When it comes to your skin, there’s one thing we know for sure: What you eat can have a direct impact on how you look. If you’re not specifically chowing down on superfoods for glowing skin and instead are constantly noshing on processed foods or those high in sugar and fat and devoid of fiber, it can show up in the form of dull skin, perhaps along with other issues like acne, dryness, oiliness, or dark under-eye circles. (We’ve been preaching to you for years about this.)
“A diet focused on high-quality lean proteins, fiber, healthy oils, raw fruits and vegetables, and spices is best for supporting healthy skin,” Paula Simpson, nutritionist and cofounder of ZSS tells Allure. “These foods tend to contain high-quality amino acids—the building blocks for firm skin—plus anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich ingredients that promote optimal skin metabolism and defense against environmental stressors.”
One of those stressors is free-radical damage, “which can weaken your skin’s immunity and break down its metabolic functions,” says Simpson. This causes skin to eventually become uneven, and it loses that effervescent glow we’re always seeking out. “It can also trigger inflammatory reactions that destroy collagen, resulting in thin, wrinkled, and blotchy skin,” she continues.
