I started developing acne when I as young as the 5th grade. By the time I reached intermediate school it had gotten so bad that my mom took me to see a dermatologist. Now this was many, many years ago, but to this day, I still distinctly remember my doctor saying, "Food has nothing to do with your complexion." So I continued eating potato chips, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and Mr. Goodbars (my junk foods of choice). 

Oh #thethingsithoughtiknew

Of course, now I know that the food we eat has a significant impact on the health of our skin.

So it's no surprise that when it comes to when it comes to shiny hair, clear skin, and strong nails, fresh fruits and vegetables are the food of choice.

However, the foods I’ve chosen below are perhaps not as well known for their powerful beauty benefits. 

Five Surprising Beauty Foods

1 | Red Peppers:

All red and orange colored foods contain beta-carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant. But red peppers are particularly beautifying because they contain vitamins A, C, and K. Vitamins A and C can help to prevent cell damage that leads to premature aging. These vitamins  can also reduce inflammation, which can create puffy-looking faces. 

Peppers also have Vitamin K, which is an excellent property for protecting our cells from damage.

My favorite ways to consume red peppers: 

• As vegetable sticks to dip into hummus or dip

• In a veggie stir fry

• Stuffed with clean protein and veggies, baked in the oven

2 | Spinach:

All leafy greens are very powerful beauty foods because they have chlorophyll, a green pigment found in plants. Chlorophyll is beneficial because it removes toxins from the body by cleansing the liver.

But there are also tons of other phytochemicals and fiber in spinach that help build blood that is clean, which will show through in your skin.

My favorite ways to consume spinach:

• In a huge salad

• Steamed or sauteed as a side dish to any meal

3 | Turmeric:

Tumeric is a yellow-colored vegetable that you can consume as a fresh root, or as a spice. It is full of powerful antioxidant qualities. 

Turmeric assists in protecting our cells from free radical damage and also contributes towards cleaning up metabolic waste in our systems. It also flushes the liver, getting rid of any poisons and chemicals that are stored there.

My favorite way to consume turmeric:

• By adding a fresh thumb-sized piece to my smoothie.

{Pro Tip: Be careful when handling turmeric - it stains easily in either root or powder form!}

4 | Pumpkin Seeds: 

What doesn't pumpkin seeds have in them?! Pumpkin seeds contain high levels of zinc, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B, C, and E. 

Pumpkin seeds are also a great source of amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids, all essential for healthy cell maintenance. 

My favorite ways to consume pumpkin seeds:

• As a crunchy snack (I just grab handfuls of it).

• Blended into a pate.

5 | Parsley:

The next time your plate is garnished with parsley, don’t push it aside. This is a powerful anti-aging herb. It is a purifier and cleanses the body. 

It contains vitamins A and C as well as anti-oxidizing flavonoids that protect our cells from free radical damage. Parsley also helps to purify the blood, kill bacteria, aid in digestion, and cleanse toxins from the liver.

My favorite way to consume parsley:

• As a garnish to a meal

• As an add-on ingredient in a smoothie

If you want to look your best without the need for botox, toxic skincare products or other unnatural remedies, get creative and think out of the box on ways to do incorporate these foods into your diet! There are so many easy ways to do so! Who said that beauty was hard to keep up with?!