Water is great for the skin and for the body in general. In addition, having a great skincare routine can give you that luminous summertime skin all year round. But you can also eat your way to skin that is radiant too. What you consume directly impacts your skin, hair, and overall body, and people often take its positive impact for granted. Here’s what to eat for glowing skin.
Supplements
While the food you eat is likely the biggest factor and, so, primarily contributes to glowing skin, the right supplement can have a massive impact on the skin too. Supplements can bridge the gap between what you eat and what your body needs to function at its best.
Optimization of your lifestyle and diet comes first, but adding some powdered greens and a multivitamin won’t hurt. Always see your doctor to ensure you are getting what your body needs and is safe.
There are also supplements that have biotin, keratin, and collagen. These varieties are designed to support healthy skin, hair, and nails.
Brown carbs
Many people have a love-hate relationship with carbs. They love to eat them but hate feeling bloated or sluggish afterward.
While there are many people who avoid carbs without a good reason, others find that they are irritated or sleepy after consuming them. Depending on the type of carbohydrates you consume, you might be getting periods of high energy and then seeing a dip in energy levels.
A cycle of reaching for sugar-laden processed carbs for energy will happen. On the other hand, brown carbohydrates are made up of whole grains. They offer a more steady energy release throughout the day.
Diversity is key to eating for glowing skin
Studies show that the more variation in your diet, the better it is for your skin. The more often your plate has a range of protein, vegetables, fruits, grains, and carbs, the healthier your diet is overall.
Something that is important to keep in mind is that the gut has a microbiome, and the microbiome is taken care of when there is a better balance of food on the plate. One of the most important things that you can feed your gut is anything that has carotenoids in it.
Your mind might spring directly to carrots – and you’d be right. Any fruits and vegetables that are red or orange are high in these gut-friendly chemicals.
Sweet and protein
Have you ever eaten fruit with meat? Or fruit with something tofu-based? This combination is usually great for the skin. It offers optimal levels of glowing skin nutrients.
You already know that fruits give a burst of sweetness and energy. But you may not be aware that they also are packed with antioxidants and can protect against free radicals. Awesome.
But how can you give them even more power? With protein.
When you add protein into the mix, you allow the body to use all of these goodies at a slower rate. So, you get a bigger benefit.
That is just one of the reasons that fruit with protein, yogurt, apple, peanut butter, and fruit and nuts together are notable snacks. The next time you reach for a snack, think fruit and protein.
For glowing skin, eat a rainbow
You can significantly increase the number of vitamins and minerals you consume daily if you eat the rainbow. What does that mean, exactly?
When you eat a rainbow, you incorporate dark leafy greens, light greens, reds, yellows, oranges, purples, and more. In other words, they are foods of a range of colors.
Each of these items will give you a nicely rounded dose of vitamins and minerals. If you don’t feel like eating all of these things individually, you can throw them all in a blend, top with coconut milk, and throw in some sweetness from agave or honey.
For evening meals, it’s super fast to create a raw salad or chop all of the fruits and vegetables and throw them on a sheet pan for about 15-20 minutes with oil and some seasoning. If you’re thinking of going vegan, check out this guide.
You can also prepare these in advance, so you don’t need to think about them for a week. Just grab your portioned-out snacks or meals and enjoy.
Go dark
There is a reason people tell you to eat dark leafy greens and dark berries. These types of colors offer the most interim antioxidants when compared with many other berries and vegetables. T
o give your skin a super boost of hydration, kale, spinach, and broccoli are the veggies that should be making it to your plate daily. Add some juicy dark berries to your breakfast or as a snack to amp up the amount of good stuff you’re getting.
Eat breakfast for glowing skin
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and yet many people still try to skip it. Instead of skipping breakfast, or sticking with hot lemon water, go savory.
Your breakfast changes how your body reacts and uses sugar for the rest of the day, so try going savory instead of sweet. You can still have vegetables and fruit, but try to incorporate eggs, bacon, sausages, meats, cheese, and other more savory choices.
If you want to get extra points from your microbiome, then add some sauerkraut into the mix too. When you have a big but well-rounded breakfast, you give your body the key to burning the right things all day. And managing your blood sugars in the best way.
Zinc
Many people don’t realize just how important zinc is. Many supplements designed for skin and hair contain zinc.
It’s also commonly found in salves and plasters designed to help the skin heal after a cut or a graze. Zinc is involved in everything crucial in the body, including the skin, and is an immune booster, energizer, and mood raiser.
Zinc serves to prevent the formation of spots, can assist regulate hormones, and normalizes testosterone levels. It’s also necessary for collagen formation, which aids in the healing of the skin after a breakout.
You can often tell if you have a zinc deficiency by looking at your nails. If they are showing white spots, it might be time to make sure you eat some foods rich in zinc or have it in a supplement. See your doctor if you suspect you are low in zinc to confirm it and see what the professional thinks is best for you.