5 Foods to Eat to Prevent and Treat Dry Skin

Dry skin is a real downer for achieving that soft, supple glow we’re all looking to have, right? It’s also annoying for people who are looking to apply makeup and can be a real (true) pain for people trying to shave- ouch! Dry skin is also unhealthy for your skin, believe it or not. Skin cells die on a daily, and even hourly basis like the rest of our cells do. As this happens,  cells that are meant to be sloughed away end up building up on top of the epidermal (top layer) of skin, which causes clogging more easily. This can lead to breakouts, rashes, and less-than-stellar skin issues. While exfoliating may help occasionally, it may not prevent dry skin from coming on in the first place.

If you exercise outdoors, you’re at an even greater risk for dry skin, so be sure to prioritize skincare this time of year as much as your daily workouts. The sun’s rays may not be apparent, but they still shine through the clouds and combined with wind and chilly temps, can be brutal for your skin.

Thankfully, as she always does, nature provides us with a remedy for everything, including our dry skin. Keep in mind that an overall healthy diet and avoiding alcohol (which is drying to the skin) are also important as well. Otherwise, eat these five foods on a regular basis to prevent and treat dry skin naturally:

1. Coconut

Coconut Butter

Coconut is a wonder food for just about anything and it’s rich in healthy fats that help your skin glow in every way possible. Low-fat foods may provide you with nutrients and even aid in moisturizing the skin, but going fat-free is not the answer to preventing and treating dry skin. Your body needs a certain amount of fat to be at its best, and so does your skin! Coconut fats help provide lubrication and also help prevent acne thanks to their antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Choose whole foods such as coconut butter and coconut shreds, as they retain all the good fiber found in coconut.

2. Olives

Pesto Gnocchi

Also rich in good fats, olives help provide your skin with healthy unsaturated fats with anti-aging benefits. Olive oil is rich in Vitamin E, a powerhouse nutrient to treat and prevent dry skin naturally. Olive oil may also be consumed or applied topically to the skin and raw, organic olives make amazing additions to any plant-based entree. For a skin-boosting dinner, combine olives with some quinoa and kale, which are complementary to olives and will provide you with additional antioxidants, fiber, and protein (all wonderful for your skin health).

3. Avocados

Grilled Avocado with Roasted Tomatoes

Poor man’s butter as it’s often called, the avocado is a miraculous food for dry skin, containing potassium, B vitamins, vitamin E, and protein. However, their fats are what really shine when it comes to boosting your skin health. They help lubricate the skin and protect it from damage and also promote clear, youthful skin. Avocados are also one of the best anti-aging foods you can eat for this exact purpose. Mash them on some sprouted grain bread in place of mayo, add them to a smoothie for a decadent texture, chop them onto a salad or in some soup, or puree them and make a skin mask!

4. Oatmeal

Jujube Oatmeal

Oatmeal is one of the oldest remedies for dry skin and even chickenpox! If you ever had the illness as a child, you may remember all those oatmeal baths your mother gave you. Well, there was a reason for the madness — oatmeal is rich in skin benefits, including preventing and treating dryness, rashes, and even acne. Though you could continue on with the baths if you like, eating your oatmeal is a much better (and tastier, more pleasant) option! Oatmeal contains a lot of antioxidants, along with vitamins and minerals that improve skin health. It’s also rich in fiber that keeps your heart healthy and keeps you regular. Fiber is also important for your skin since it helps keep moving wastes along through the body properly, which also keeps your skin healthy as a result. The fiber in oatmeal also helps slough away dead skin and also prevents redness when applied topically — just another reason to love oatmeal even more (like we needed one).

5. Sweet Potatoes

Roasted Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are amazing sources of vitamin A, containing more than almost any other vegetable. Vitamin A helps lock in moisture, gives your skin a healthy glow, and protects it from damage. Vitamin C found in sweet potatoes will also help improve your skin and protect your body from those nasty winter colds as a side benefit. Pumpkin, carrots, and winter squash also make excellent vitamin A-rich choices as well.

Of course, leafy greens are fantastic for dry, winter skin (and acne) as they’re beneficial for almost anything, and healthy nuts and seeds also provide essential fatty acids that help prevent dryness naturally. When it comes to dry skin, prioritize antioxidant-rich foods and healthy fats above all else, and remember to get a variety of sources into your diet. You’ll also want to consider using a sunscreen moisturizer product. Choose one that’s cruelty-free and natural as the best option.

Kiss those dry skin flakes goodbye and eat up dry, winter skin can be a thing of the past with delicious, plant-based foods!

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental well-being, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based we highly recommend grabbing our favorite plant-based cookbooks and downloading the Food Monster App — with over 20,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy! While you are at it, we encourage you to learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep
• Plant-Based Cookbooks 

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!