10 best foods for healthy & glowing skin

One of the best ways to get beautiful healthy and glowing skin is to eat your way to it! While expensive creams and skin treatments can help, your diet plays a vital role in the optimal functioning of your body and your skin and is far cheaper! The foods you eat can help to nourish your skin from the inside out, shedding older cells and replacing them with younger cells, as well as providing a plethora of micronutrients that are essential for the growth of the cells. Eating the correct foods will feed your skin with these nutrients and hydrate it sufficiently enough to stay soft, supple and blemish-free. “Here are 10 fantastic foods to add to your diet for healthy, glowing skin”.

1. Tomatoes- Packed with the powerful anti-aging antioxidants of lycopene and selenium, which work in conjunction with other antioxidants such as vitamins E and C, tomatoes are a must in your diet! Research shows that a selenium-rich diet can help to protect against age spots, sun damage and skin cancer, while lycopene helps with ageing.

Expert tip! Lycopene is better absorbed into the body when cooked or processed, so make sure to use plenty of canned tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato juice in your cooking.

2. Blueberries- This tiny blue button of a berry was found to be the number one antioxidant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Blueberries are not only delicious when added to oatmeal, pancakes or yogurt, but also protect against premature aging.

3. Spinach- Thanks to Popeye, we have always known that spinach is good for you and makes you strong, and is absolutely packed with vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants. This leafy green vegetable is full of lutein, which keeps your eyes healthy and sparkling, as well as an array of vitamins, including vitamins B, C, and E, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Expert tip! Swop your lettuce for spinach and add a whole lot of goodness to your salad greens.

4. Wild Salmon- Omega-3 fatty acids keep your skin supple, moisturized and healthy, and can be found in a range of different fish species, such as salmon and tuna. Wild salmon, not farm-raised, has the highest source of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as selenium, which helps protect the skin from sun damage. This oily fish also contains high levels of vitamin D, which keeps bones and teeth healthy and strong.

5. Walnuts- Nuts are one of the healthiest snacks you can eat – in moderation of course – and walnuts are right at the top of being an excellent source of nutrients like vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain healthy skin, hair and bones.

Expert tip! Add a handful of walnuts to your salad for an extra healthy crunch.

6. Yogurt- Yogurt is a creamy and delicious source of goodness and can be used in numerous ways when cooking. Packed with calcium and vitamins, yogurt can be eaten with a meal or as a guilt-free snack and will go long way towards keeping your skin, teeth and bones healthy and strong.

7. Kiwi Fruit- Despite its rather odd appearance, this small fuzzy brown fruit is bursting with vitamin C and antioxidants, which help to prevent wrinkles, keep skin firm and supple, and maintain strong bones and teeth. The sweet fruit also contains antioxidants that protect the body against cancer and heart disease.

8. Sweet Potatoes- Sweet potatoes are loaded with beta-carotene, an antioxidant that fights aging and helps maintain good eyesight and are a far healthier and less calorific option than normal potatoes.

Expert Tip! Cut up some sweet potatoes and roast them with herbs or onions for an easy and delicious side dish.

9. Oysters- Although not the best looking or tasting little titbit, these salty shellfish are an excellent source of zinc, which aids in skin cell renewal and repair. Zinc is also a great nutrient for maintaining healthy hair, nails and eyes, as well as being an aphrodisiac, which also helps to make one look and feel beautiful!

10. Dark Chocolate- Finally, we are being told to eat more chocolate! Dark chocolate with at least 60 percent cacao and high flavanol content is very good for keeping skin healthy and hydrated, as well as protecting skin from sun damage.