Foods For Glowing Skin

Need more motivation to eat healthy this year? Well, eating certain foods will give you glowing, radiant skin - and improve your health from the inside out. Find out here...

Do you need more motivation to eat healthier in 2014? Well we know by now that what we eat can have a profound impact on our health, but did you know that foods can affect our outward appearance? Are there foods for radiant skin? Absolutely, and here’s a list of common foods found in your local supermarket or farmers market that will make you more beautiful and radiant both inside and out!

Vitamin C rich foods, especially strawberries can help keep your skin glowing and bright! Vitamin C is an important building block for collagen, which supports the underlying structure of your skin. Just 1 cup of delicious strawberries contains over 100 percent of your daily vitamin C recommendation. Other vitamin C rich foods include: bell peppers, broccoli, pineapple, kiwis, kale, oranges, and other fruits and vegetables. 

Whether winter or summer you can find vitamin C rich foods.

Another foods that helps boost collagen is soy, so grab yourself a bag of edamame, tempeh, miso and more for a great beauty snack or to top a salad, stir into a soup or salad dressing. Rich in isoflavones, soy foods will not only work to preserve collagen but help protect against UV light damage, working to keep skin wrinkle free! 

Other foods that help protect against sun damage? Think red (no not a sunburn!) choosing red foods like tomatoes, especially cooked, provide lycopene which has demonstrated effects in protecting skin from sunburn. Watermelon, guava, papaya, apricots, pink grapefruit, blood oranges are also rich in lycopene.

What do onions, apples, sage, parsley and citrus have in common? Quercetin, of course, which is an antioxidant that provides some protection from the "burning" UVB rays. Quercetin also acts similar to antihistamine and an anti-inflammatory, which could keep skin irritation at bay. 

What else is important for radiant skin? Omega-3 fatty acids of course! Great sources include, walnuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, sardines, and salmon. Getting plenty of essential fatty acids helps keep our cells communicating properly as well as making sure our skin is hydrated and smooth. 

Stay hydrated! Green tea is rich in antioxidants (i.e. EGCG) that work to decrease inflammation and protect cell membranes. Some studies have demonstrated that tea may also reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light. Make sure you get plenty of water. Skin cells contain mostly water, and if you're dehydrated, skin can look and feel dry. Water with fresh squeezed lemon, and herbal tea are two great choices to stay hydrated. 

In general choosing a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, lean meats and cold water fish will have you glowing from the inside out!