25 Foods for Better Skin
By Kristen Dold
We’ve got good news or bad news depending on the number of calorie disasters you chowed on this week. Food doesn’t just impact the circumference of your gut—it plays a key role in the appearance of skin, too. “The body is constantly replacing damaged cells, and if we eat key foods we can protect and promote cellular health by keeping the body flooded with cell protecting antioxidants,” says dermatologist Howard Murad and author of Conquering Cultural Stress. In other words, the right nutritious eats can boost handsomeness by protecting you from wrinkles and a ruddy complexion over time. (Eat garbage, and your skin will shit on you.) Here are the powerhouse foods Murad suggests adding to your plate:
Food: Watermelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, and carrots
Skin Benefit: Hydration to keep skin supple and youthful. (Think about what a dried out sponge looks like compared to a soaked one.) Unlike chugging glasses of water—which can run right through you—water-rich foods like those listed above are retained in the body longer, making it strategically available to your cells throughout the day. “You’ll get the added boost of important antioxidants, fiber and other nutrients, too,” says Murad.
Food: Salmon, olive oil, flax seeds, and walnuts
Skin Benefit: Less inflammation, and possibly even acne. The omega-3 fatty acids found in these foods help rebuild cell membranes so they hang on to moisture longer and protect you from dry, irritated (zits), or flakey skin.
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Food: Tomatoes, watermelon, broccoli, mangoes, strawberries, green tea, and pomegranates
Skin Benefit: Sun protection. Not enough to ditch your sunscreen, but the above can increase the efficacy of your SPF, says Murad. Rich in antioxidants, these foods fight the free radicals that can lead to brown spots and saggy skin—like the kind grandparents in Boca have. Reach for pomegranates first: “They’re are a great source of “Pomphenol” and ellagic acid, one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants,” says Murad.
Food: Kale, spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, and cantaloupe
Skin Benefit: A more even skin tone and complexion. “These foods are high in Vitamin A, which helps regulate and improve how skin sheds dead cells,” says Murad. So if it’s orange (and not a Cheeto) or dark green, go for it.
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Food: Eggs, beans, and seeds
Skin Benefit: Increased collagen, aka: firmness.
When collagen (a protein that gives skin its structure) starts to deplete with age, wrinkles and fine lines start popping up. That’s why people inject their face with botox and fillers—to plump and smooth things out. The above embryonic foods contain collagen boosting amino acids (better than a needle) plus a big shot of healthy protein, says Murad.
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