Are you struggling to get cleaner, clearer, healthier-looking skin? You might be using a committed skin care routine day and night, using all of the top products to bring back a youthful glow, but the fact of the matter is that your skin may be held back because of your diet.
Anything that you apply topically to the skin may provide a temporary remedy, but if you want truly healthy skin that is long-lasting, you need to take a look at what you’re eating so your skin becomes (and stays) healthy from the inside out.
What Foods Are Best for the Skin?
Your diet plays a critical role in the overall health of your skin. As they say, “you are what you eat”, and if you are eating a lot of junk, it will show in your skin. Here are some diet tips to help bring back healthier skin.
Drink a Lot of Water
The most basic tip for the health of your skin, if not for your health overall. Making sure you are getting enough hydration is a big component in nourishing your skin from the inside-out so it maintains a glow. Drinking enough water acts as a natural detox that can clean toxins and pollutants out of your skin’s pores.
Not only should you be drinking enough water, but you can also incorporate foods that are high in water content (such as fruits like watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, oranges, and grapefruit) to promote better skin health.
Consume More Fruits and Vegetables
Whatever the season is, there are fruits and vegetables that are in season for that time of the year – and you should be eating more of them! Fruits and vegetables are loaded with nutrients, primarily vitamins like Vitamin C, that act as natural antioxidants for your skin. This can prevent aging of the skin and restore a youthful glow.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Make sure that your diet is well-rounded so that you are getting foods from all food groups, which ensures that you are getting the full spectrum of major nutrients. Get enough lean protein, carbohydrates, and foods rich in fiber to get the nutrition that you need. If you feel that you may be lacking in some essential nutrients, consider adding a multivitamin into your daily routine.
Drink Herbal Tea
Just like with fruits and vegetables, herbal tea is another natural antioxidant that can help repel free radicals that clog up the skin’s pores and lead to irritation and blemishes. These antioxidants can help prevent premature aging of the skin, dull skin, and wrinkles.
Cut Down on Sugar
There really is no nutritional benefit to sugar in our diet. It can serve as good energy to fuel our bodies, but it doesn’t serve much of a purpose for maintaining health. Too much sugar in your diet can lead to poor health of the skin, similar to how you may be more prone to acne when consuming a lot of junk food. Along with sugar, steer clear of artificial sweeteners which can also strip your skin of its natural glow.
Add More Healthy Fats
Our skin is the largest organ of the body, and it is mostly comprised of fat. Getting enough healthy fats in your diet can strengthen the elasticity of your skin. Just be sure that it is a healthy fat (like those listed here), as fat from unhealthy sources like junk food can damage the health of your skin.
About Shaun Hudson
Shaun Hudson loves sports, being outdoors, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. After many unsuccessful attempts to lose weight, he finally was able to drop 25 pounds and keep it off. The secret? He kept a journal of his activity, diet, and daily life. That journal changed his life, and has since evolved into this website. Read his full bio.