5 Best Foods for Healthy Looking Skin

Whether it be summer, fall or winter, having great looking skin is one of the best accessories that anyone can ask for. One of the best ways to get that perfect healthy glow is to start by changing your diet. Many skin problems such as dryness, irritation, oily skin, and acne can be a result of food intolerances or hormonal imbalances. Adding a few superfoods to your daily routine can make all the difference in your skin and how your body feels like a whole! Some foods might even help you regulate your hormones, which is an added bonus that is definitely worth trying for.

Sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds are at the top of the list for healthy skin because they contain very high amounts of vitamin E, which is an amazing antioxidant. Vitamin E can help heal damaged skin by encouraging collagen, your skin's natural source of youthful-looking skin. Considering that collagen production slows down with age, adding foods to your diet that encourages collagen production is a sure-fire way to slow ageing and to leave your skin looking radiant. Since vitamin E also helps heal damage, people who spend a lot of time out in the sun can benefit from the healing power of sunflower seeds when the occasional sunburn happens.

Smokers and anyone who has a job where their skin can get dirty on a regular basis can benefit from the healing properties of vitamin E and sunflower seeds because a small handful of seeds is enough to reach 90% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin E. The vitamin E found in sunflower seeds is also an anti-inflammatory which is great news for people who struggle with acne or eczema.

Fatty fish

Even though eating fatty foods such as burgers and fries is considered to be bad for your complexion, eating fish that are high in fat is actually very beneficial for your skin. This is because fatty fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which play a key part in making your skin look fabulous. Much like sunflower seeds, the omega-3 found in fatty fish can improve your skin by reducing inflammation. If you are struggling with dry skin despite drinking enough water, then fatty fish is an ideal choice for you. The omega-3 fatty acids encourage the skin to stay moisturized, but also keep skin supple and prevent your skin from thinning. Most people notice thinning skin around their eyes first since the skin is the most fragile in the area, but omega-3 fatty acids can slow this natural ageing process.

Broccoli

Even though nobody seems to like broccoli, it is never too late to try to fall in love with this amazing vegetable. It is one of the few foods that can meet most of the nutrient requirements for an adult by eating only one cup of raw broccoli. This superfood is loaded with vitamin C, which is another essential vitamin for healthy skin. Vitamin C can help fight sunspots on your face and also encourages healing and collagen production, much like vitamin E. Broccoli does have one advantage over sunflower seeds, since broccoli and cauliflower are the only vegetables that contain glucoraphanin, a powerful compound that will help your skin heal itself much faster.

Whole grains

Most people know that whole grains are beneficial to overall health, but one of the main reasons why it is great for your skin is that whole grains can provide biotin, a b-vitamin, that helps combat dry and itchy skin. Whole grains are also great for reducing sugar spikes during meals, which can irritate your skin and encourage acne to develop. Lastly, whole grains such as rolled oats can also help reduce excess hormone levels since their high fibre content is excellent for binding with excess hormones and flushing them out of your system.

Bell peppers

Bell peppers are excellent sources of vitamin C, antioxidants, and carotenoids. All of these ingredients are useful for achieving radiant and healthy skin as they slow ageing, increase collagen production and help repair damage from pollutants and the sun. Carotenoids are particularly helpful antioxidants when it comes to having more youthful-looking skin.

No matter which superfood you choose, improving your diet can work wonders for your health and your appearance overall. It's never too late to incorporate a few of these options into your daily snacks and meals and once you see the positive results on your skin, eating healthy will be so much easier!