We’re all pretty familiar with the importance of a healthy diet. But what if you could find foods that are good your body and your skin?

Sure, you can eat your way to younger-looking, beautiful skin, but you can also apply some foods topically to reap benefits.

Below, find five healthy foods that do double duty, improving the health of your body and your skin.

1. Cucumber: Hydration for your body and skin

Made of more than 95% water, it’s no surprise that cucumber has hydration benefits both for your body and skin. That’s one of the reasons why you’ll sit with cucumber slices over your eyes during a spa treatment.

When it comes to the body, cucumbers have tons of other benefits, including high levels of potassium, fiber and vitamin K. That means it’s healthy for digestion, fights bad breath, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular issues.

As for your skin, cucumbers can fight wrinkles and puffiness. A natural anti-wrinkle solution? We’ll take it!

2. Oats: Fiber for your body, moisturizes your skin

A healthy intake of oats boasts a number of benefits for your body’s health, especially if you’re on a gluten-free diet. Adding oats to your gluten-free diet could increase levels of healthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Other benefits include:

• Stronger immune system
• More control over your appetite
• Healthy digestion
• Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes
• Lower bad cholesterol
• Healthy blood pressure

Your skin can get some serious benefits, too.

If you have dry or itchy skin, sprinkling some oats in your bath can help you find relief. You can also make or purchase skincare products that contain oats. Oatmeal skin cream has been found to balance your skin’s pH levels, reducing inflammation, redness, dryness and itchiness. And the same goes for itchy scalps.

Oats also have gentle antibacterial effects when used as a facial cleanser or for exfoliation and can help prevent redness and acne breakouts.



3. Avocado: Healthy fats for your body, antioxidants for your skin

Who doesn’t love a big bowl of guacamole? It’s a good thing avocados are good for you (when eaten in moderation, of course!)

They’re chock full of nutrients that can help lower blood pressure, promote eye and cell health, encourage healthy digestion, and fight disease and infection. Though they’re high in fat, it’s a monounsaturated fat, which means it’s actually good for the body, as long as you don’t overindulge.

As far as skin goes, slap an avocado mask on your face and enjoy some anti-aging benefits. Chlorophyll reduces puffiness, water hydrates, and vitamin E moisturizes your skin. As if we needed another reason to love avocado.

4. Coconut oil: Reduce body fat, indulge your skin

Coconut oil has gone through a recent surge in popularity, quickly becoming a staple in many household kitchens.

Many turn to it for its versatility and high burn point, but others choose it because it’s a healthier alternative to other oils or butter.

Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that have been shown to increase glucose tolerance and reduce the accumulation of body fat. It’s also believed to reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s, though the jury is still out on that one.

An alternative for skin moisturizer, coconut oil can be rubbed directly onto the skin. You’ll immediately see the hydration effects. Manufactured lotions can contain harmful chemicals, while coconut oil is a natural moisturizing solution.

5. Lemon: Vitamins for your body, clarity for your skin

Lemons have so many health benefits, it’s hard to list them all.

For starters, its high vitamin C content can reduce your risk for stroke; studies have concluded that lemons can fights weight gain; and the citric acid in lemons prevents kidney stones. Lemons have also been found to fight bad breath.

The list of skin benefits is just as long:

• Fight aging
• Heal acne
• Get rid of blackheads
• Lighten dark spots and blemishes
• Treat oily skin
• Smooth chapped lips
• Cleanse the skin naturally

Which foods do you use for health and skin benefits?