Skincare has become the norm for healthy skin but most people underestimate the importance of taking care of the inside first. Having healthy, glowing skin, will be determined by your diet to a large extent. You need to consume a wide variety of nutritious foods and reduce your intake of unhealthy foods such as junk, processed oily and deep-fried foods.
Give your skin a boost by including the following foods in your diet:
Fish
Fish, especially fatty ones fish like salmon and mackerel are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids that help your skin to look supple and radiant. They also help to reduce inflammation, redness, and pimples and strengthen your skin against UV rays. It contains vitamin E, which helps protect your skin from irritation and radical activity that could make your skin age faster. Its richness in protein and zinc further helps to strengthen your skin and improve the production of new skin cells.
Carrot
Carrots have beta carotene, a natural sun protectant, and are rich in vitamin A, which restores damaged collagen. Carrots are good for the eyes and excellent for clearing up breakouts thanks to beta-carotene and vitamin A, an antioxidant that prevents the overproduction of cells in the skin’s outer layer.
Green Tea
Green tea protects the skin against external stressors and ageing. This is because of its richness in antioxidant and catechins which helps to protect your skin, reduce redness, increase hydration, and improve elasticity.
A daily diet rich in antioxidants with adequate hydration may even out your skin texture, strengthen your skin barrier and improve your overall skin health.
Note that adding milk to green tea can reduce the effects of the antioxidants present in it.
Walnut
Walnuts contain vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc and selenium, all of which promote healthy skin. They also contain a higher amount of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids than other nuts, making them an extra healthy choice if you’re looking for skin benefits. However, eating excess nuts can lead to weight gain and may cause certain adverse effects, including bloating, stomach pain and skin allergies in some individuals.
Tomatoes
Eating tomatoes or any tomato-based foods, such as sauce and tomato juice, may help clear up acne, thanks to the lycopene (the phytochemical that makes tomatoes red). It helps boosts collagen strength and fights off the oxidizing effect of UV rays by eliminating skin-ageing free radicals.
Avocado
Avocados contain healthy fats which can help your skin stay moisturised and firm. They also contain vitamins C and E, two important nutrients that your body needs to support healthy skin and fight free radical formation. Avocados are rich in biotin, a B vitamin that some nutritionists believe can help promote healthy skin and hair.