How to Eat Your Way to Better Skin

You include dark, leafy greens and colorful fruits in your diet to help keep your body healthy and shed extra weight. But did you know that those foods may also do beautiful things for your skin? Here’s how these and other nutritional powerhouses help you look as good as they make you feel.

Spinach. Or kale, or even collards greens are all rich sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, two nutrients found in the skin that research suggests can absorb some of the UV light from the sun, and may help protect against potential skin damage. These leafy greens (along with sweet potatoes and carrots) also contain beta carotene, which contributes to the growth and repair of skin tissue.

Strawberries. They have more vitamin C per serving than oranges, and your body uses that particular vitamin to make collagen that keeps your skin strong and smooth. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found women between the ages 40 and 74 who had higher intakes of vitamin C were less likely to have wrinkles and age-related dry skin. Other foods high in vitamin C include: bell peppers, broccoli, cantaloupe, cauliflower, papaya and pineapple.

Olive oil. It’s high concentration of monounsaturated fats provide antioxidant properties to help keep skin cells healthy. One study that analyzed the diets of more than 1,200 women found that a higher intake of olive oil was associated with fewer signs of aging; olive oil was also found to be more effective than peanut or sunflower oil. One teaspoon counts as one Extra on Nutrisystem.

Green Tea. Research has linked the main polyphenol in green tea to skin cell rejuvenation; and in a separate study, German scientists found women who drank a beverage containing green tea polyphenols for 12 weeks had more elastic and supple skin, and less damage after being exposed to UV light.