the herbs that are mentioned in the Charak Samhita are:

  • Chandana (Indian Sandalwood)
  • Tunga
  • Padmaka (Wild Himalayan Cherry)
  • Madhuka (licorice)
  • Sariva (Indian Sarasparilla)
  • Usheera
  • Manjishtha
  • Payasya (Indian Kudzu)
  • Sita lata (Bermuda Grass)

One can easily get all the above-mentioned herbs in various forms in the market, and these herbs can be used both internally as well as externally for improving the skin.

There are some specific medicinal Ayurvedic herbs that are specially used for enhancing skin tone and these are Manjishta Kashyam, Usheera Asava, Chandana Asava. Now that we are talking about things that help us in improving skin tones, here are some natural foods that can help us in doing the same.

Fruits That Help In Nourishing Skin And Its Texture

Dhasima/Pomegranate/Punica Granatum

Pomegranate is sweet and sugary in taste, comprising antioxidants like proanthocyanidins and flavonoids keep aging at bay. According to Ayurveda pomegranate pacifies Vata, Pitta, and Kapha dosha

Amalaki/Indian Gooseberry

Amalakis are extremely flourished with vitamin C, phosphorus, iron, carotene, and vitamin B complex. They are also powerful and strong antioxidants and act as an anti-aging agent for the skin.

Draksa – Vitis Vinifera

Draksa is also sweet in taste, and are grapes that contain vitamin C and antioxidants. Vitamin C is very important for the formation of collagen. Collagen is a fiber-like protein that helps in retaining the elasticity of the skin and also helps in reversing aging. Draksa is an aphrodisiac and helps in calming aggravated Vata and Pitta dosha.

Papaya- Carica Papaya

Papaya is fibrous and rich in vitamin C fruit, which has a sweet taste. Papaya contains certain antioxidants that help in strengthening immunity and eliminate free radicals. It also flushes off the toxins from the body.

Kharjura- Phoenix Dactylifera

Khajur is also known as Date is a sweet-tasting fruit. Date acts as a blood purifier and pacifies Pitta. They are rich in vitamin B5 i.e pantothenic acid, which can repair damage caused by free radicals and results in improving skin texture.

There are certain vegetables that should be considered for healthy skin.

 Karavella/Bitter gourd/ Momordica Charantia

Bitter gourd is a pungent tasting vegetable that is an anti-aging agent and must be included in your diet. It purifies the blood and prevents the occurrence of the body from any sort of blood disease or disorder. It also narrows down the chances of skin infections.

Bitter gourd is one of the most vital vegetables that helps in preventing and curing skin-related issues and must be included in the diet.  Apart from Bitter gourd, you should also intake vegetables like bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots, beetroots, pumpkin, and leafy greens like broccoli, kayle in your diet. These vegetables are also highly rich in different vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin E and along with that they also have antioxidants in them, which isn’t just good for the skin but is also beneficial for the whole body.

All the above-listed fruits and vegetables will help in boosting collagen production and will eliminate free radicals from the body and eventually end up resulting in decreasing your aging process.

Not Just Food Items But Here Are Some Herbs That Aid In Anti-Aging.

The anti-aging herbs include Cinnamon, Turmeric, Ginger, and Cumin. These 4 herbs have their own contribution towards healthy and glowing skin.

  • Cinnamon intake helps in increasing collagen production, which makes your skin more elastic and firmer. One can include cinnamon in their tea and drink it, if not comfortable drinking that then you can also boil a cinnamon stick in water and then drink the water after straining it. It not just improves elasticity of your skin but also purifies and regulates blood sugar.
  • Turmeric is a natural healer and immunity booster. it is widely used in a variety of cosmetics. There are plenty of skincare formulations that are made up of turmeric. Turmeric purifies blood which helps in skin radiance. You can add a pinch of turmeric in lukewarm milk and have it at night
  • Ginger is very beneficial for one’s overall health, it contains gingerol, which is an anti-inflammatory compound and helps in preventing age spots.
  • Cumin comes with disinfectant properties that can help the skin clear of toxins and infections. You can have cumin seeds by boiling them along the water, and then that decoction can be consumed orally.

Please Note: Some of the ayurvedic treatments have not been well researched and might be harmful. So, it is recommended to consult a qualified Ayurvedic Practitioner.