Make This Summer A Skin Glowing Summer With These Foods

Summer is my favorite time of year for food. Markets during Summertime, whether you are shopping in stores or at your local farmers market, are bursting with colorful and flavorful seasonal produce.

If you want naturally glowing and radiant skin, Summer is the time to take advantage of. Summer foods are essential to keep you cool and hydrated all while protecting your skin from UV damage. Below are the foods that are on my grocery list each week throughout Summer along with a few simple ways to incorporate them into meals.

Watermelon

Watermelon is made of mostly water (around 92% of watermelon is water). The best way to stay hydrated and to boost your skins hydration is to eat your water - aka eating water rich foods like watermelon. Watermelon also contains an antioxidant called lycopene to help naturally protect your skin from sun damage. Watermelon is a great way to support your skins natural glow. I love watermelon on its own or added to a bowl with fresh mint or basil with a vegan or non vegan goat cheese or feta.

Cucumber

Cucumber is another water packed fruit. Cucumbers are a great way to help keep you cool during the hot Summer months. Since cucumbers are rich in silicon they are a great way to boost your skin elasticity and moisture. Cucumbers are so easy to add to your daily diet. I love adding a few slices to a water with strawberries, adding them to a salad or wrap or simply dipping them in hummus.

Zucchini

Zucchini is another great water packed fruit to help boost your skins moisture. I love zucchini because it is packed with fiber which helps to support digestive health which is crucial for glowing skin. Zucchini is a great source of magnesium which helps calm your nervous system- another key to a healthy digestive system and skin health. Zucchini is great baked, sautéed or grilled. All you need is a drizzle of oil and salt to season.

Peaches

Peaches are one of my favorite essentials for Summer. Peaches are a fabulous source of fiber which is great to improve digestion for skin health. They also contain Vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant to fight off free radicals. Vitamin C has been shown to help boost collagen production (hello plump and glowing skin!). Peaches also contain Vitamin A which is great for cellular repair. Peaches are great in a smoothie on their own or with berries. This is my favorite Summer Peach smoothie.

Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe is one of my favorite Summer fruits for healthy glowing skin. Cantaloupe is packed with Vitamin C and A for healthy glowing skin. Vitamin C helps to aid in skin brightening while Vitamin A helps to protect against UV damage. Cantaloupe is great on its own!

Blueberries

Blueberries are a powerhouse of nutrition. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants to protect your body from free radicals and help give you healthier, brighter, glowing skin. Blueberries can help to boost skin elasticity and protect it against UV damage. Blueberries are amazing in a smoothie, in a salad or on their own. I eat blueberries daily as they are one of the healthiest foods there is.

Papaya

Papayas are incredible for digestion. Since a healthy digestion is necessary for skin health, it is important to make it a priority to support your gut microbiome. Papayas are a great way to do that. Papaya contains Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta- carotene and more to help boost skin health and protect it against UV damage.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a Summer staple. They contain the antioxidant lycopene to help protect skin from UV damage. Tomatoes are anti inflammatory which makes them a great addition to your weekly grocery plan. I recommend cooking your tomatoes and/or pairing them with olive oil to help increase lycopene absorption. Tomatoes are also packed with potassium which helps aid in that natural glow from the inside out. Tomatoes are so simple to add to meals. You can slice them and toss into a salad or Mediterranean bowl with a drizzle of olive oil or cook down into a simple pasta sauce with fresh basil, garlic and onion.

It is important to keep in mind that many of these foods should be eaten with a source of fat like oil, nuts, seeds, fish, etc. Many vitamins like Vitamin A, E and K which are essential for glowing skin are fat soluble meaning that they need fat to be absorbed by the body. Fat is also essential for glowing and hydrated skin among other benefits.

This is not a comprehensive list of Summer produce or foods that aid in skin benefits.

I created my Glow From Within Guide to help you navigate healthy eating through the seasons. This guide will help you build a healthier lifestyle with seasonal wellness routines, a meal plan for each of the four seasons as well as over 90 seasonal recipes. Check it out here.