winter foods for clear healthy skin

This winter has been extra brutal, which means, extra dry skin. We’ve been moisturizing like crazy and keeping our skin in check, but since there’s no end in site, we’ve decided to take our skincare regimen to the next level by hydrating from the inside out. Diet plays a huge role in helping keep our skin glowing, after all, we are what we eat! Here are our top 10 food picks that will have your winter skin clear and healthy.

Almonds
One of our all-time favorite snacks! Almonds are rich in Vitamin E, perfect for giving you a fresh glow. We like to keep raw almonds around the office for re-fueling between meals.

Dark Chocolate
If you needed another reason to eat chocolate, here it is! Dark chocolate has many health benefits, but consuming chocolate with 60% or higher cacao helps keep our largest organ hydrated. Here’s the science behind it, just in case you need to double check before you indulge. “German researchers found that the flavonoids in dark chocolate absorb UV light, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, and improve skin’s hydration and complexion,” states Reader’s Digest.

Keep in mind: Portion control. While dark chocolate has a lot of health benefits, it also has a lot of calories. If you keep your intake under 3oz, you’ll be golden.

Spinach
Spinach is basically a powerhouse when it comes to healthy skin. It contains omega-3 fatty acids AND vitamin C, all at once. If you don’t like eating the green stuff on a fork, try blending it into your morning smoothie for a wide range of health benefits, including the cherry on top, great skin. Pro tip: when selecting your spinach from the store, choose the bunch that’s in the light. Studies have shown that new research, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, reveals that spinach stored continuously under the light for as little as three days boasted higher levels of vitamin C and preserved levels of K, E, folate and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.

Kiwi
Kiwi is kind of an underrated fruit that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Did you know that kiwi contains more vitamin C than an orange? Not only is the kiwi rich in Vitamin C, it’s loaded with Vitamin E and antioxidants. All being key players in helping you achieve maximum skin greatness. The kiwi doesn’t stop there, it also is proven to make your hair shiny, fights acne, delays aging (bye, wrinkles!), plus so many more great advantages, we could go on all day.

Green Tea
Warming up to a cup of hot green tea is a perfect way to escape the frigid temperatures, it’s also another powerhouse when it comes to health. As far as skincare goes, it contains catechins, which help regenerate the top layer of skin. In laymen’s terms, green tea is perfect for a youthful, luminous glow.

Edamame
Edamame is packed with isoflavones, which act as antioxidants that help contain free radicals caused by sun exposure. Isoflavones found in edamame help preserve skin-firming collagen, which is super important in a youthful appearance. Order these as an appetizer from your favorite Asian eatery, but careful, once you pop you won’t be able to stop!

Keep these food picks in mind as old man winter continues to let it snow. Stay warm out there, and remember to keep your skin hydrated!

What are some of your favorite recipes that include our top food picks for clear winter skin? Leave them below in the comments!