Foods That Will Give You Glowing Skin

Research reveals that our skin is a mirror of our internal bodily health, for every single food item we consume and how it affects our body is manifested clear upon the surface of our skin. Individuals who devour heals of sugary treats, fatty foods and processed treats tend to experience a fast and premature aging process, as their collagen is broken down much more quickly, which causes their skin to lose all its radiance and glow.

However, on the bright side, nature provides us countless foods and fruits that aid our skin and protect it from all kinds of weather conditions, be it excessively sunny or dryness-inducing cold, to retain our summertime freshness and glow all year-round. The idea is to pick out farm-fresh produce, fresh and ripe fruits, nutrient-packed veggies and healthy fats. At the same time, it is essential to cut down the consumption of sugar as it speeds up the aging process of the skin, triggering the emergence of too many wrinkles and causing the skin too look excessively dull. Also, be sure to cut down your alcohol consumption as it causes the very same skin damages as sugar.

Sunscreen alone won’t be enough to preserve your youthfulness and beauty.

So whether you need to treat acne, ward off premature aging, reduce the appearance wrinkles or fight back against another pesky skin condition, the right diet can be a valuable aid. That’s because researchers have found that fitting certain foods into your daily routine can help fight back against your complexion woes by turning off inflammatory genes and providing your body with the proper tools to strengthen and build healthy tissues.

Carrot

Think of carrots as your very own wonder wands—good for the eyes and good for clearing up breakouts. No magic here, though, just plenty of beta-carotene and vitamin A, an antioxidant which prevents overproduction of cells in the skin’s outer layer. That means fewer flaky dead cells that otherwise could combine with sebum to clog your pores. Plus, vitamin A plays an essential role in reducing the development of skin-cancer cells. It’s a win-win.

Papaya

Papaya is an extremely common and effective skin-care ingredient, and it is found in most skincare products, be it a skin mask, facial scrub or exfoliator. However, nutritionists and skin care experts believe that in order to reap all its skin care benefits and a rich concentration of vitamin C, it is highly recommended to consume the fruit as well. You see, it is loaded with powerful antioxidants and the best part is, papayas are available all year-round, primarily during the summer when our skin is most endangered by the harmful rays of the sun.

This vitamin-C packed food will provide enhanced protection against the attacks of free radicals that tend to damage our skin cells, along with aid in repairing our skin tissues. Research reveals that vitamin C is an essential nutrient required for the production of collagen, which is basically a protein that provides our skin its elasticity and health.

Sweet Potatoes

A study in the Journal Evolution and Human Behaviour showed eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables gives a healthier, more attractive, and more radiant glow than you would get from sun exposure. But it was those who consumed more portions of red and orange vegetables per day who had the greatest sun-kissed complexion—the result of disease-fighting compounds called carotenoids that give those plants their colors. Few foods are as rich in the beauty stuff than a baked sweet potato. In fact, just half a medium potato provides 200 percent of your daily recommended intake. 

Eggs

Here’s another reason you should eat the whole egg. The yolk is rich in vitamins that are essential for proper cell function, as well as contain the “beauty vitamin,” biotin. This B vitamin is more commonly known to help hair grow and strengthen fingernails, but research has shown it also helps protect skin from acne, rashes, and even dryness.

Spinach

Popeye’s favorite veggie triumphs again. In a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, people who ate the most leafy greens had half as many skin tumors over the course of 11 years compared to those who ate the least. Researchers believe the high levels of folate, an essential B vitamin which helps maintain and repair DNA, in these veggies may reduce the likelihood of cancer-cell growth. Just a single cup of spinach contains 65 percent of your DV of folate.

Avocado

There are so many reasons to add avocados to our daily diet, and one of them is the fact that they are immensely beneficial for our skin. You see, avocados provide our body extremely rich amounts of vitamin E, which aids in shielding the skin against the damaging attacks of free radicals along with reversing the effects of oxidative damage upon the skin.

Moreover, avocados are packed with healthy oils, which aid in moisturizing and lubricating the skin to enhance skin hydration. Consuming avocados daily has been directly associated with a glowing and radiantly fresh skin without clogging up any of the skin pores.

Some studies also reveal that avocados provide the perfect combination of vitamins C and E to shield the skin against UV damage.

 Water

Water may not fall amongst any of the specific types of food, it is extremely important to drink up sufficient amounts of water, particularly during the summer. Adequate hydration is essential for the body in order to enjoy optimum energy levels and sound health, while dehydration can even exhibit itself on the surface of the skin.When the skin is fully hydrated, it appears much healthier, tighter and firmer. Therefore, be sure to sip on water all day long, and you can even benefit from water-loaded foods, such as cucumbers and watermelons.

Yellow Peppers

Vitamin C is essential to the formation and growth of skin and muscle tissue as well as to building collagen—the protein which provides strength and structure to your skin, bones, muscles, and tendons. But instead of grabbing an orange to get your dose, much on some vitamin C-rich yellow bell peppers instead. In a study of over 700 Japanese women, researchers found that the more yellow and green vegetables subjects ate, the less apt they were to have wrinkles and crows feet—even once they controlled for smoking and sun exposure. And a study out of the UK concurs. The British study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that volunteers who consumed 4 milligrams of C (what you’d get in a single bite of yellow pepper) daily for 3 years decreased the appearance of wrinkles by 11 percent.

Coconut Water & Oil

Nothing goes to waste when you’re using a coconut for skin care. When you first crack it open, you can drink the fruit’s natural water—it’s full of muscle-relaxing potassium and electrolytes to replenish and rehydrate your skin, making it softer and younger looking. And when you move onto the coconut meat and extract its oils, you can utilize it to heal your gut. That’s because coconut oil contains a potent antimicrobial, caprylic acid, which can help improve gut health by destroying bad bacteria and candida. Candida is a fungus that can break down your intestinal walls and decrease stomach acid, which causes inflammation, poor digestion, and breakouts.

Dark Chocolate

Forget the sunscreen—pack a bar of chocolate in your beach bag. That’s because the antioxidants in dark chocolate known as flavanols reduce roughness in the skin and provide sun protection. According to a study from the Journal of Nutrition, women who drank cocoa fortified with a chocolate bar’s worth of flavanols had better skin texture and stronger resistance to UV rays than those who drank significantly fewer flavanols. Chocolate is also a great source of pre and probiotics to help heal your gut and reduce inflammation.