What You’re Missing in Your Diet for Healthy, Glowing Skin

Having healthy, glowing skin doesn’t just come from what products you put on your body. It can also be helped (or hurt) by what food products you put in your body. After all, it’s true you are what you eat! Adding certain dietary components can help reduce acne, fine lines, discoloration and dullness. SO… let’s find out what you’re missing in your diet for healthy, glowing skin!

What You’re Missing in Your Diet for Healthy, Glowing Skin

There are plenty of products out there to help your skin, and we all have our favorites! But you are what you eat and making sure your body has the key nutrition components to assist in bringing out your healthy glowing skin is the first step you need to take if you are looking to improve your complexion. We’re deep diving into What You’re Missing in Your Diet for Healthy, Glowing Skin. The key components are highly alkaline foods, antioxidants, zinc, healthy fats, and hydration Adding them into your diet can help balance hormones and pH levels and build elasticity by replenishing skin cells all while promoting healthier skin.

Antioxidants

The main job of antioxidants is to fight free radicals, which are unstable molecules that naturally occur in your body that damage cells and cause disease and aging. Free radicals cause damage to your skin and accelerate aging because they attack healthy cells throughout your body. Antioxidants also help your skin maintain water content and elasticity.

Foods high in antioxidants:

• Pecans
• Blueberries
• Sweet Potatoes
• Strawberries
• Artichokes
• Goji Berries
• Broccoli
• Kale
• Beans
• Beets
• Carrots

Check out these recipes high in antioxidants:

• Chicken and Kale Soup
• Artichokes 101
• How to Make Sweet Potato Toast
• Strawberry and Cream Overnight Oats
• Pecan Popcorn Chicken
• Healthy Broccoli Soup
• Beet Slaw
• High Fiber Smoothie Freezer Pack
• Moroccan Chermoula Carrots

Alkaline Foods

All food products have a pH level, falling either on the acidic or alkaline end. Products that are highly acidic, such as sugar, greasy foods or alcohol, cause your bodies’ pH to be off balance. This can lead to dry, irritated, and sensitive skin. Acidic foods are everywhere and most people consume a fair amount of them everyday. To counteract that and balance your bodies’ pH, add in a fair share of highly alkaline foods.

Highly alkaline foods:

• Spinach
• Asparagus
• Yellow squash
• Coconut water
• Apple cider vinegar
• Lemons
• Limes
• Grapefruit

Check out these recipes using high alkaline foods:

• Spicy Shrimp and Citrus Salad
• Lemon Garlic and Rice Skillet
• Kick That Cold Juice
• Curry Butternut Squash Noodles
• Lemon Vegetable Risotto
• Lemon Poppy Seed Overnight Oats
• Tequila Lime Shrimp
• Spinach Basil Pesto

Zinc

Zinc is essential for skin by aiding in the division of cells, which is the function responsible for creating new tissue. It also helps regulate overactive oil glands and decreasing clogged pores that lead to unwanted breakouts.

Foods high in zinc:

• Pumpkin Seeds
• Chicken
• Fish
• Lean Red Meat (we always buy grass-fed meat)
• Shellfish
• Chickpeas
• Eggs

Check out these recipes high in zinc:

• Turmeric Chicken and Rice
• Moroccan Fish
• Crunchy Chickpeas
• How to Sear a Steak PERFECTLY
• Easy Curry Shrimp
• Deviled Eggs

Healthy Fats

Unsaturated fats help reduce redness and irritation, allowing the skin to look hydrated and firm. They do this by rejuvenating damaged skin cells and aiding in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Polyunsaturated fatty acids also protect the skin from sun exposure and help repair already damaged skin.

Foods high in healthy fats:

• Avocados
• Salmon
• Grass-Fed Butter
• Walnuts
• Chia Seeds
• Olive Oil
• Full Fat Yogurt
• Nut butters

Check out these recipes high in healthy fats:

• Sweet Potato Boats with Avocado Cremas
• Sheet Pan Root Vegetable and Salmon Dinner
• Cranberry Walnut Roasted Acorn Squash
• Chia Seed Jam
• Cherry Coconut Granola
• How to Make Greek Yogurt in the Instant Pot
• Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bake

Hydration

Water intake aids in excretion of wastes and toxins through your GI tract, kidneys and pores. Being hydrated reduces constipation in your GI tract, flushes your kidneys and increases overall water content throughout your body. When you are dehydrated, excretion of wastes and toxins is decreased through the GI tract, kidneys and pores. This leads to irritated and inflamed skin, clogged pores and acne. Long-term dehydrated skin also leads to a decrease in elasticity causing dull, dry and wrinkled skin. Drink water all throughout the day but also consume foods with a high water content.

Foods with high water content:

• Watermelon
• Celery
• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes
• Oranges
• Cauliflower
• Peaches
• Lettuce

Check out these recipes high in water content:

• Watermelon Juice
• Island Blast Green Smoothie
• Tomato Cucumber Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
• Jicama Kale Salad with Orange Vinaigrette
• Raspberry Peach Crumble
• Cauliflower Hummus
• Lettuce Wrap Sandwiches

Why You Should Care About Safer Skincare, Too!

Although your diet is extremely important to obtain glowing skin, what you are putting on skin is also very important. Decreasing skin irritability, reducing fine lines, and clearing acne is largely affected by your skincare routine. See our favorite safer, highly tested and regulated products here, and learn how to make your own body scrub here!