12 foods that give you glowing, clear skin

If you thought chocolate gave you spots, think again, as the sweet treat can actually improve your skin, say health gurus. Photos / Getty

We are what we eat, so the saying goes - and according to experts, it's absolutely true.

The Daily Mail has revealed how you can eat your way to glowing clear and blemish-free skin by eating the right foods.

And if you thought chocolate gave you spots, think again, as the sweet treat can actually improve your skin, say health gurus.

We've rounded up the 12 foods we should all be eating if we want perfect skin.

1. Avocados

It's the monounsaturated fatty acids in avocados which give the fruit its health benefits - and these are also the things which will help improve our skin as they improve skin elasticity, according to Dr Oz.

They are also hydrating - good for more youthful looking skin - and rich in copper, which helps repair collagen.

2. Walnuts

These nuts soften your skin, New York dermatologist David Bank told Fitness Magazine.

"Walnuts contain omega-3 essential fatty acids, which can improve skin's elasticity," Dr. Bank says.

And like avocados, they are also full of copper.

3. Chocolate

Yes, chocolate is good for your skin - well, dark chocolate is at least.

The sweet treat is full of flavonoids, which are an antioxidant and help hydrate the skin, according to Prevention.

4. Yoghurt

Yoghurt can prevent wrinkles, according to Los Angeles dermatologist Jessica Wu.
And that's because the protein in dairy helps the skin become firmer, and less likely to form lines, says Wu.

5. Pomegranates

The vitamin C in pomegranates can help turn a dry dull complexion into a glowing and clear one as the vitamin gets rid of dead cells and grows new, fresh ones.
The antioxidants also help fight wrinkles, according to Dr Oz.

6. Peppers

Dr Wu told Fitnmess Magazine: "Women who eat green and yellow vegetables regularly tend to have fewer wrinkles, especially around the eyes."

They're also packed full of antioxidants, which as we've already said can hydrate the skin and keep it looking fresh.

7. Berries

Eat up your blueberries, raspberries and strawberries as they can help improve your skin.
It's the anthocyanin in these fruits which can help reduce signs of ageing, according to dietitian Stephanie Middleberg.

8. Honey

Honey is good for the skin, whether you slather it on directly in a scrub or eat it from the jar with a spoon.

It's the antioxidants and minerals such as magnesium inside honey that make it so good for skin health, according to Dr Oz.

9. Coconut

However you use this as an ingredient - by drinking its water, by eating raw, or using in your cooking - coconut will benefit your skin.
The good fats in coconut help fill cracks in your skin's surface, according to Dr Oz, giving you a more youthful and radiant complexion.

10. Tomatoes

This red fruit is an excellent source of selenium - a powerful antioxidant.
Not only can it protect against skin cancer, but can clear up age spots and sun damage, according to BBC Good Food.

11. Green tea

Drinking green tea can help clear up acne, according to Clear Skin Forever.
It can make your skin produce less sebum, boost your immune system, and lessen inflammation - which will help give you a glowing, spot-free complexion.

12. Chickpeas

These pulses can be eaten as part of a low-glycemic diet, which Korean researchers found can reduce spots over a 10 week period.

It's thought that foods that cause a blood sugar spike such as junk food can trigger hormonal changes, which is what gives you spots, so it makes sense that switching to a low-glycemic diet containing pulses low on the glycemic index will reduce blood sugar spikes and the chance of breakouts.