Top 5 Foods for Beautiful Skin

Fish contains omega-3 fats that help protect the skin against sun damage and strengthen skin cell membranes. Fish like salmon, mackerel and rainbow trout are loaded with smart fats that know to allow water in while keeping toxins out of the body. Omega-3 fats found in fish oil have also been said to help with inflammation and to improve focus and brain activity.

Carrots are a beneficial factor in providing the skin with a vibrant glow. They're high in the antioxidant beta-carotene, which converts to Vitamin A and provides protection against the sun's harmful rays. Be careful though, too many carrots can temporarily create an orange glow in the skin!

Broccoli is a super vegetable that provides calcium, potassium, iron, fiber, niacin and folic acid - all great for the entire body. Broccoli is also high in antioxidants and rich in vitamins A, C, and E. The Vitamin E aids in promoting skin's elasticity and also protects the skin against harmful UV rays.

Fruits high in Vitamin C such as papaya, kiwi, guava, passion fruit and pineapple are a great for younger looking skin. The Vitamin C helps to produce collagen, aiding in skin's firmness and elasticity. Strawberries are another fruit very high in antioxidants and Vitamin C and although they are not a tropical fruit, they too work wonders for the skin.

Sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds - all have powerful skin fortifying components. Pumpkin seeds are great because they're loaded with Zinc, which provides collagen and helps with skin repair. Almonds, pine nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts and brazil nuts are high in Vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects and repairs the skin.