Perfecting your skin care regimen is crucial for a healthy complexion, but it means nothing if you’re eating an unhealthy diet. Nourishing meals are just as good for your skin as they are for maintaining a healthy weight, boosting your immune system and fighting off those chronic conditions. But which foods contribute to the healthiest skin?
Scrap your old grocery list – here are a few foods you need to pick up for a glowing complexion:
1. Oily fish
According to StyleCaster, oily fish – such as salmon and tuna – are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and biotin, a B vitamin that produces fatty acids and is crucial for healthy nails, hair and skin. Start adding a fish entrée to your weekly menu – your skin will appreciate it.
2. Almonds
Adding almonds to your granola doesn’t only give it a crunch, it also makes it a skin-enhancing snack! Because almonds are packed with vitamin E, they can help you maintain a youthful glow and also protect your skin from experiencing damage from the sun.
Almonds and walnuts are great for skin health.3. Walnuts
Likewise, walnuts are another nut that’s great for your skin – but for different reasons. Prevention magazine reported that this nut is the only of its kind that’s loaded with omega-3 fatty acids – extremely vital for a healthy complexion, according to what Dr. Lisa Drayer told the source.
“Deficiency in this fat can result in eczema, which is associated with dry, scaly skin,” she said.
Make walnuts your snack of choice, just be careful about portion sizes – this nut harbors a high calorie count, and it’s easy to lose track of due to its great taste!
4. Grass-fed beef
Who doesn’t love a good, hearty steak dinner? Your complexion is among the list. Grass-fed beef has a higher ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids – which helps to reduce inflammation – and it’s also packed with protein – great for a youthful glow!
“Protein is the building block of collagen and elastin tissue, which keeps skin taut and less wrinkled”
– Dr. Jessica Wu told Prevention.
5. Water
Water is vital for hydrating your body – skin included. By consuming the proper amount throughout your day, you can help your skin look soft and supple as opposed to wrinkled and aged. Drinking water isn’t only great for hydration, however. It also rid the toxins from your body – sugar being one of them.
“When blood sugar levels are high, sugars can attach to proteins in collagen and produce compounds that cause skin to sag and wrinkle,” Drayer told Prevention.
Do your complexion a favor and lay off the sugary foods and drinks – a detox always does the body good!
6. Carrots
Whether you love to eat carrots raw as a mid-afternoon snack or stew them in your slow cooker meal, your skin is going to reap the benefits. It’s great for clearing up a breakout – all thanks to vitamin A, according to what Howard Murad shared with Women’s Health magazine.
“It helps prevent the overproduction of cells in the skin’s outer layer,” he said.
AKA: The place where your pores tend to clog due to the combination of dead cells and sebum. Keep snacking on those carrots for skin protection!
