A ‘Good Skin Diet‘ sounds appealing, right? All of us want the best possible version of our skin. We buy endless serums and creams, yet we often overlook our diets. You’ve heard the phrase “you are what you eat!” It’s no surprise that this catchphrase has genuine truth to it. Food drastically affects our mood, physiology, and you guessed it — skin! Here are some tips to eat your way to glowing skin and get started with your good skin diet!
Time-efficient solutions may interest us most, but it’s important to take a deeper look at things, too. WHAT IS A GOOD SKIN DIET?
A good skin diet should focus on a well balanced lifestyle and clean eating. Eating holistic, nutritious foods that go through minimal processing before they get to your plate is a good starting point for good skin diet newbies.
Another focus of a good skin diet (aside from ‘good skin’) is becoming more mindful. It pushes us to look more closely into what goes into our bodies, which helps us be more intentional in our health choices.
To be mindful, it helps to know the health benefits that are in the fruits and vegetables you’re eating, rather than eating them simply to cross them off of your list. For example, many of us love the taste of mangoes. But, knowing that mangoes are packed with Vitamin A that can boost our skin health can be a great motivational factor.
FOODS FOR A GOOD SKIN DIET
Some skin-loving foods you can focus on when living a good skin diet include:
- Fish rich in Omega 3s
- Avocados
- Nuts
- Berries
- Broccoli
- Sweet potatoes
- Green tea
- Dark chocolate
Let’s take a deeper look at a few of my favorites from this list.
Fish
Fish are packed with Omega 3s! Incorporate fish like Salmon, Cod, Herring, and our fanciest star, Caviar! Foods rich in Omega 3s help fight against common skin struggles like inflammation and flaring. Fish are also rich in Vitamin E, which combats skin damage from UV radiation and heals skin wounds.
Avocados may be my favorite food on this list; guacamole is life-changing, truly.
Avocados
WebMD writes an ode to avocados explaining the myriad of health benefits they hold. These green fruits are a good source of Omega 3s and monounsaturated fat, which helps to lower cholesterol levels. Avocados even have Vitamin C, which helps our skin to stay firm, supple, moisturized, and strong in defense against sun damage. Studies show that just half an avocado a day could lead to much brighter and stronger skin!
Berries
Another good skin diet food is berries. Why does our skin love berries so much? Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, acai berries, and Indian gooseberries, all contain phytonutrients.
Phytonutrients (or phytochemicals) are natural chemicals found in plants, including fruits and vegetables. These compounds help protect our bodies from diseases as many have antioxidant properties. When it comes to skin, phytonutrients aid in reversing damage in our cells caused by the environment or from unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Some phytonutrients, such as polyphenols, reverse skin aging from sun damage by repairing our skin on a cellular, DNA level. The work that polyphenols do in our bodies helps to combat serious skin threats like melanoma, early aging, and damage to our skin’s moisture barrier. More berries please!
A GOOD SKIN DIET TAKEAWAY
What and how we eat and drink can transform our skin. Having our favorite dessert when our bodies crave it doesn’t mean that we’re not adhering to a good skin diet. Allowing our bodies to have a pick-me-up sweet dessert can bring us happiness. Happiness can do wondrous things for our moods which can affect our skin. Ultimately, it’s about choosing a healthier lifestyle based on knowledge to create the best version of ourselves. The more we can grow our knowledge, the more we can glow!
