Your skin is the largest and fastest-growing organ of the body. You likely know all the ways the sun can impact the health of your skin, but what about your diet? Could the foods you eat affect the health of your skin?
Absolutely, says board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Donna Hart. Hart tells SheKnows that nourishing your body from the inside can make positive changes to your skin quality and complexion. In fact, she believes that what you and your family eat can help combat acne and achieve an overall healthy skin glow. If you’re ready to supercharge the health of your skin, make sure to include these nine power foods in your diet.
Don’t forget the water
Before we get to the foods, we can’t talk about healthy skin without mentioning water. The amount of water you drink makes a significant difference to the health of your skin.
“Water helps keep your cells hydrated and your skin moist, which can help diminish the appearance of fine lines,” explains Hart. “It also promotes blood flow and helps your cells flush out toxins — this can especially help with acne-prone skin.”
What not to eat
It’s also worth noting a few of the foods you should avoid. While she says it’s not an extensive list, board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Anna Guanche says to keep a close eye on your intake of things like caffeine, which can dehydrate your skin, and excess salt, which causes dehydration and accelerates aging. And in order to prevent premature aging of the skin, she says to stay far away from high-sugar foods.
When in doubt, Guanche says to remember that a diet rich in antioxidants and low in refined sugars and one that supports good bacteria is likely to result in optimal skin.
If you’re interested in eating your way to better skin (for your whole family), read on for some extra tips.
A version of this story was published August 2020.