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Is Orange Food The Secret To Glowing, Bouncy Skin?

Hannah Frye
Author:
July 16, 2023
Hannah Frye
Beauty & Health Editor
By Hannah Frye
Beauty & Health Editor
Hannah Frye is the Beauty & Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including beauty, women’s health, mental health, sustainability, social media trends, and more. She previously worked for Almost 30, a top-rated health and wellness podcast. In her current role, Hannah reports on the latest beauty trends and innovations, women’s health research, brain health news, and plenty more.
Colorful array of fruits and vegetables
Image by Momento Estudio / Stocksy
July 16, 2023
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Sometimes the best nutrition advice is the simplest, especially when we're constantly inundated with diet tips, tricks, and so-called "perfect" methods. Generally, less is more: This applies to gut-friendly foods, hormone-balancing breakfasts, and even skin-loving dishes.

On that last point, here's one way to eat for brighter, healthier skin—without complicating your entire meal plan. 

Why orange food is so great for the skin

One way to get more skin-boosting foods on your plate: Prioritize orange foods. 

It may sound strange, but trust me, this makes "skin food" a whole lot easier to understand and a great starting point. See, orange foods like carrots and bell peppers contain carotenoids, like beta-carotene, which are A+ for skin health.

“The number of carotenoids in the skin has been shown1 to correlate with carotenoid intake,” explains registered dietitian Jessica Shapiro, M.S., R.D, CDN, CDCES. That said, it makes sense to incorporate these foods into your daily or weekly meal plans if possible. “Carotenoids provide skin protection with their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and light-absorbing properties,” she says. 

In fact, one review study notes that a carotenoid-rich diet can even help protect the skin from UV damage, and therefore contribute to healthy skin aging. After all, 80% of visible signs of skin aging come from excess UV exposure2

Other skin-related benefits include decreased erythema (or reddening of the skin)3, which is huge for those trying to brighten and even out their complexion. 

Not to mention, adding more antioxidants to your diet is a great way to boost your skin’s resilience to environmental factors, like pollution, and even the impact of stress on the skin

Plus, many of the carotenoid-rich foods also contain a hefty dose of vitamin C—which is essential for supporting your skin's natural collagen production4. Hence, why the classic vitamin-collagen pair is often found in skin supplement formulas.

Now, other non-orange foods also contain carotenoids, including some leafy greens. So while it may be easier to focus on one color, just know there’s a lengthy list of foods to experiment with—more below. 

A carotenoid-rich grocery list

Here, a list of the best carotenoid-rich foods to add to your cart, from Shapiro: 

  • Winter squash
  • Butternut squash
  • Carrots
  • Sweet potato
  • Tomatoes (specifically cooked tomatoes) 
  • Pumpkin
  • Spinach
  • Plantains
  • Kale
  • Collard or turnip greens
  • Grapefruit
  • Oranges
  • Tangerines
  • Cantaloupe
  • Red peppers
  • Papaya

"Don’t be surprised if your skin starts to have an orange or yellow glow (especially on your palms and soles of feet) when eating lots of carrots or other high carotenoid foods," Shapiro says—it's likely nothing to be concerned about, but we always seeing a professional if you notice anything concerning.

Expert tip

“Because carotenoids are ‘fat-soluble’ they are best absorbed when eaten with a meal that has a small amount of healthy fat, such as olive oil, nuts, seeds, or avocado,” Shapiro says. 

The takeaway

One way to prioritize skin-nourishing foods is by incorporating more carotenoid-rich staples in your diet, many of which have an orange or red hue. It's not essential, but it may help planning out your skin-healthy meals just a little bit easier. Now, this is just one component of eating for skin health—here's another list of essential foods for hydrated, supple skin

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