When it comes to a glowing complexion, nourishing your skin from the inside-out is just as important as what you put on your skin. Eating the right foods can help:
- Protect your skin from oxidative stress that contributes to the aging process
- Clear up acne
- Brighten a dull complexion
Kari Kooi, a clinical dietitian specialist at Houston Methodist, shares foods you can eat to attain radiant skin.
Watermelon
How it benefits the skin: As the name implies, this juicy, super-sweet fruit is more than 90% water and keeps skin smooth and firm by hydrating cells so they’re plump and full. Watermelon is rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that gives watermelon its pink hue and provides protection against damaging ultraviolet rays.
Add it to: a salad. Enjoy a watermelon salad that’s bursting with flavor by simply cutting the watermelon into cubes and combining with spicy arugula, thinly sliced red onion, red-wine vinegar, a splash of olive oil and a sprinkle of crumbled goat cheese.
Pepitas
How it benefits the skin: Pepitas are hulled pumpkin seeds that are loaded with zinc, a mineral that’s involved in many biochemical processes throughout the body, including skin-cell renewal.
Add it to: breakfast or snacks. A great addition to a homemade trail mix or sprinkled into oatmeal or yogurt, these green seeds have a delicate crunch and a nutty, slightly sweet flavor. To deepen the flavor of pepitas, toast over medium heat until golden brown in a small skillet, stirring frequently.
Pineapple
How it benefits the skin: This sweet, juicy tropical fruit is chock-full of vitamin C, an antioxidant that plays a strong role in the production of collagen. Collagen is a protein that is essential for keeping skin firm and elastic.
Add it to: a fruit salad. Make a dazzling salad that’s brimming with vitamin C by mixing pineapple with other tropical fruits like kiwi, mango and papaya.
Carrots
If you want a summer tan, crunching on carrots can give you a sun-kissed look without spray tans or damaging sun exposure. The carotenoid antioxidants in carrots, including beta-carotene, give carrots their deep orange coloring and provide a subtle natural tan by depositing the pigments in the skin. Beta-carotene keeps skin youthful by targeting and repairing skin damage, as well as protecting skin from the ravages of excess sun exposure.
Add it to: your snack bag or a salad. Snack on baby carrots dipped in protein-rich hummus or almond butter. Shredded raw carrots add a sweet flavor and bright pop of color to salads.