We all know that we should be eating our fruits and vegetables everyday to stay healthy. But not all fruits and veggies were created equal when it comes to their anti-acne and anti-aging properties.
While it’s great to eat as many as possible to reap the varying benefits, there is one vegetable in particular you absolutely need to include if you want clear and youthful skin!
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We asked Medical Aesthetician and the original “Skinfluencer”, Cassandra Bankson, to give us her hot takes on the veggie that is essential for healthy, glowing skin.
She shared, “When it comes to food and skin, it would be wrong to say that foods cause acne. Dairy and sugar are often bland, but if that were true, everyone who ate dairy or sugar would be breaking out, which simply isn’t the case! At the same time, there are some foods that are more or less likely to cause acne in more sensitive individuals.” But overall, some general rules to follow are that foods that are high in fiber, filled with antioxidants, and vitamin C can help. She added, “Vitamin C is essential for your body to produce collagen, which not only gives skin strength but can help with skin repair after blemishes have subsided. Antioxidants are amazing for fighting free radical damage, and fiber helps slow down digestion, allowing nutrients to be absorbed, healthy bacteria to flourish in your gut, and balance out IGF-1 levels to improve hormone function that can translate to clearer skin.”
And when it comes to foods rich in vitamin C, your first thought might be to “citrus fruits!” But what most people don’t realize, according to Bankson is that the most vitamin C-rich food is bell peppers!
“They are loaded with almost three times the amount of vitamin C that an orange has, not to mention tons of fiber and yes, those wonderful antioxidants!”
Bankson explained that if you're looking for a dietary boost to your skin, and also your other organs, “Bell peppers are one of my favorite foods and a top recommendation. Add them to omelettes or salads, enjoy them with hummus or dip, or try a stuffed bell pepper, oven roasted for dinner.”
She recommends adding bell peppers to your diet once daily to help ensure that you meet your vitamin C nutritional needs, “As well as boost up the fiber and antioxidants that are so often missing from standard American diets.”
