The Best Foods To Eat To Heal Cuts And Scars

The best foods to eat that can help heal cuts and scars will be high in antioxidants report experts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Antioxidants contain properties that help to decrease inflammation and regenerate the skin. Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods can help you speed up the recovery process. In addition to eating beneficial foods, you can cook with health-promoting oils to assist the skin's appearance.

Foods Rich in Vitamin C

Vitamin C, according to experts at the NIH is "essential for the healing of wounds." All fruits and vegetables contain some level of this vitamin. People need to include a variety of foods that are rich in this vitamin since their bodies do not produce the vitamin nor store it in their bodies. There are a number of Vitamin C-rich foods that help heal cuts and scars.

Fruit are rich in Vitamin C. Particularly strong in this vitamin, according to Nutrition Data, are all sorts of berries. Cranberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries (both red and black varieties), marionberries and huckleberries are some examples. Other rich sources of Vitamin C are cantaloupe, watermelon, papaya, pineapple, mango and citrus fruits. Citrus fruits include oranges, limes, lemons and grapefruits.

For the vegetable lovers among us, the U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that there is a variety of excellent sources of Vitamin C-rich foods to choose from. Acorn squash, white potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, green and/or yellow peppers, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts all contain rich amounts of Vitamin C. Dark leafy greens, such as kale and spinach, are also recommended, according to experts at the NIH. A 1 cup serving of spinach, for example, contains 48 percent of the daily nutritional requirements.

Foods Rich in Beta Carotene

Beta carotene, a component of Vitamin A, is another antioxidant known for helping with healing scars and cuts reports the NIH. Beta carotene contains strong anti-inflammatory properties. According to Nutrition Data, foods high in this component include carrots, sweet red peppers, pumpkin, tomatoes and sweet potatoes. A 1 cup serving size of a sweet potato baked in its skin contains an impressive 769 percent of the daily nutritional requirements for Vitamin A cites Nutrition Data.

Foods Rich in Vitamin E

Eating a variety of foods that contain large amounts of naturally-occurring Vitamin E (otherwise known as Alpha Tocopherol) will help heal cuts and scars. This health-promoting antioxidant can be found in whole grains, such as oats, barley, whole wheat, brown rice and quinoa. There also are a variety of whole grain boxed cereals.

Choose from a variety of plant-based oils that are rich in Vitamin E. Oils, such as canola, wheat germ, cottonseed, olive, peanut, sunflower seed and other oils that are liquid at room temperature contain anti-inflammatory properties that can help with wound healing. According to the USDA, a 1 tbsp. serving size of wheat germ oil contains 100 percent of the daily nutritional requirements for Vitamin E.

Other foods that are rich in the antioxidant Vitamin E include butters, such as peanut, almond and sesame seed. Heart healthy seeds and nuts, such as sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, pistachios and flax seeds are other excellent sources states the USDA.