Nourishing Your Glow
Our dietary choices play a big role in our overall well-being. And, as scientists learn more about the interactions of diet with our body, it’s increasingly clear that our food intake also plays a significant role in the health and aging of our skin. “You are what you eat,” is more than a popular slogan, it seems, when it comes to one of our most important—and largest―organs.
Beyond the natural effects of aging, our skin also takes a daily beating from environmental stressors, including those glorious summer rays. So it’s important to feed our skin what it needs to combat these troublemakers.
Despite the emphasis placed on skin cleansers, moisturizers, and serums for achieving radiant, blemish-free skin, diet is still often overlooked. The foods we consume, though, are paramount to looking our best.
Luckily, the summer season offers a bounty of foods lush with skin-protecting compounds and nutrients to provide the building blocks for healthy skin cells, which can help support structure, elasticity, and hydration. It’s all about harnessing the power of seasonal foods to glow from within.
While diet is no substitute for using sunblock judiciously, these recipes contain an arsenal of foods that will help keep your skin in the game. Consider them the ultimate vanity fare.
This collection was originally published in the August 2025 issue of alive magazine.
This refreshing noodle salad fit for a sultry summer night may become your new favourite way to luxuriate in watermelon. The flavourful sweet-sour watermelon sauce is the perfect foil for the slippery noodles and crunchy vegetables. Alternate cooking methods include oven roasting or pan frying. If you want to fire up the flavour a bit, add more chili sauce.
Rise and dine on these tender waffles with layers of flavour. The simple peach sauce is a great way to enjoy fresh, juicy peaches during peak season. It’s also marvelous strewn over ice cream. The batter can be prepared the night before and kept chilled. But it’s best to let the batter sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before using.
Soup need not be relegated to the colder months. This satisfying plant-based Italian-inspired minestrone is packed with colourful summer-fresh veggies to give your skin a helping hand. If farro is unavailable, the soup can be made with other whole grains, including wheat berries, spelt, or even oat groats.
Matthew Kadey, MSc, RD, is a dietitian, nutrition writer, and recipe developer. He is also the author of Rocket Fuel (VeloPress, 2016) and Muffin Tin Chef (Ulysses Press, 2012).
