20 foods to eat for healthier skin

Skin thrives when foods with healthy fats are feeding it, and few foods are as high in healthy fats as avocados. The next time you’re debating whether you should spring for the avocado, remember that it’s good for your skin. 

The taste of tomatoes is reason enough to eat them more often, but they have loads of benefits. One benefit? They’re great for your skin. They’ve been shown to help protect your skin from sun damage, and they can be helpful in preventing wrinkles. 

Carbs are not the enemy, especially when consumed as whole grains. Oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice, and more are wonderful sources of vitamin B, an important nutrient for maintaining skin health. 

Fatty fish will be good for your skin, too. Those omega-3 fatty acids will have your skin staying thick and moisturized. A diet full of fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, and other fatty fish will get you that glow inside and out. 

Carrots do so much for our bodies. It’s a shame they don’t have more fans. But there are lots of ways to enjoy carrots, so find a way you like to eat them and get to it. Your skin will thank you.

There are so many reasons to incorporate more nuts into your diet, but if you need another one, know that nuts are good for your skin. They have fatty acids that help your skin and other vitamins and minerals that your body’s largest organ will love.

Bell peppers are just as good for your skin as for your tummy. Bell peppers, particularly red and yellow, have lots of beta carotene and vitamins A and C, all of which are important for healthy skin. 

Drink those berry smoothies, people. And have a handful of them right out of the basket while you’re at it. Berries are a fantastic source of antioxidants, and you need antioxidants if you want to have good skin. 

There are seemingly endless reasons to have more leafy greens, and one such reason is that they promote healthier skin. Leafy greens have vitamins A, C, and K, and those are all vital to the health of your skin. Order that side salad!

There’s zinc, vitamins A and C, lutein, and sulforaphane in broccoli. If you don’t know much about those last two, know this - they’re good for your skin. Find a good way to incorporate more broccoli into your diet, and your skin will thank you.

Start sprinkling more seeds onto and into your foods. They make a great garnish and are so nutritious, especially for your skin. Chia, flax, pumpkin, and sunflower are just a few of the great options for seeds. 

You’ve gotta get that vitamin C when you can, and you can always get it from citrus fruits. Oranges are particularly good for your skin, so remember that when you’re faced with the option of having an orange or not. 

You may be sick of seeing sweet potatoes as a suggested substitute for regular potatoes, but sweet potatoes really are full of great nutrients, many of which will benefit your skin. They have loads of beta carotene and vitamin A, among other nutrients. 

Eat more red grapes, and make sure to eat the skin. Red grape skin contains resveratrol, a compound that has been known to help people age more gracefully. 

You’ll hear about antioxidants as long as you’re interested in skincare. Kiwis are also high in antioxidants, which make them beneficial to your skin. 

Okay, watermelons are technically berries, but since no one associates them with berries, we figured we’d mention watermelon separately. They’re great for your skin because of all the same reasons other berries are. Eat more of them when they’re in season. 

You’ll want some protein in your diet to help with collagen production and maintain skin elasticity and suppleness. There are many good ways to get protein in your diet, but eggs are also known to tighten the skin and reduce the size of pores. 

The next time you’re in the mood for something sweet, consider having a bite of dark chocolate. You don’t have to feel even the slightest bit bad about having it because all of those antioxidants are great for your skin. 

You can also drink your way to healthier skin. Green tea has antioxidants, and as you know, those are great for your skin. A cup a day will keep the wrinkles away. (Okay, maybe don’t follow that exact advice for skincare, but know that green tea is good for your skin.) 

As always, drink lots of water. It’s one of the best things you can do for your skin and the rest of your body. In many ways, consuming the rest of these foods is pointless if you aren’t hydrated.