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We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat” about a thousand times before, but that couldn’t be truer when it comes to your skin. You can use all the high-end skincare products in the world, but if you don’t have a good diet in place, you won’t get the clear skin you desire.
Sure, all of these fancy cleansers and serums will help a little, but the bottom line is you can’t buy healthy, acne-free skin. According to dermatologist Dr. Linda Stein Gold, the foods you eat could be the only thing standing in your way to the clearest skin of your life.
If you have acne, you should avoid foods that are high in glycemic index. “They’re the sugary foods, the white bread, the donuts and the muffins,” said Dr. Stein Gold. “The sugar in the blood goes up quickly, and that triggers a cascade of events that increases hormones and increases sebum, and all this together actually causes acne to flare up.”
For clear skin, try eating these four foods this week instead.
1. Spinach
Leafy greens like spinach are rich in chlorophyll which helps cleanse bacteria and toxins from the digestive tract and bloodstream. Studies have shown that good gut health directly relates to good skin health. Spinach is also rich in vitamin A, a powerful anti-acne agent.
2. Avocados
Avocado masks are super popular for a reason. This delicious vegetable is a healthy fat that contains a variety of skin-clearing ingredients. Chlorophyll (just like in spinach), water, vitamin E, and fiber all make this food great for fight inflammation and acne.
3. Berries
Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are all great for your skin. These dark, sweet fruits are packed with powerful antioxidants that clear your complexion.
4. Fish
Fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids and proteins which boost collagen in our skin. These proteins help fight inflammation in the face, as well as other parts of the body, and keep acne flare-ups away.
