[Written in collaboration with nutritionist Hillary Macias – Visit Her Web Site: Healthbyhill.org]

While I love treating myself to a facial from time to time, there truly is no better way to get glowing skin than eating the right foods! Your diet really does reflect in your complexion, and certain foods are loaded with anti-aging properties, anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants and will keep your skin smooth and supple year round. Read on for my favorite food picks for radiant skin and start eating your way to a better complexion!

  1. Almonds – easily one of my favorite snacks, almonds are loaded with vitamin E, which is a major sun blocker. Vitamin E is also a great antioxidant that will protect your skin from those UV rays and other cell damaging free radicals.
  2. Carrots – carrots are good for more than just your eyesight! They are loaded with vitamin A, which can help clear up breakouts and reduces the development of skin cancer cells
    carrots cutting
  3. Strawberries – you all know how much I love my berries, and these are loaded with vitamin c and have more anti aging properties than any other fruit! Eating more vitamin C has been proven to help eliminate wrinkles and dry skin. Not to mention fighting all of the free radicals that damage cells and cause collagen to break down (personally I want all the collagen I can get!)
  4. Olive Oil – I love cooking with olive oil for all of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that benefit your health, but did you know they also soften your skin?! You can topically use olive oil if you don’t prefer the taste in foods, but cooking with it is my favorite. I love to cook chicken, fish, and vegetables sautéed in olive oil.
    Olive-Oil-96dpi.jpg
  5. Pumpkin – while pumpkin is one item I usually stick to cooking with around the holidays, if you incorporate it year round, you will see significant improvement in your skin. Pumpkin gets its orange hue from carotenoids, which have wrinkle fighting properties and help eliminate and neutralize free radicals in the skin. Eliminating free radicals keeps skin cells from damaging and aging prematurely.
  6. Pomegranate – pomegranates are known for their anti oxidant rich properties and there is research that shows that pomegranate juice has more antioxidant properties than red wine or green tea. You can utilize these seeds easily in salads, smoothies or with cheese and wine – my favorite! ;)
    seed salad