Eating for Your Skin

If you spend any time on Instagram, you likely see influencers posing with the newest brand of cute hair, skin, and nails vitamins. You don’t need to buy into the influencer madness. All you need to do is start eating for healthy skin.

What exactly does this mean? Well, certain vitamins positively affect the look and feel of your skin. Eat foods rich in those vitamins and you can naturally get what those influencers are chewing up in gummy form.

Vitamins to Target When Eating for Your Skin

To choose better foods for your skin health, you first need to know which vitamins help your skin thrive. Here are a few of the top vitamins and nutrients to look for:

Vitamin C

Collagen is a protein that helps your skin maintain its firmness and youth. Vitamin C helps collagen stay strong.

Vitamin A

This vitamin fights the breakdown of collagen. This prevents sun damage, which is the number-one offender when it comes to skin problems.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E also fights against the effects of sun damage. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory and makes your skin less dry.

Zinc

This nutrient helps your skin heal. Cuts and marks on your skin can benefit from a higher intake of zinc.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K does a similar job to zinc. It helps skin heal and can improve the look of conditions like stretch marks and dark undereye circles.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Healthy fats make your skin look firm, moisturized, and glowing. Commonly found in fish, omega-3 fatty acids are a type of healthy fat that has benefits beyond just your skin.

B-Complex Vitamins

These include common vitamins like biotin and B-12. B-complex vitamins may have positive effects on hair, skin, and nails.

6 Foods to Add to Your Diet

Eating for your skin doesn’t mean eating bland, boring foods. These six meal-starters taste good and have the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to improve your skin. Here’s how to incorporate these foods into your diet:

Salmon

This delicious fish is a great source of biotin and protein. It’s also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Try baking a salmon filet with herbs and olive oil for a skin-healthy entree.

Avocados

Avocados are great sources of vitamins A, C, and D. Add them to a crunchy salad for some textural contrast or take a cue from the millennials and start your day with avocado toast.

Kale

A kale-based dish is perfect for those seeking more sources of vitamin A. Use kale for a healthy baked veggie bowl or fresh salad.

Almonds

Replace your afternoon snack with almonds to treat your skin to some vitamin E. Sliced almonds also make great salad or pasta toppings.

Oranges

Citrus fruits like oranges contain high amounts of vitamin C. Add oranges to your breakfast table or slice one up for a simple and skin-friendly dessert.

Blueberries

Like oranges, blueberries are good sources of vitamin C. They are delicious on their own or blended into your favorite smoothie recipe.

A Balanced, Healthy Diet for Your Skin

A healthy diet will include all the vitamins and at least some of the foods listed above. It’s great to focus on improving one area of your body, such as your skin. However, eating a generally healthy and balanced diet is how you can start eating for your skin without even trying.

Other Ways to Improve Your Skin

There are many other methods of improving your skin in addition to eating a healthy diet. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you want that healthy glow:

Develop a Skincare Routine

Cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing are all things you should be doing to take care of your skin. Develop a skincare routine you are comfortable with. Follow this routine every day to see results.

Protect Your Skin

Don’t forget to make sunscreen a part of your new skincare routine. Sun damage can not only cause skin cancer but can also make your skin look older and drier. Use SPF every day for the best protection.

Control Your Stress

Stress isn’t good for any part of your body, but it clearly shows on your skin. Do what you can to keep your stress levels low. Your skin – and your mood – will thank you.