A lot of the time we talk about the best food for our bodies.  But what about our skin?  We often note foods to avoid when we want our face to glow like the day we were born (i.e. chocolate, fried foods, fatty food, alcohol… all the fun stuff as per usual), but what about what we can eat?

Let’s focus on the positive!

Salmon are proving to be zit-zapping swimmers.  They are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, and some research has shown that skin troubles might be the result of a deficiency of omega-3’s. If you’re breaking out, stock up on salmon, sardines, and flax seeds, and walnuts.

Eat a potato without looking like one.  Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, which gets converted to vitamin A in the body and keeps skin soft and smooth.  Bake them to avoid covering them in pore clogging butter and oil.

Nix the fillers, and eat a red pepper.  They contain copious amounts of vitamin C, which stimulates collagen production and protects your skin from aging.  Women with diets rich in vitamin C (not from a pill, but actual food) have been shown to have less wrinkles.  Sounds worth it!

Summertime means suntan time, at least for those of us who aren’t vampires. Nothing should take the place of sunscreen, but certain vegetables can help make your skin less sensitive to the sun. Carrots, spinach, cantaloupe all contain carotenoids, which protects skin from sunburns.

No more egg white omelets. The white and the yolk contain lutein and zeaxanthin which are said to smooth lines, wrinkles, and help build the elasticity (what helps the skin keep its shape) of the skin.

Avocados are rich in vitamin C, E, and lutein.  Eat an avocado and your skin will be hydrated and glowing.

-Arianna Schioldager