It doesn’t matter how wonderful your skin is (thanks mom!), you should never take it for granted. Once I really started paying attention to my moisturizer and using the right cleansers, there was a huge difference. But there’s more to taking care of your skin than just what you put ON it, it’s also really important to focus on what we put IN our bodies.

What to eat for better looking skin!

There’s more than just the old wives tales of chocolate and greasy foods. Here are five real foods Candice Kumai, former model and host of Lifetime’s “Cook Yourself Thin”, says will naturally perk up your skin.

Coconut Oil

Straight out of the jar, coconut oil is good for your skin. It can be used as a moisturizer, sunburn relief, make-up remover, the list goes on. Candice also loves using it in her favorite dishes. “Full of good for-you-fat, this oil is often a favorite to cook Thai, Asian-or Indian inspired meals at a high heat. Full of MCFAs (medium chain fatty acids) your body can metabolize fast, coconut oil may also speed up your metabolism.”

Almond Butter

Since I can’t eat a lot of dairy, I eat a lot of almond products. Candice says almond butter, in particular, is good for you because it’s a good source of fiber and protein. “This nutritious food is also packed with vitamin E, manganese, and selenium, which help keep your hair shiny. The vitamin E in almonds and almond butter can also help protect your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays.”

Chia Seeds

This food is popping up everywhere. Packed with fiber, protein, omega-3s and antioxidants, these tiny seeds are earning the superfood label. The fatty acid that makes up omega-3s, Candice says, can reduce toxins in your skin while strengthening the cells.

Resveratrol

Candice calls this the “fountain of you.” This mix of grapes, Japanese knotweed extract, grape seed and skin extract, aloe powder and red wine extract really helps keep your skin looking its best. She suggests using the liquid as opposed to the pill form, which isn’t regulated for purity, safety or efficacy.

Dark 70% Cacao Chocolate

Chocolate. Yes, despite the rumors you heard growing up – chocolate can help fight free radicals in your skin, which can lead to aging. But, the sweet treat has to contain at least 70% cacao, providing you with the max amount of benefits. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found chocolate high in flavonols helped improve skin texture and hydration, and even helped protect against the sun!

So now that you have these five foods down – try Candice’s own concoction for beautiful skin.

Candice’s Clean Green Beauty-Elixir

Serves 3

Ingredients:

1 1/2 frozen bananas (tip: unpeel a few bananas, place in a freezer bag and freeze 1-2 nights)

1 tbsp chia seeds

1 tbsp resveratrol

3 cups baby spinach

2 cups unsweetened almond milk

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 tbsp superfood greens

ice, optional

Directions:
Add all ingredients into a high-powered blender and blend until perfectly smooth. Add more or less almond milk/ice as desired.

-Michelle