One of the best bonuses of a healthy eating or weight loss plan is the positive effect it can have on your complexion, think plump, juicy skin and that lit from within glow. The added nutrients careening around your system are not only kind to your waistline, but also to your dermis.

You’ve probably noticed the negative impact things like fast food, high salt meals and too much caffeine can have on your skin, leaving your face dehydrated, uneven and dull.
Fortunately, delicious, healthy produce, a key part of the healthy mummy weight loss plans, has the opposite effect to the aforementioned nasties, providing nourishment to all the cells in your body, including your skin.

While a relaxing facial is one of the best ways to indulge (not to mention the perfect reward for all the hard work you’ve been putting into your diet and exercise plan), heading to the kitchen and piling your plate with a selection of these goodies is the next best thing. Think of it like a pampering treatment that’s good for both body and skin.

4 of the best beautifying foods

1.  Blueberries – A serve of these antioxidant powerhouses is a great way to prevent and reduce the damage to your cells that is often caused by those sneaky free radicals. Neutralizing these little bandits helps keep skin looking younger for longer. The best bit? You only need a small handful to reap the rewards (though their yumminess can make it difficult to stop!). Toss a serve into your Healthy Mummy smoothie or mix with fat-free yoghurt for a delicious dessert.
2. Salmon – While we’re often quick to run in the opposite direction from anything with the word ‘fat’ in it, essential fatty acids should be a key part of our diet. Oily fish, like salmon and tuna, are chock full of the stuff, which has a beautifying effect on the skin, strengthening cell membranes and showing less than healthy substances the door. Acids like Omega-3 are also an excellent anti-inflammatory, making them a great option for treating conditions like acne and eczema. (Check out some delicious seafood recipes here).
3. Avocado  – Not only is this delicious fruit a fantastic alternative to butter, it’s also packed full of vitamins E and B, essential ingredients for healthy, glowing skin. These powerful antioxidants perform a similar function to those found in blueberries; protecting skin from free radicals and environmental damage, as well as boosting moisture levels and slowing the ageing process. Whip up a batch of guacamole or just have it on toast with salt, pepper and lime, and enjoy a nutritious, skin loving snack.  4. Tomatoes – The humble tomato can claim some pretty impressive beautifying properties. Rich in lycopene, this antioxidant is the skins equivalent of a free radical blocking brick wall. This is great for all complexions but especially for the fair skinned, as lycopene can help prevent sun damage (a primary culprit in skin ageing). Lycopene also helps boost moisture levels, while a little alkaloid called tomatin provides a decent serve of anti-inflammatory properties, hugely beneficial for healing and soothing things like acne and eczema.