Skin problems often begin during adolescence, and unfortunately can plague people well into their adult lives. We’ve become a society consumed by wanting to have clear skin, which we use to define not only beauty, but health.
Unfortunately, a lot of products on the market that are made to help you get clearer skin are actually detrimental in the long run. Cleansers, peels, and injections are full of chemicals and unnatural products that don’t belong in the body. So how can we get clearer, better skin without going the way of commercial products?
The answer is surprisingly easy: diet and nutrition.
As with every other part of your body, what you’re eating can affect your skin in a huge way. Slight allergies that you might not even know about can cause reddening and breakouts. We’ve listed some options below for foods that help with skin health.
Foods for Clear Skin
There’s a pretty common saying: You are what you eat.
We don’t pay much attention to it, but it turns out that it’s a very true statement. Your body works off of the food you consume. You wouldn’t put sludge in your car instead of oil, would you? If you did, your car obviously wouldn’t run well…if at all. The same goes for your body.
Making the right choices, or just better choices, when it comes to food and drink can have a huge effect on changing not only your energy levels, weight, and immune system, but your skin as well (which is actually considered an organ!).
Fatty, oily foods clog up your body and cause pimples and other skin issues. Unfortunately, these problems aren’t always just surface-level. Getting down on yourself day after day because you aren’t happy with your appearance can cause mental health problems, as well.
Luckily, switching up what you eat and keeping a balanced diet can make big changes in a short amount of time.
1. Avocado
This fruit consists of great, healthy fats that can benefit the body. These fats help to keep the body’s skin moisturized and flexible.
Research done on over 700 women shows that women who have a high intake of healthy fats (the kind found in avocado) have more supple and bouncy skin.
Vitamin E is one of the nutrients avocado possesses. This vitamin is known to have properties that protect the skin from harmful UV rays.
Interestingly vitamin C, when added with vitamin E, makes it more effective and helps the skin fight damage and retain a youthful, clear look.
2. Moringa
Moringa is a nutrient-rich supplement derived from a drought-resistant tree. It is high in vitamin C. This vitamin accumulates on the skin over time to better protect it against sun damage.
You can mix moringa into juice shakes, green teas, and more. You can use it as a seasoning agent and can eat it raw if you wish. It has a taste similar to matcha, another popular powder that is slightly bitter and sweet with a “green” flavor.
3. Nuts
Some skin problems can be traced back to specific vitamins the body lacks. The absence of zinc and selenium has been linked to people who suffer from acne. Zinc and other nutrients, such as vitamin e, magnesium, calcium, copper, help the skin maintain a healthy texture.
Luckily, both zinc and selenium can be found in certain nuts, such as brazil nuts, pine nuts, and cashews. Nuts are easy to snack on, so we highly suggest working them into your daily diet!
4. Oat milk
Some research suggests that animal-based dairy products have a negative effect on skin health, as they cause inflammation. Therefore, if you’re consuming a lot of milk or yogurt, it wouldn’t be surprising if your skin is often red, puffy, and ready to break out at a moment’s notice.
Consider switching out your animal-based dairy for plant-based dairy. Oat milk, specifically, has a great creamy taste and is also high in nutrients such as fiber, vitamin E, and folic acid. All of these help maintain healthy skin.
Oat milk or, if you prefer, other plant-based milks easily fill in for animal dairy products in cereal, coffee, tea, and even yogurts.
5. Tofu
When it comes to protein nourishment, there is no better food than tofu. Tofu is actually bean curd and is very familiar to those who follow vegetarian, vegan, and alternative diets. It’s a fantastic, skin pigment boosting food. Tofu possesses a number of antioxidants as well as iron, copper, and manganese.
Meanwhile, the protein contained in tofu is excellent nourishment for the skin. It enables the skin to regenerate faster and more efficiently.
6. Red grapes
You might be surprised to see such a random fruit on the list, but there’s good reason for it. It is believed that red grapes can reduce inflammation on the skin when ingested.
Also, the seeds have been shown to contain powerful antioxidants that can treat some skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Eat grapes as a snack or work them into desserts. They’re worth the work!
7. Eggs
A typical food within reach of all. However, eggs are priceless in their value.
They contain a tremendous amount of skin-clearing nutrients such as vitamin E, protein, selenium, zinc, and other vitamins.
They are a great breakfast food choice and are healthier in their boiled state. Boil one and peel off the shell to get the best of what it has to offer.
8. Water
Last but not least, water. You’ve probably heard this before and rolled your eyes at it. At least a few times a year, the importance of water appears across headlines and in talks with your doctor. But there’s a good reason why.
Water is essential for the body, and it has many health benefits that cannot be overemphasized. Research has shown that drinking water at least eight times in 24 hours is very beneficial to the skin. Your skin is made up of cells, which are made up of significant amounts of water, and keeping your body hydrated can only help your skin stay healthy.
Drink more water, especially after a workout. It helps to reduce stress levels and improve brain function.
Getting Clearer Skin
A significant way to get clear skin is to watch what you eat, as discussed above.
However, there are some other routines that can help you get and maintain clear skin.
Wash your face twice daily
Washing your face helps to eliminate bacteria and other pathogens that may block the pores and cause inflammation.
Use a natural cleanser
First, don’t choose a cleanser with alcoholic content; it can dry out your face and cause wrinkles. Look for cleansers with moisturizers that use natural products.
Get quality sleep
Sleep is essential for the skin (and the body, and brain). The quality of your sleep reflects on the skin.
However, sleep varies from age to age. The recommended sleeping time for different ages is listed below:
- 6 – 12yrs should get 9-12 hrs sleep
- 13 – 18yrs should get 8-10 hrs sleep
- 18 – 60yrs should get 7 hrs and above
- 61 – 64yrs should get 7-9 hrs sleep
These sleep periods are within a 24hr basis.
Conclusion
Your first instinct when searching for a way to get clear skin might be to head to the drugstore. Instead, head to your grocery store and hunt down some of the foods on this list.
Changing your diet even slightly can have surprising effects on your health overall – not just your skin, but your body, its functions, and your energy levels.
