Is the cold winter season making your skin feel drier than usual? Yeah, we’re feeling it, too. Although you could always reach for your moisturizer of choice, it might be best to tackle the issue from within. Surprisingly enough, many foods can actually help relieve your skin’s dryness, making it more supple, smooth, and glowy (OK, we’re in).
According to Real Simple, a high water intake and a clean diet are just as important for your skin as they are for your overall health. dietitian Brittany Modell told the outlet that keeping skin hydrated is all about eating foods high in antioxidants, especially lycopene. Healthline makes the point that this plant nutrient can be found in papaya, guava, and red peppers. Other foods that help dry, cracked skin? Modell also recommends eating citrus fruits, broccoli, cucumbers, celery, watermelon, and tomatoes — it’s all about a high water content. She notes that “our skin cells rely heavily on fluid.”
What’s more, dry, flaky skin can be a result of not enough healthy fats in your diet. So what does this mean for your next grocery shopping trip? Fatty fish, coconut oil, avocados, flax seeds, and chia seeds will all help keep your skin moisturized from the inside. Healthline agrees, citing salmon, mackerel, and herring as the best fatty fish to incorporate for dry skin, pointing to their high omega-3 fatty acid content, vitamin E, and zinc.
What other foods can help treat dry skin?
Nuts are another great food to eat if you’re dealing with dry skin, particularly walnuts. According to Healthline, walnuts contain a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce skin inflammation, as well as vitamin E, selenium, and zinc, all of which help the skin’s function. Almonds are great for dry skin, too: Dermatologist Joshua Zeichner told Cooking Light that almonds are a fantastic source of vitamin E, and can help with skin shedding.
Other foods that help uncomfortable, cracked skin? Zeichner also noted that he recommends olives, high in antioxidants and vitamin E, as well as leafy greens like kale, Swiss chard, and arugula. Kale has a high copper content, helping the body produce melanin, which can in turn work to protect the skin.
Lastly, looking for foods high in beta carotene can also prove beneficial to curing dry skin. Byrdie states that the beta carotene in sweet potatoes can work to protect the skin from the sun, keeping the moisture in. Dermatologist Anna Guanche, agrees, telling Bustle that sweet potatoes’ high beta carotene level “can turn into vitamin A in the body.” In turn, “vitamin A helps build collagen and gives skin a supple appearance.”
All in all, even though dry, cracked skin can get you down, it’s safe to say there are plenty of options for your next grocery run that will help revive and moisturize your largest organ.
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