Add These Two Foods To Your Diet To Get Rid Of Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
If you're going to experience a cosmetic issue with your skin, there's a good chance it will appear in the most delicate area under your eyes. Board-certified dermatologist Lauren Fine, M.D., called this skin "the thinnest, most sensitive areas" of the body, in conversation with Everyday Health. "It's also among the first to reveal the very first signs of aging, like fine lines," she noted.
In addition to fine lines, our under eyes are susceptible to different types of dark circles. Sometimes we get dark circles beneath our eyes when we haven't gotten enough sleep. It can even happen when your makeup smudges, making you suddenly look like you're auditioning for the role of a weepy damsel in distress or a ring-eyed woodland creature. But when your dark circles are persistent — despite getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and using waterproof eye makeup — that's when they start to become a problem.
When even specialized creams promising to eliminate dark circles end up letting you down, you might be tempted to accept defeat and simply live with them. However, changing up things from the inside — mainly your diet — is the step you could be missing to get rid of those pesky dark circles once and for all. Simply adding two tasty foods — dark chocolate and salmon — to your diet could make all the difference.
Why this sweet treat makes a difference
In every diet, it feels like the first thing you're instructed to do is exclude desserts and treats from your daily intake. However, if you want to see a difference in the dark circles underneath your eyes, you'll want to introduce the delectable sweetness of dark chocolate as a recurring midday snack.
Dark chocolate comes packed with so many wonderful benefits, it's hard to list them all, but we'll give it our best shot. According to the Cleveland Clinic, dark chocolate is high in fiber, which will get your digestion system working like a charm. It's also a source of flavanols and antioxidants, and these are what really impact your dark circles. Antioxidants act as a protectant from harmful UV rays that could potentially damage your skin and be what's really causing your dark circles. Flavanols have anti-aging properties, meaning they disrupt the aging process by reversing cell damage. They also get the blood pumping throughout your body, producing healthier and firmer skin. With all these benefits, dark chocolate is good all-around for your under-eye area.
Omega-3s diminish dark circles
Can't get enough seafood in your life? Then you'll love hearing that eating more salmon will help you eradicate dark circles beneath the eyes.
Omega-3 fatty acids are well known for the health benefits they give the body. Per the Mayo Clinic, foods that contain omega-3s are beneficial to the heart as they are powerful enough to reduce triglycerides and improve blood flow, thus lowering the chances of suffering from a stroke or high blood pressure.
These nutrients act as superheroes for our hearts, but they can also save the day when it comes to our under-eye skin. Inflammation can cause the skin there to look darker and puffier. Omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA which are found in salmon, can cause a reduction in inflammation and may help make your dark circles a thing of the past (via Harvard Health Publishing). We recommend including plenty of salmon in your diet if you want to reap the benefits it has to offer. If you're not a fan of the taste of salmon, you can always head to your local drugstore and pick up a bottle of fish oil supplements to get similar results.