Your journey to getting healthy and radiant skin begins with your diet. The foods we consume play a crucial role in the overall health and appearance of our skin.
Your skin will only glow if you are healthy from the inside out, regardless of how many cosmetics you use. That’s why getting the right amount of nutrients through your food is essential.
Fruits are an abundant source of nutrients and essential vitamins and minerals. And, eating fruit is the key to improving your overall skin health too.
From preventing acne and blemishes to keeping your skin radiant, fruits do it all. If you don’t know where to begin, we have curated a list of the best fruits for glowing skin to include in your diet and skincare routine.
Papaya
This tropical fruit is a rich source of vitamins A, B and C containing minerals such as copper, potassium, and manganese. An enzyme present in it, papain, is capable of treating acne, removing blemishes and tanning. It also cleanses and unclogs the pores. It is a great fruit to maintain glowing skin.
Additionally, it contains antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal qualities that can treat various skin problems such as moles, eczema and ulcers. Papaya can be consumed daily in a bowl or you can even apply it topically as a face pack. A single cup of fresh papaya contains a whopping 86.5 milligrams of Vitamin C and 1 milligram of Vitamin E.
Eating papaya can aid in avoiding constipation, which is one of the factors contributing to unhealthy skin. It is a good choice for skin problems like warts, ulcers and eczema.
Use papaya in your diet and cosmetic routine if you suffer from digestion problems, scars or discolouration.
Orange
This sweet, juicy and pulpy fruit is one of the most well-known sources of Vitamin C. Orange can decrease oxidative damage, photodamage, DNA damage, lessen inflammation, and promote the production of collagen. It has natural citrus oils which keep your skin hydrated from the inside and plump on the outside.
The natural oils present in oranges protect our skin from harmful UV rays, flush out the toxins from our skin, increase hydration and slow down premature ageing. It also helps to build natural collagen that prevents premature ageing.
Every day, eat half an orange. Start adding oranges to your salad, stew, cakes, and chocolates. Add a little orange juice to your smoothie.
Orange juice can be applied topically wherever there is pigmentation. Rinse after 10 minutes.
Combine 2 tablespoons of gram flour, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric, 3 tablespoons of orange juice and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice for oily skin. Use as a pack.
Combine 3 tablespoons of orange juice, 1 teaspoon each of lemon and milk, along with 1/2 teaspoon each of turmeric and honey to treat dry skin.
Lemon
This round yellow fruit is popularly used in several skincare products. From anti-acne creams to anti-ageing lotions, this citrus fruit can prevent a host of skin issues. Lemon available all year round is the superfood for a healthy skincare regimen. Brimming with Vitamin C, it serves as a natural bleaching agent that brightens skin complexion and also improves skin’s barrier function to protect it against harmful environmental aggressors.
Lemon is rich in antioxidants that help release toxins from your skin and also help protect the skin from hyperpigmentation and clear acne.
Having a glass of lemon juice each day will intensely hydrate the skin, effectively reduce acne, hyperpigmentation, dark patches, and even minor scarring.
Lemon juice water with a teaspoon of honey added to it should be the first thing you drink in the morning. You can add lemon juice to your salad and even your curries while you consume them.
Cucumber
Cucumber is a water-rich fruit that contains 96% water. Unpeeled cucumbers are incredibly rich in fibre and vitamins K and C, both of which are essential for making your skin appear bright and glowing.
The hydrating properties of cucumber make it the best food for people with dry and acne-prone skin.
Daily intake of cucumber in any form is essential for the development of healthy cells. A bowl of sliced cucumber can help in preventing puffy eyes, swelling, sunburn, acne, or even cleansing of the skin.
Placing a slice of cucumber over each eye is a great way to reduce puffiness, dark circles as well as fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area.
Cucumber tastes good when eaten raw. Just peel them, sprinkle some salt and black pepper and your evening snack is ready. Add it to your salads and sandwiches. Cucumber juice can also be taken first thing in the morning.
To moisturise dry skin, grate a cucumber and add 1 tablespoon of milk to it. Add a teaspoon of coconut oil to the mixture and apply it to your skin. Rinse off after 10 minutes.
Mix grated cucumber with 1 tablespoon each of milk and coconut oil. Apply the mixture to your skin. Rinse off after 15 minutes. It’s a natural moisturiser for people with dry skin.
Strawberries
Apart from being a great ice cream flavour, strawberries are as beneficial as they are tempting! This sweet, citrus fruit contains Vitamin C that increases the skin’s ability to produce collagen, evens out skin tone, and gives you a more radiant appearance.
The fruit is rich in salicylic acid, which acts as a chemical cleanser for all skin types. It removes dirt, bacteria and debris from your pores, thus opening all clogged pores and giving you glowing skin.
Ellagic acid, found in strawberries, has been shown to prevent UV damage and reduce the signs of ageing. Strawberries are inexpensive yet super effective natural chemical exfoliators.
Have a bowl of strawberries with your breakfast. You can also add strawberries to your desserts.
Mash a few strawberries. Apply the mashed pieces to your skin and wash off after 10 minutes for glowing and radiant skin.
Mash a few strawberries and add a tablespoon of lime juice to it. Apply to the affected area. Wash off after 10 minutes with lukewarm water for pigmentation and tanning.
