The Top Diet Changes for Healthy Skin

Eating healthier can’t hurt you, so why not try?

A lot of people struggle with getting clear and healthy skin, trying everything from new products, to seeing a dermatologist, or copying a friend’s routine. In reality, sometimes the cause of bad skin is as simple as your diet. There are a lot of diet changes you can make to get healthier and clearer skin, and they’ll probably cost you a lot less than all of your skin care products. Here are the top diet changes for better skin.

1. Drink a Lot of Water

You might think you’re drinking enough water, but almost everyone isn’t drinking enough. Eight glasses a day is the common recommendation for health reasons, but your skin will also thank you if you’re drinking that much. It’ll hydrate your skin and leave you with a healthy glow, flushing out toxins that are in your system and allowing your cells to be healthy and functioning.

2. Nuts and Seeds Are Great Snacks

As opposed to snacking on unhealthy foods like potato chips or cookies, switch up your snacks to a small handful of nuts and seeds, or sprinkle them on your salad.

Sunflower seeds and almonds in particular are high in vitamin E which can help with dryness of skin, help your skin recover from a sunburn, and help you fight any oxidants your skin is in contact with.

3. Quit Dairy Products

Almost everyone loves cheese, but it’s actually terrible for your skin. Dairy products can contribute to inflammation of your body and your skin, causing breakouts. If your skin is prone to acne, you should try to avoid dairy products altogether and see the difference it makes.

4. Switch the Coffee for Tea

If you need the morning caffeine, try to switch out your coffee for green tea.

The polyphenols in green tea are strong antioxidants that work to reduce inflammation, fight against oxidative stress, and can even help you with an acne flareup. Green tea is also a great anti-aging solution for your skin.

5. Avoid Soda Drinks

Of all the bad drinks for your skin, soda is probably the worst.

It has a lot of high fructose corn syrup which is terrible for your skin, much worse than pure sugar. It will cause inflammation and glycation and can cause you to age prematurely. If you adopt just one of these tips, this may be the most helpful one.

6. Switch to Whole Grain

Instead of white bread, pasta, and rice, switch to brown or whole grain options. This is another result of sugar issues. The white carbs are refined carbohydrates, which will give you sugar spikes that can cause inflammation and premature aging. On the other hand, whole wheat or whole grain options are higher in fiber, which will slow down the glucose release.

7. Eat Your Greens

Not everyone likes veggies and salads, but you can incorporate green into pasta, sandwiches, or hide them in tasty smoothies.

When you eat a diet full of dark green veggies, you’ll be benefiting your health as well as your skin. Green veggies have a lot of key minerals and vitamins, as well as tons of antioxidants that are great for skin and body.

8. Change the Fats

Some fats are much better than others. The monosaturated fatty acids in walnuts, olive oil, and avocados have great anti-inflammatory properties for your skin and will moisturize it from the inside. These fats are also good for your health. Instead, stay away from bad fats like the omega-6 ones in farmed seafood and trans fats in processed, fried, and baked goods.

9. Increase Vitamin C Intake

Vitamin C is about a lot more than just oranges. You can get a lot of foods high in vitamin C, like peppers, broccoli and strawberries. These are all great for your skin health because vitamin C is an antioxidant that’s key for the collagen synthesis, the protein that boosts your skin.

You can’t just change one food and have a magical cure for your skin, but by focusing on a balanced and healthy diet, you’ll see great changes in your skin.