Six Foods for Clear & Healthy Skin

Everybody wants to have clear, healthy looking skin that’s vibrant and never ruddy or dull. However, actually getting perfect skin isn’t just about buying the right moisturizer or avoiding sunlight during the hottest parts of the day.

In fact, what you eat may play an even bigger role in how your skin looks than what you use topically. While you still shouldn’t skip the sunscreen, changing your diet can make a dramatic difference in the appearance of your skin.

Make sure you’re eating these six foods regularly to keep your skin looking its best.

  1. Yogurt  

Yogurt is a healthy food that you can eat for breakfast, use as a marinade for chicken, as a dip for your vegetables, or as a low-calorie snack. It’s also a food that’s good for keeping your skin clear and healthy looking because of its high protein content, which can help keep wrinkles at bay.

Choose Greek yogurt when you’re doing your grocery shopping. It has nearly twice the protein as regular yogurt on average.  

  1. Dark Chocolate  

Chocolate may not be what you think of first when you think of healthy skin, but who doesn’t love a good piece of chocolate? The reason why adding dark chocolate to your diet is such a good idea is because it’s high in flavonols, a type of antioxidant that reduces inflammation and clears free radicals out of the body.

Look for dark chocolate that is at least 70% cacao for optimal skin benefits.  

  1. Walnuts  

Nuts are a beneficial part of any healthy diet, but walnuts in particular can help boost overall skin health. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and copper, walnuts aid in collagen production and boost elasticity, keeping your skin looking supple and smooth.

Keep your intake of walnuts to one serving per day though since they’re high in calories and fat content, even if it is the good kind of fat you find in olive oil, avocados and other nuts.  

  1. Tomatoes  

You’ve probably heard that tomatoes are excellent for prostate health in men, but there’s some evidence that they might also help protect your skin from sun damage. In a UK-based study conducted in 2008, individuals who consumed five tablespoons of tomato paste daily had 33% less sunburns than those who didn’t.

You might not want to eat that much tomato paste with a spoon, but making tomato-based sauces, dips and soups part of your regular diet can benefit your skin. Fresh tomatoes are also healthy and delicious, so don’t forget about those.  

  1. Bell Peppers  

Bell peppers might seem like they’re mostly water, but the fact is that yellow, orange and green vegetables are rich in carotenoids, a type of antioxidant that can reduce wrinkles and fine lines on the skin. The yellow and orange varieties of bell pepper can even help to reduce sun damage to your skin.

Eat bell peppers raw for the maximum benefit. If you just can’t get them down that way you’ll still get a lot of those carotenoids with a quick stir-fry.  

  1. Pomegranates  

Pomegranates might be a bit difficult to slice and eat, but they’re well worth the effort if you want glowing skin. The antioxidants in pomegranates known as polyphenols can help fight free radicals that make your skin look ruddy while improving blood flow, giving your cheeks that healthy rosy look.

Go for a pomegranate a day or have a small glass or two of juice. Your skin will thank you.  

Bonus!  

Water may not be a food, but it’s something you need to be consuming regularly if you want excellent skin. Why? Because water helps to keep your skin moist and supple and it can even make fine lines around the eyes and mouth just a little bit less noticeable.

You’ll also feel better if you stay hydrated. The old eight-glasses per day rule might be a bit stale by now, so drink before you feel thirsty instead.

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HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our blood alcohol, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years. Our team of health professionals, and researchers use peer reviewed studies as source elements in our articles. Our high quality content has been featured in a number of leading websites, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Live Strong, GQ, and many more.

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Written by HealthStatus Team
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our blood alcohol, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years. Our team of health professionals, and researchers use peer reviewed studies as source elements in our articles. Our high quality content has been featured in a number of leading websites, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Live Strong, GQ, and many more.

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