A lot of people would have just stuck to the routine of drinking water, keeping themselves hydrated, applying moisturizers and exfoliating the skin regularly in order to have glowing skin. BUT they tend to forget that it is also essential to eat right to have a positive impact on the skin.

When you meet with people, the first thing that they notice about you is your face. So it is fundamental to make sure that you maintain your skin in tip-top condition. As your skin is the largest organ of your body, it is very obvious whether you have a healthy, looking skin, even in winter. We will provide some ideas as to how you can look young and healthy by eating right.

Vitamins and Minerals Colourful vegetables such as carrots contains a very crucial vitamin for the health of your skin – Vitamin A. But it is recommended by skin experts to consume low-fat dairy products for this very important vitamin. This is so as it allows the vitamin to be absorbed more readily due to its form in low-dairy products, especially low-fat yoghurt. It is very common to see that plain yoghurt is used to as an ingredient in topical skin preparations.

The other two important vitamins that are very important for the health of your skin are C and E. They are the “antioxidant” vitamins. Foods such as tomatoes, bell peppers, cantaloupe and citrus fruits are known to contain vitamin C. You can find vitamin E in most nuts and seeds, and avocados.

Antioxidants Experts in the health profession are starting to acknowledge the importance of antioxidants in food. They are also looking at how the health of the skin is being affected by consuming food with antioxidants. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners have also said that one’s liver and other digestive organs will affect one’s skin. This is because the toxins that enter a person’s body will be stored in the liver to prevent them from being circulated and causing harm to the body. Hence, with antioxidants intake, the liver can be improved and, ultimately, improve the health of the skin.

Antioxidants help to protect the skin from the cellular damage caused by free radicals. Free radical molecules, formed as a result of smoking, pollution and sunlight, can cause skin damage, leading to wrinkles and age spots. Eating foods rich in antioxidants is needed to boost the immune system, promote skin cell development and healthy skin tone. Antioxidant-rich foods include berries, pinto beans, artichokes and green tea.

Fats and Oils You might be warned by your dermatologist not to eat "oily" foods, as that could worsen acne. However, we all need some fats in our diet to stay healthy. Plus, healthy fats are essential in a healthy skin diet. These are the mono-unsaturated, poly-unsaturated, omega-3 and omega-6 fats. The fatty acids found in salmon, nuts, seeds, and some oils (such as olive and canola) help build strong cell membranes. They are vital for the body to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K, associated with healthy skin.

What to Avoid Cut back on saturated and trans fats in deep-fried and processed foods to avoid acne. Also cut down on junk food and foods high in sugar, such as biscuits and cakes. Although these may not cause skin problems directly, these empty calories do not provide the nutrients your skin needs to be healthy. They also fill you up so there's no space for the healthy stuff.

In the meanwhile, tell us in the comments below how to eat our way to glowing skin!