As the cooler weather creeps up on us, our plates should start to include more warming, hearty foods reminiscent of the beautiful colors of the leaves in Fall. Vibrant reds, earthy browns, rustic oranges and subtle yellows of apples, sweet potatoes, chestnuts and pumpkin are some popular Fall foods that come to mind.

These foods don’t only chase away the chill and warm our bones, but have some wonderful benefits for our skin too.

1. Pumpkin

Let’s face it, Fall just wouldn’t be the same without a delicious slice of Pumpkin Pie on Thanksgiving. It’s a good thing then, that this sought-after Fall vegetable is packed with skin loving antioxidant vitamins and minerals including Vitamin A, C and E, potassium, magnesium, copper manganese, and iron as well as a variety of B vitamins! Vitamin A, C, and E are essential vitamins for keeping our skin looking young and smooth as well as for brightening skin and revealing that gorgeous glow.

The powerful, protective antioxidants; Alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, that give pumpkin it’s bright hue, can help to minimize and reverse the signs of aging by protecting skin against harsh environmental aggressors and free radicals.

Don’t ditch the seeds!

Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of dietary fiber as well as rich in Essential Fatty acids and zinc, which will help to repair skin and create a beautiful glow. Roasted pumpkin seeds sprinkled with some sea salt are a delicious snack!

Try this recipe: How To Roast The Perfect Pumpkin Seeds

2. Apples

There’s a reason there’s such a thing called the anti-acne apple diet (although we wouldn’t recommend it). Apples are fantastic for clearing up your skin due to the free radical fighting flavonoid, quercetin as well as high concentrations of zinc.

However, that’s not all apples are good for! Apples are also rich in Vitamin C, which is important for brightening the skin and creating a glowing complexion. Vitamin A in apples will help to repair skin tissue and Copper may help to protect against skin cancer by producing melanin in your skin, an important pigment to protect against harmful UV rays.

Apples are best enjoyed warm in the Fall with warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, drizzled with some maple syrup and perhaps a small scoop of vanilla ice-cream? Now we are hungry!

3. Sweet Potatoes

Be it mashed, roasted or baked in a pie, there’s no denying that sweet potatoes are one of the most delicious Fall foods. You also don’t have to feel guilty if you overindulge, because sweet potatoes are bursting with antioxidants that promise not only a glowing skin, but a younger looking skin too!

Like pumpkin, beta-carotene contributes to its orange flesh and its benefits include heart health and cancer prevention. Vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, B, C, K and E as well as minerals such as  phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, sodium and zinc combined with powerful essential fatty acids all contribute to skin repair, free radical protection and of course a gorgeous glowing skin.

Looking for some inspiration? We recommend this awesome vegan, gluten free recipe for Sweet Potato bars.

4. Chestnuts

Roasted chestnuts might conjure up cozy images of relaxing in front of an open fire during the holiday season but you’ll soon be thinking of them as your next skin superhero when you hear just how good they are for you…

Chestnuts boast a variety of health benefits due to their vast array of vitamins and minerals, all of which play a positive role in the health of our skin too.

These sweet flavored nuts are rich in minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc and Omega Fatty acids all of which contribute to a smoother and younger looking complexion. They are also incredibly rich in Vitamin C, which is know as one of the top beauty vitamins due to its ability to boost collagen, repair skin tissue and brighten the skin!

We’d love it if you share one of your favorite recipes that use any of the above four skin brightening ingredients! Just leave it in the comments below and we’ll gladly try it for ourselves.

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