Best Foods to Eat for Healthy Looking Skin
Happy Monday Squadies! When it comes to healthy looking skin, many of us rely on creams and other topical products to help keep it looking young and blemish free. The truth is, healthy looking skin starts from within! Of course a good cream or serum can help your skin look healthier, but if we are not filling our bodies up with the proper nutrients through the foods we eat, it can have negative effects on your body. Most of us know that an unhealthy diet can cause us to gain weight, feel less energized, more lethargic and overall, unhealthy and sluggish. Did you know that the foods you eat can also have a major impact on your skin? No matter how hard you try, your skin will naturally age. That being said, there are certain foods you can eat that can help lessen or slow down this aging process of your skin, keep it blemish free, and overall, looking healthier.
Here are my top 5 Foods to eat for healthy looking skin!
Vitamin C rich Foods
Having enough vitamin C is super important in order to have healthy looking skin. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and is necessary to have in order for your body to produce collagen. Collagen helps keep your skin looking firm and young and without vitamin C, our bodies can’t produce it!
Foods that have high Vitamin C:
- Oranges
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Kiwis
- Strawberries
- Lemons
- Brussels sprouts
- Papiyas
- Tomatoes
Selenium Rich Foods
Selenium is a powerful antioxidant which can be found in soil, water and some foods. It can have positive effects on your immune system and can help you have healthy looking skin. Some studies have shown that selenium can help reduce the risk of skin cancer and prevent some effects of aging on the skin. It works alongside vitamin C and vitamin E in protecting your skin and neutralizing any damaging effects from the sun before it can harm your skin.
Foods rich in selenium:
- Brazil nuts
- Oysters (and other shellfish)
- Eggs
- Sunflower seeds
- Halibut (and other fish)
- Chicken Breast
Vitamin E rich foods:
Vitamin E is another great antioxidant and supports a healthy immune system, good cell function and of course, healthy looking skin. It is a natural anti-inflammatory and can help protect your skin against the environment and the UV damage that can be caused by the sun.
Foods high in vitamin E:
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Fish
- Almonds
- Hazel Nuts
- Avocados
- Sunflower oil
Healthy Fats and Omega-3’s
Healthy fats, including Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are essential in keeping our skin looking healthy and moisturized. Both Omega-3 and Omega-6’s cannot be naturally produced in our bodies, meaning you have to get your daily dose of these fats through the foods you eat or through supplementation.
Foods high in healthy fats:
- Avocados
- Fish
- Nut and seeds
- Dark Chocolate
- Olive oil
- Eggs
- Yogurt (full Fat)
Zinc
Zinc is a powerful mineral that can help you have healthy looking skin. The cells in the top layer of our skin contains a high concentration of zinc for a few main reasons. It can help protect your skin from the effects of UV and also helps heal any wounds you may have. Zinc is also known to help with any acne or pimple flare ups as it helps boost your immune system, has anti-inflammitory properties, and can help control the oil and bacteria build-up on your skin.
Foods high in Zinc:
- Fish
- Lean red meats
- Nuts and seeds
- Whole grains
- Chicken
- Chickpeas and other bean varieties
Bonus healthy looking skin tip...Water consumption!
Something else that plays a huge role in healthy looking skin is water consumption! In order for our skin to stay healthy, we need to keep it moisturized. What’s more moisturizing than water itself?! If we are not getting enough water per day, our skin can begin to look dry, dull and lifeless. Getting enough water into your system per day has so many benefits to your entire body and energy levels - so why not up the water intake and reap ALL the benefits of water!
There you have it squadies! My top 5 foods to eat to give you healthy looking skin! All of these tasty foods can be found in leansquad’s meal plans! Eating a healthy, well rounded diet on a daily basis can not only help your skin look young and healthy, but it can also help you feel leanergized and overall more confident and healthy! Pair a healthy diet with regular exercise and you will be looking AND feeling your best, all year around!