Glow With Gratitude: 6 Fall Foods for Healthier Skin

As we gather for Thanksgiving, looking forward to the bounty we’re about to share with our loved ones, we can’t help but have gratitude written all over our faces.  In fact, with the help of the aptly-named Sherrie Berry, we’re about to find out how what’s on our plates shows up on our faces. For those with sensitive or oil-prone skin, holiday indulgence can wreak havoc on your complexion.

Keep breakouts at bay this year by incorporating recipes that not only have wonderful flavors, but also do wonders for your skin. With these turkey day tips and recipes, your skin will be radiant for all your Black Friday shopping adventures (or just stay at home and bask in the glow):

Smooth Skin Salad

Salads are one of the best ways to incorporate skin-healthy ingredients into your buffet.  Try this delicious Orange, Fennel, and Beet Salad recipe. The citrus has powerful agents for preventing breakouts, and beets are an anti-aging super-food that stimulate cell production and repair.

Merry Cranberry

Cranberry sauce is a Thanksgiving classic.  It also makes its way onto our list here because of its amazing skin benefits.  Cranberries have been shown to help heal skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema. (Pro Tip: Try an eczema cream to further soothe itchy and irritated skin.)  Since the sugar in your sauce can be counterproductive for your skin, try this delightful recipe that uses fresh fruit juice, applesauce and honey for a sweet tart cranberry sauce your family will love.

Turkey Time

Roast your turkey.  If that’s already your family tradition, then don’t change a thing!  Roasting creates a juicy flavorful turkey and is better for you than deep-frying your turkey.

Grease-Free Drippings

Instead of using the turkey dripping to make your gravy, start with an organic, low-fat turkey or chicken stock, then prepare as you normally would.  Reducing the amount of fat and oils in your gravy will prevent post-Thanksgiving blemishes, while still packing a flavorful punch.

Don’t Pass The Salt

When seasoning your Thanksgiving side dishes, opt for non-iodized sea salt.  Iodine has been known to aggravate blemish prone skin.  Since there is no change in flavor with either type of salt, this is an easy swap for your spice cabinet.

Pumpkin Power

Now, fast-forward to your dessert contribution for the table.  Great news! Pumpkin does wonders for your skin.  It’s packed with fruit enzymes and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), which increase cell turnover, to brighten and smooth the skin.  Antioxidants help soften and soothe the skin and boost collagen production to prevent the signs of aging.  So bring on the pumpkin pie!  Try this sinfully delicious recipe that has a whole-wheat crust and is sweetened with maple syrup instead of sugar.

Gratitude is always a good look. Be thoughtful about your menu and your body will thank you, too!

By Sherrie Berry, Co-Founder of SkinAgain, Positive Energy Skin Care.