There’s definitely a lot of truth to the adage—beauty begins on the inside. If you are not eating healthy, or balanced meals, its effects will appear on your skin. Moreover, this notion has been further backed by scientists who revealed that there is a strong link between what you eat and how it manifests in your appearance. So if you want a radiant and clear complexion, you have to start by putting the proper nutrients into your body.
While there are many approaches to eating healthy, there are certain foods that provide you with ultimate nourishment and are guaranteed to level up your beauty game. To make things easier for you, we have compiled a list of the best foods for clear skin that you should add to your pregnancy diet STAT.
11 Best Foods For Clear Skin During Pregnancy
Probiotics
Probiotics are foundational to maintaining your gut health, improving digestion, and firing up your metabolism. They also help reduce inflammation in your body, especially your gut, and contribute to promoting healthier skin. To incorporate more probiotics into your diet, you can reach out for yogurt, kombucha, and pickled food items like kimchi, kefir, and miso.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, broccoli, collard greens, and Brussels sprouts are a powerhouse of antioxidants and vitamins that provide multiple skin benefits. They also provide your body with vitamin A, which works great at tackling skin conditions like dryness and flakiness. Additionally, leafy greens are good sources of vitamins C and E that help neutralise free radical damage, boost collagen and elastin production, and reduce inflammation in your skin.
Furthermore, these veggies contain folate, which is necessary for DNA repair. So, make sure to eat your greens and have a side of veggies every day along with your meal for clear and radiant skin.
Berries
Blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, and how can we forget, the powerful goji berries, are all packed with antioxidants and essential nutrients that boost your skin health. Berries also have anti-inflammatory qualities that aid the body to heal itself while still fighting against free radical damage and protecting your skin’s natural barrier.
Additionally, berries are rich in antioxidants like vitamins A and C that stimulates collagen production and boost new skin cell turnover to improve skin firmness and reduce the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
Eggs
You know what? There’s a valid reason why egg cream is a Korean beauty trend. Apart from providing your body with good cholesterol and protein, egg yolk is meant to nourish and soothe your skin. They also contain vitamin A, which helps support your skin’s protective barrier and improves the skin’s ability to repair itself by aiding skin cell regeneration.
The best part is that you can add eggs to any of your meals throughout the day and experiment with different recipes to make them more delicious.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a miracle ingredient that works wonders in soothing inflammation in your body and skin. Consumption of turmeric can also help combat your acne breakouts and blemishes. In fact, this ingredient also helps strengthen your immunity and supports your cardiovascular health. The best way to take turmeric is with warm water to balance your skin’s natural flora and protect them against free radicals.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits are a natural source of vitamin C and are power-packed with antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals. Adding citrus fruits to your diet can help speed up cellular turnover, repair skin damage, and reduce inflammation and acne. It also powers up your immunity and metabolism rate and can help make you feel less bloated during pregnancy. Some examples of citrus fruits include sweet orange, key lime, grapefruit, lemon, and clementine.
Fish
Fish boast a long list of benefits to your health, and your skin as well. Fatty fish, such as salmon and sardines, provide essential amino acids and proteins to your body that keep your skin firm and taut. Additionally, cold-water fish, such as tuna, are packed with essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, which retain your skin’s natural oil barrier and prevent dryness and uneven skin texture.
Green Tea
Green tea is renowned for its protective properties and has been consumed for centuries by some East Asian cultures as the ultimate beauty potion. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, as well as antibacterial benefits that slow down DNA damage, reduce inflammation, and even protect against sun damage.
Green tea also delivers soothing qualities and is impeccable at fighting acne-causing bacteria in your skin. In fact, this superfood is so useful, that it has made its way into many acne-fighting cosmetics. So, make sure to have a cup of green tea at least once a day to achieve long-lasting results, such as healthy, smooth, and acne-free skin.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are a good source of plant-based omega-3, fibre, and protein. This superfood provides an anti-inflammatory effect and helps tackle skin conditions, such as eczema, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. Additionally, the consumption of chia seeds can improve collagen production in your skin, boost hydration, and keep your skin looking plump.
Chia seeds are also great for keeping your stomach healthy and boosting healthy probiotic balance in your gut to enhance skin health and texture. You can have chia seeds along with warm water, once a day for best results.
Cucumber
Cucumbers are ultra-hydrating and rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C and folic acid. They promote your skin health both from the inside as well as the outside. Eating cucumbers can help keep your skin hydrated and prevent damage against environmental stressors, such as the sun and pollution. This cooling veggie contains silica, which provides relief from inflammation and sunburns, and works exceptionally to strengthen your skin’s protective barrier to tackle skin damage.
Avocados
Avocados are also considered superfruits that contain high levels of healthy oils and vitamin E. Both these nutrients provide the building blocks of healthy skin function as well as improve skin hydration and barrier function. A strong barrier function can in turn enhance your skin health, boost collagen production, and keep signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles at bay.
Include these food items in your pregnancy diet to gain radiant and healthy skin. All these food items contain essential nutrients and vitamins that help boost your skin tone and texture, as well as look after your overall health.
Also read:
Refreshing homemade drinks to have during pregnancy: Check out this list of amazing homemade drinks that can hydrate and nourish you during pregnancy.
Calcium-rich foods to include in your pregnancy diet: In this post, we have compiled a list of calcium-enriched food items that are a must-have during pregnancy.
Healthy meals during pregnancy: These healthy recipes are enriched with essential nutrients and vitamins and help boost your overall health during pregnancy
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