8 Foods For Healthy Skin

By Meredith Thompson

There’s no doubt that nature provides a wealth of nutritious foods to help you stave off infections and live a healthy life. But what about the specific foods that can help you avoid a visit to a plastic surgeon?

It may sound impossible but there are actually foods that help rejuvenate your face and keep it looking youthful and vibrant, and healthy skin is where it’s at. All you have to do, and this is the fun part, is eat them.

So start fighting off the wrinkles and start feeling and looking younger in no time, with the help of these fantastic foods. Healthy skin is just a simple diet away.

Healthy skin food #1
Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain lycopene; a powerful antioxidant that repairs damaged skin cells and premature aging cause by your hanging out in the sun for way too long.

Of course, this isn’t to insinuate that you can worship the sun and eat tomatoes and be fine; you need to start avoiding the sun and eating tomatoes more often.

How to eat them: Tomatoes are one of the only fruits (or vegetables, depending on how you look at it) that increase their natural chemicals upon being stewed or cooked, so you can enjoy a good tomato sauce or add them to your favorite salads for a dose of the good stuff.

Healthy skin food #2
Seafood
The goodness of fish has been touted for years and the news just keeps getting better and better. Selenium, which is known to fight off damage caused by sunburn, is found in yummy seafood such as halibut and oysters.

If that weren’t great enough, fattier fish (and don’t worry, it’s the good kind of fat) like salmon and tuna, contain Omega-3 fats , which are known to reduce inflammation and soften skin.

How to eat it: If you’re not a big fan of raw oysters, grill or bake some halibut or salmon by creating a rub. First, pour some olive oil and lemon into a bowl. Dip your fingers into it and rub the liquid onto the flesh side of the fish. Then pour some pepper, parsley and garlic powder into another bowl. Scoop some up with your fingers and rub it on the fish. Bake the fish at 375º for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Healthy skin food #3
Olive Oil
Packed with monounsaturated fat, olive oil, eaten raw, helps your skin to not only remain touchably soft; it also helps your skin maintain its natural oils.

The best of all the olive oils on the market is extra virgin olive oil, because it is rich in antioxidants and oleic acid. Olive oil also contains squalene, which is believed to help repair and rejuvenate skin’s texture.

How to eat it: Drizzle olive oil onto salads and vegetables, but do not cook with it, as it will not retain all its nutritive value.

Healthy skin food #4
Avocados
Not only is this fruit loaded with monounsaturated fats, it also contains plenty of fiber, vitamins B6, C, and E, potassium, magnesium and folate.

Eaten in moderation, avocados can help to keep your skin looking young and replenish it, whether you decide to eat it or mash it and apply it directly to your face.

How to eat it: Make a great guacamole by mixing one avocado with a diced tomato, two teaspoons of olive oil, a teaspoon of fresh cilantro, and a finely chopped small onion.

Healthy skin food #5
Berries
All berries contain a high amount of vitamin C, a necessity for collagen production (collagen keeps your muscles and skin tight and reduces the chances of developing fine lines).

Another fantastic trait of berries, besides the fact that they taste so awesome, is their ability to reduce inflammation.

How to eat them: Throw some berries and yogurt into a blender and whip yourself up a smoothie or add some berries to your morning cereal.

Healthy skin food #6
Almonds
One ounce of almonds provides you with half of your daily recommended vitamin E to fight off free radicals (as bad as they sound, free radicals destroy your body’s naturally produced elastin, which causes wrinkles).

Almond skins also contain an antioxidant known as flavonoids, which protect cells from damage – namely skin cells.

How to eat them: You can snack on a handful of almonds or add them to yogurt or frozen yogurt for a crunchy treat.

Healthy skin food #7
Carrots
Carrots are chock full of beta-carotene, the most active form of carotenoids; a plant substance that forms vitamin A. The vitamin A, in turn, helps prevent the skin and eyes from getting dry.

And because of their high mineral content, carrots also lend themselves to healthier skin, hair and nails. But beware – consuming too many carrots will, indeed, turn your skin orange.

How to eat them: Carrots may be enjoyed raw on their own (baby carrots taste sweeter than the larger variety), you can add them to salads, or even opt to juice them.

Healthy skin food #8
Ground flaxseed
Flaxseed will not have any skin healing properties unless they are ground, so you need to make sure that if you decide to purchase them, that they are already ground.

Ground flaxseed is full of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to support skin health and increase energy.

How to eat it: Sprinkle some onto your cereal or add it to your salads.

Keep your healthy skin

Getting old is inevitable, no doubt, but if you take care of your skin by staying out of the sun, using an SPF when you do end up in it, and eating a healthy diet that promotes better skin, you’ll be looking 20-ish well into your 40s.