Don’t we all want to be one of those lucky 10% of women that don’t get stretch marks during pregnancy? The reality is that most of us get at least some stretch marks while growing another human being under our skin. And if you think about it, it’s understandable given that our skin would not normally stretch at such a speed under normal circumstances.
Stretch marks are there to be celebrated in a way, a mark that shows a woman’s incredible ability to grow and bring life into this world out of just two cells. But like those wrinkles that appear as we get older and wiser, stretch marks are generally not a welcome side effect of pregnancy.
The real question is, how can we avoid pregnancy stretch marks?
Did I hear everyone say – moisturizing? Yep, we all thought that. The truth is, moisturizing will help you deal with the common dry skin itchy feeling that you get around your growing belly. But, according to the research, no matter how much cream or oil you apply, even if its 5 times a day, it actually won’t make much of a difference to getting less stretch marks. Sigh.
I’ll give you an easy example; two 80 year old’s might have greatly different skin appearance, even though they are the same age. So why that difference? Expensive creams? More often a combination of diet, lifestyle, genetics, and overall health influence our skin more than any creams can do. And you guessed it- it’s the same for stretch marks. But there are a few things we can do to minimize them as much as possible.
Skin Food
I hate to tell ya, but a diet rich in nutrients will make a much bigger difference. I know- tell me about it, moisturizing is so much easier than eating healthily right? But given that most women moisturize regularly during pregnancy, and most still get stretch marks, it makes you think- something’s not working…
Well here’s the secret, these are the top 5 skin foods (plus links to recipes!) you need consume regularly to help minimize pregnancy stretch marks (and there’s a bonus– they help with wrinkles too!):
- Bone Broth– ah yes, trendy bone broth. But actually bone broth is very rich in COLLAGEN, and when cooked for a long time, our body is able to absorb it more easily. Think soups, risottos, stews or any dish you normally add stock to. I will add a recipe by the end of the week to make it extra easy for you.
- Nuts, seeds & avocados– and extra virgin olive oil (raw) will help the skin stay more supple and hydrated as they contain important skin nutrient vitamin E. Sprinkle on salads, spread nut butter on toast, or make a trail mix to snack on during the day.
- Oily fish– such as salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel, & anchovies contain omega 3 fatty acids. Remember to only eat fish x2 per week to avoid lots of heavy metals. Fish pies, fish soup, or simply adding some canned fish to your salad will do.
- Brightly coloured vegetables– Red peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cantaloupe, leafy greens and herbs are some of the best vegetable sources of vitamin A. Check the full article here to know how you might be missing out on this important vitamin during pregnancy. From stir fry’s, curries, and roasted veggies, it’s easy to add these to your daily diet!
- Berries and citrus fruits– blueberries, raspberries, gooseberries, you name it! These are high in vitamin C and will help with the formation of collagen within your skin, as well as making new skin cells. Smoothies, fruit salads, or simply added to your porridge will help you stock up on these!
Easy peasy, hey? Now you know, take a screen shot or print this list and go load up your shopping cart!