A Skincare Guru on the Best Food to Eat for an Otherwordly Glow

In the early days of college, whenever my skin had taken a hit from my less-than-healthy habits—whether that was my insatiable appetite for coffee, my tendency to stay up all night studying, or my horrible eating habits—I would reach for a cold-pressed beet juice. Sure, it tasted nothing like my daily double-shot latte, but I still sipped it because I swore by its glow-inducing effects on my skin.

Turns out I was onto something. It’s no secret that certain foods enhance your complexion; research and real-life testimonials alike prove there is a relationship between eating well and clear, smooth skin.

Take it from Carla Oates, a beauty editor who recognized the power of nutrient-rich skincare ingredients and set her plan in motion to become The Beauty Chef that she is today. Her company provides natural supplements and products to boost both inner and outer beauty. Recently, she opened up to Well + Good about the best food to eat for that dewy, pearlescent complexion we all lust for (sans highlighter).

Drumroll, please: Oates recommends eating more cruciferous vegetables. She swears these vegetables are a natural “internal skin moisturizer that supercharge your inner beauty routine.”

So which specific veggies fall under this category, you ask? Think hefty greens like broccoli, brussels sprouts, bok choy, cabbage, and cauliflower. Oh, and yes, buzzy superfood of the century, kale, is also included on the list. All of these vegetable offerings are incredibly nutrient-rich. As Oates says, “They’re amazing for your skin—they have sulfur-containing compounds, which help clarify your complexion, help the body detoxify properly, and they’re super high in a range of antioxidants and compounds that are good for you.”

The only downfall is that, sometimes, these types of vegetables can prove too rough for some people's digestive systems and cause belly bloat. Oates has some advice for that too. “To make them easier to digest, I recommend cooking them or fermenting them,” she says. “Often, people find once they’ve balanced their digestive systems, they tolerate these group of veggies much better.” Probiotics help too.

So you heard it from The Beauty Chef first. Do your skin a favor today, and make sure your meals are partly cruciferous. Your skin will surely thank you.