Nourish your skin to put your best face forward.
While we can’t all have the airbrushed look of A-list celebs, we can make a positive impact on how our skin looks and feels by nourishing it with healthy food choices. Here are 15 foods that will help you to get flawless skin.
What goes into our bodies definitely shows up on our skin. The best foods for healthy skin aren’t found in heavily processed foods, like refined breads, sugared breakfast cereals, salty packaged snacks, and convenience foods. Even packaged products labeled “healthy” aren’t the best choices—too often they’re filled with artificial sweeteners or added sodium. If you’re eating a diet that’s largely made of processed foods it will show up as dry, dull skin that may look older than your actual age.
Instead, the foods that give us a glow and may help prevent premature aging are clean-eating foods loaded with nutrients, such as fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. Keep skin beautiful by preparing recipes that incorporate the foods below and other good-for-you foods, like The Ultimate Clean-Eating Grocery List.
You might also like to try the DIY Anti-Wrinkle Mask or DIY Cinnamon Honey Acne Mask.
1. Olive Oil
This clean eating food is high in the monounsaturated fatty acids that nourish skin. Enjoy it in Garden Salad with Lemon & Oil Dressing.
2. Dark Chocolate
This antioxidant-rich treat may help improve circulation to cells, including skin cells. Indulge in Chocolate-Covered Strawberries.
3. Tomatoes
These foods for healthy skin are high in lycopene, an antioxidant that boosts skin’s natural sun protection—although please note that it is not a substitute for daily sunscreen use. Dig into Chicken Parmesan Rolls with Marinara Sauce.
4. Coffee
You’ll love your morning cup even more when you learn one study suggests it may reduce the risk of melanoma skin cancer [1]. Keep your coffee healthier by using an unrefined sweetener, like easy Morning Joe in the Raw.
5. Papaya
This fruit is rich in vitamins C and A as well as the enzyme papain, which fights inflammation in cells, including skin cells. Check out the Top 5 Healthy Reasons to Pick Papaya.
6. Green Tea
Green tea offers EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate, an antioxidant that boosts oxygen and blood flow to the skin, helping the complexion to stay healthier. Enjoy unsweetened green tea on its own or try it in Orange Pomegranate Green Tea.
7. Walnuts
High in an omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid, walnuts may help reduce skin dryness as well as eczema. Lunch on Farro Salad with Apples and Walnuts.
8. Sardines
These fishies contain high levels of the omega-3 fatty acid known as DHA, an anti-inflammatory that may help reduce acne. Try sardines and other omega-3-rich foods in 21 OMG Omega-3 Recipes.
9. Soy
Soy delivers an isoflavone called aglycone, which is believed to stop the breakdown of collagen. Spicy Grilled Tofu with Szechuan Vegetables is a delicious vegetarian entrée when you want foods for healthy skin.
10. Kale
Rich in nutrients that fight skin-damaging free radicals, kale is a smart superfood to add to your good-skin grocery list. It also offers skin-loving vitamins A and C. Substitute your regular burger fare with Skinny Kale Burgers.
11. Sweet Potatoes
These foods for flawless skin deliver beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, a known fighter against sun damage. Serve up a skin-loving side dish with Stuffed Sweet Potatoes- Southwestern Style.
11. Water
H2O is a must when you’re choosing foods for healthy skin. It keeps skin hydrated and plumped, plus drinking water helps stop you from reaching for sugary drinks that can damage skin cells.
13. Romaine Lettuce
High in water content, romaine lettuce supports skin hydration while offering vitamin A, which increases cell turnover. Potato Frittata Sandwich is a tasty way to add romaine lettuce to the menu.
14. Kiwi
Foods for healthy skin, like kiwi, nourish cells with loads of antioxidants and nutrients, such as potassium as well as vitamin c, which stimulates collagen production. Treat your skin and your taste buds to a Fountain of Youth Smoothie.
15. Oatmeal
You might be familiar with oatmeal masks for the skin, but eating the whole food is good for skin too. It helps keep blood sugar levels stable, which decreases inflammation throughout the body, including the skin. Mix up Clean-Eating Refrigerator Oatmeal.
Is it time for a lifestyle reboot? Check out our Skinny Ms. Clean Overhaul 30-Day Weight Loss Program ebook.
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