It’s no secret that great skin requires a consistent care routine and some great products.  However, it’s not just what you’re putting on your body that helps your skin.  It’s about what you’re putting in as well.  Your diet can have a tremendous effect on your skin from collagen production to hydration.  If your skin has been dull, blotchy, or prone to breakouts, it’s time to adopt a better diet for healthy skin.

The better skin diet consists of all the things you probably hated as a kid.  Raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, milk, and fish are just some of the foods for healthy skin.  You’ll need to ditch processed goods, refined sugars, and fried foods to keep your skin clear and youthful.

Vitamin C Benefits Skin

Vitamin C is one of the most important factors in cultivating healthy skin.  It promotes collagen production, which keeps your skin firm.  It also fights against free radicals, which can reproduce and create cancer.  One of the best, and zestiest, ways to get your daily Vitamin C dose is with a half-cup of red peppers.  Throw them in with your next batch of stir fry or add them to any number of savory dinner dishes.  Not big on peppers?  No problem.  You can still get Vitamin C from other fruits and veggies like kale, strawberries, and kiwi.  Better yet, you can further supplement your Vitamin C intake with a Vitamin C cream to ensure your skin gets exactly what it needs.

Antioxidants in Skin Care

No diet for healthy skin is complete without foods rich in antioxidants.  Antioxidants are your greatest natural defense against premature aging.  Like Vitamin C. they fight against free radicals and prevent weathering, wrinkles, and dullness.  Almonds, which are rich in Vitamin E, should be part of your daily snack regimen.  Just an ounce, roughly 10 almonds, between meals keeps you satiated and looking young.  Berries are also tremendous sources for antioxidants.  Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries—you name it.  And if you’re keen on reducing your sugar intake, you can still get your antioxidants in pecans, beans, artichokes, and prunes.  From a product standpoint, you can further enhance your antioxidant consumption with a French clay soap for men, an antioxidant-rich bar with incredible anti-aging properties.

Collagen Boosting Foods

Surely, you’ve heard of people having collagen injected into their faces or lips to restore their natural plumpness.  However, this procedure is unnecessary.  The best way to stimulate collagen production is through the foods you eat—specifically, healthy natural fats and protein.  Fatty fish like salmon is full of omega-3 fatty acids, which strengthen the membranes surrounding your skin cells.  Additionally, healthy proteins like egg whites actually contain collagen.  What better way to stimulate the body’s collagen production than eating it directly.

Aside from collagen, hyaluronic acid is another naturally occurring carbohydrate that the skin needs to fight off the effects of aging.  It nourishes your existing collagen and keeps it healthy.  So, it’s crucial to consume foods that contain hyaluronic acid for long-term improvement.  These foods include broths, oranges, tomatoes, grapefruits, sweet potatoes, broccoli, leafy greens, asparagus, and avocado.

Foods to Avoid on A Diet For Healthy Skin

Just as important as the foods you need to eat are the ones you should avoid or reduce.  Excess sugar causes a lot of harm to your body but it contributes greatly to redness and inflammation of the skin.  Excess dairy can cause cystic breakouts.  And processed foods (i.e. French fries, candy, soda, etc.) can cause excessive oil production, which leads to clogged pores.  Even your morning cup of joe can reduce your skin’s elasticity.  The caffeine dehydrates you and slows collagen production.  It’s not to say that you can’t ever have these foods but keep a close eye on your intake.

What you consume matters just as much, if not more, than the products you use.  Follow a better diet for healthy skin to promote long-term aesthetic anti-aging.