Our Top 5 Foods for Healthy Skin

By Kim McDevitt, BIOMILK Skincare Nutrition Expert

Did you know that our skin is the largest organ in our body? And one of our main sources of detoxification is through its pores, which is why what you put in your body and what you put on it matters!

We know that the health of our gut is interconnected to all other systems in our body and when our gut microbiota is off – balance other organs and systems suffer. One of these is our skin. Skin inflammation and conditions including eczema, acne and rosacea are believed to be a window into greater issues and imbalance inside the body and on our skin.

The good news is there are lots of foods that can boost the health of your skin, have anti-aging properties, promote new cell growth and more. Here are our top 5.

Top 5 Foods For Skin Health

Beauty boosting vitamins include vitamin A, C and E. These vitamins have anti-aging properties and help promote new cell growth.

  1. Salmon
    Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids. These are essential fats (need to get them through the food you eat) that are pivotal to overall good health. When it comes to skin, Omega-3s are known to contribute to younger, smoother skin. They also fight against inflammation and therefore support the reduction of inflammatory skin conditions such as acne or psoriasis.
  2. Avocado
    If you’re not eating at least ½ – 1 whole avocado a day you should start. Beyond nutritional benefits including weight loss, weight maintenance & blood sugar balance, avocados are great for your skin thanks to being full of healthy fats, vitamins and antioxidants.
  3. Papaya & Watermelon
    Both papaya and watermelon are a great source of vitamin A, a vitamin the helps with skin repair. Vitamin A is also required for sebum production in the body, a nutrient that keeps hair and skin moisturized. Other reasons to love papaya is that it contains a natural digestive enzyme, papain. Papain not only helps digest food but is also shown to promote brighter skin!
  4. Greens
    I think everyone should strive to include leafy greens, such as kale or spinach, in at least one meal per day.  Greens are loaded with micronutrients as well as vitamins A, C and E, all of which support the health of your skin. Beyond leafy greens, sea greens like chlorella & spirulina packs those nutrients into much smaller doses giving you an even bigger bang for your buck.
  5. Fermented Foods
    Probiotic rich foods are one of the biggest tickets to clear, radiant skin. There’s proven connection between gut and skin and ensuring our gut is populated with lots of good microflora ensures our immune system will thrive helping fight against rosacea, eczema and even acne. You can restore and maintain your gut microflora with probiotic rich foods including Kefir, yogurt (choose ones without added sugar and fillers), and fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi.

Share with us on Instagram and Facebook, or comment below how you’re supporting your skin through nourishing whole foods!

Keep up with Kim McDevitt at her website and stay tuned to the BIOMILK blog for more of her great tips and tricks to feed your body and skin right.