Many factors could affect how your skin looks, such as your genetics and your lifestyle habits. Though you can’t control how your genetics affect your skin, you have some control over how your skin looks. As you probably know, certain lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking, or tanning would adversely affect your skin. If you quit these habits, you will find your skin improving. Besides that, certain foods will help you achieve the glow you want in your skin. And no, the cosmetics that proclaim that they are “skin food” are simply trying to market off that. The chemicals in cosmetics will most certainly not help you on your quest for healthy, glowing skin. It starts from within.
Dr, Jessica Wu is a dermatologist based in Los Angeles, and she has written a book called “Feed Your Face.” She says that research on what foods improve your complexion is continuing. She also says that it is a fact that your diet affects your skin as food that gets digested enters the bloodstream and then circulates in the layers of the skin. Thus, here is a list of such foods that will help you get the skin complexion of your dreams.
Carrots
Carrots are among the very best sources of beta carotene. Beta carotene naturally protects your skin against damage from sun rays. Carrots also have vitamin A which helps in repairing damaged collagen. You must have heard that carrots are great for your eyes, but they are also great if you want to get rid of that pesky acne.
Tomatoes
Dermatologists suggest that eating tomatoes or tomato juice could help clear up acne. That is because tomatoes contain a phytochemical called lycopene which strengthens collagen in your skin. It also works against the oxidizing effect that UV rays have on your skin by eliminating free radicals. You must eat these fruits to remove these free radicals as they make the skin age prematurely.
Oranges
Oranges are one of the best sources of vitamin C, and they are one of the best fruits to consume to achieve nice skin. Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants because it helps prevent damage to the skin by UV rays, hydrates the skin, stimulates the rapid formation of the lipid barrier, and helps heal wounds.
Blueberries
As you know, free radicals damage skin cells. Blueberries have anthocyanins containing antioxidant properties that fight these free radicals. Collagen fibers give structure to our skin, and blueberries help in strengthening these fibers. If you are serious about getting that skin glow, you need to get some berries!
Salmon
You need a substantial amount of healthy fats in your skin to support the lipid barrier. There are certain fruits and nuts which help in improving this barrier alongside salmon. Fish like salmon is excellent if you want to achieve young, glowing skin, and both fish and fish oil helps in reducing inflammation as it contains omega-3s.
Eggs
Eggs are rich in proteins, and egg whites have proline and lysine along with amino acids. These are the biomolecules that form collagen. The egg yolks are also rich in essential vitamins, which boost cell functions. The best thing about egg yolks is that they have biotin, colloquially known as the “beauty vitamin.” Biotin helps grow and strengthen hair and fingernails. It also helps protect your skin against unwanted rashes, acne, and dryness. They also boost skin health as they have vitamin D.
Broccoli
Broccoli is rich in vitamin C and, therefore, an excellent food to include in your diet if you want to achieve glowing skin. If you have combination skin, you should try cruciferous veggies and fruits with antioxidants. And you are in luck because broccoli is one of those cruciferous vegetables in addition to kale, cauliflower, and bok choy.
Yellow Peppers
As you have understood, vitamin C is what you need to get glowing skin as they help in producing collagen. Besides that, vitamin E protects against damage of free radicals as it is an antioxidant. Yellow peppers are rich in both vitamin C and E. They also help to prevent discoloration of the skin and in reducing aging signs like wrinkles.
Strawberries
Vegetables and fruits contain various antioxidants and vitamins, which strengthen the collagen in your skin and often protect against the adverse effects of UV rays. Strawberries are among such fruits, rich in vitamin C, which will help you achieve glowing skin. If you incorporate strawberries in your diet, it would also help improve your skin texture and skin tone.
Avocado
Instead of buying a cosmetic load that claims to combat aging, you need to get yourself an avocado. Avocados hydrate your skin and reduce any inflammation. They contain monounsaturated fatty acids, which, besides hydrating your skin, also lowers the risk of premature aging skin, which is generally due to UV rays. That is because avocados help in improving the lipid barrier of your skin.
Conclusion
If you are vegetarian or vegan, this list would have helped you a lot. It contains foods that contain proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants, all of which are necessary for healthy, glowing skin. Since the list given above also has salmon as a listing, it would come in handy for those who consume meat. They say you are what you eat but did you know what you don’t eat may adversely affect your skin? So make sure that your diet includes as many sources of proteins, vitamins, and minerals as possible.
