You may know that good nutrition can help you feel good on the inside, but does it affect how you look like on the outside? Yes! The foods we choose to consume can directly impact our skin just as much as the products we use ON our skin. Studies suggest that certain foods affect your skin. A well balanced diet is key to keeping skin looking healthy and feeling great.

Here are some tips to help you find your way towards healthy skin.

Drink plenty of fluids

Drinking plenty of fluids ensures that your body stays hydrated. Dehydration can often can cause fatigue and lead to aging. Water is the best choice for healthy skin. Drinking more water also promotes cleansing, flushes toxins out of your system, reduces bloating, and increases your skins moisture level. Don’t forget to drink up!

Avoid refined carbohydrates or consuming too many carbohydrates in one sitting

Your skin contains collagen and elastin fibers which allow connective tissue to remain firm and keep its shape. When you consume foods that are high in sugar, you cause your blood sugar to spike and as a result, the sugar is broken down into molecules that stick to elastin and collagen, which makes them less flexible. It also disrupts collagen turnover.

Incorporate antioxidants into your diet

Antioxidants work as a defense system against free radicals that harm our skin leading to wrinkles, dry skin and tissue damage. There are many different types of antioxidants which help protect from various types of damage to your tissues. Choose a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to pack the most punch – bell peppers, tomatoes, dark leafy greens, berries and citrus fruits are all great choices!

Include “healthy” fats in each meal

Fat is a structural component of your skin, so it is important to eat a diet that incorporates healthy fats to maintain healthy and elastic skin. Remember: Not all fats are created equal. High intakes of Omega 3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and have been found to be protective again UV rays and sunburn. Adding these healthy fat sources can help keep your skin smooth and soft, naturally, while new skin cells replace old cells.