If you have ever had a sagging skin, I am sure you tried a number of pampering facial masks to get rid of it. For some, you probably made them from home using natural ingredients such as yogurt, honey, lemon, and avocado. But have you ever thought about eating healthy foods to get rid of saggy skin?

Healthy foods can do much more than just helping saggy skin. Healthy eating promises a healthy weight, heart health, strong bones, energetic body, and good mental health.

Foods such as avocado, red pepper, broccoli, sweet potatoes, spinach blueberries, and others in this article can help get rid of saggy skin. 

To begin with; 

What are the causes of sagging skin? 

The main cause of sagging skin is the loss of collagen. Collagen is a powerful protein in the body responsible for skin elasticity and structure. 

Below are the factors that can lead to loss of skin collagen.  

Poor diet: several skin issues can be caused by poor diet. conditions such as saggy skin, wrinkled skin, and more may be due to an imbalance of the body nutrients. 

Aging: as we get older, the quantity of collagen and elastin decreases making the skin sag and develop wrinkles. 

Weight loss: when you gain weight, the increase in body mass stretches the skin. However, when you lose that weight, the skin may not be able to go back fully leading to sagging of the skin. 

Pregnancy: Being pregnant can stretch the skin and in the process, collagen is broken. After delivery, sagging is more likely to happen as the skin might not be able to get to its former shape. 

Diseases: saggy skin can be caused by diseases such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. 

Foods to get rid of saggy skin

Foods that can help you get rid of saggy skin are those that boost the production of collagen and improve its health. Such foods include; 

1. Avocados.

Avocados have healthy fats and vitamins which are known for improving skin health. Vitamin C in avocados helps to boost collagen formation to keep the skin healthy, firm, and elastic.

Vitamin E also found in avocados can protect the skin from oxidative damage which would have made the skin weak and saggy. 

The healthy fats also found in avocados can help to keep the skin flexible, moisturized, and healthy.  

Avocados can be used in multiple ways to get rid of sagging skin. Avocados can be eaten, made into smoothies, or used to make facemasks. 

2. Papaya.

This fruit is packed vitamins such as A, C, k, and vitamin E. Other nutrients in papaya are calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorous.  

The presence of vitamin C helps boost collagen development which is the main protein needed for skin elasticity and structure. The water content present in papaya also helps ep the skin soft, elastic, and flexible. 

3. Spinach. 

Guess you have been told to eat more vegetables for clear skin. One of the most skin-friendly vegetables is spinach. Being packed with vitamins A, C, E, and K, spinach can help get rid of saggy skin. 

The high content of vitamin C boosts collagen production while vitamin K helps to reduce inflammation, leading to a firm, elastic, and flexible skin. 

4. Broccoli.

Packed with plenty of vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients, broccoli is healthy for the skin. The presence of vitamins such as A, C, and E, and K enhance the production of collagen that is essential for skin elasticity. 

Broccoli is also rich in fiber, folate, calcium, and lutein which are essential for skin health. Including broccoli in your diet will help skin sagging. 

5. Sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes are very healthy and loaded with many health benefits for the skin.  

Beta carotene found in sweet potatoes can be converted into vitamin A which helps to restore skin elasticity to give you a youthful look.  

Sweet potatoes are also rich in vitamin C which is a vitamin that enhances the production of collagen to improve skin elasticity and flexibility. 

6. Turmeric.

Turmeric has very many health benefits. For the skin, turmeric has anti-aging properties that are attributed to curcumin. Curcumin is an active compound in turmeric with strong oxidants that inhibit skin damage by free radicals. The protection of skin cells and boosting the growth of healthy cells can improve the skin to get rid of sagging skin. 

Apart from anti-aging, turmeric can reduce excess oil production, exfoliate the skin, fight acne breakouts, and protect the skin from infections. 

7. Blueberries.

These fruits are rich in vitamins A and C which are essential nutrients needed for skin elasticity. These vitamins boost collagen formation thus getting rid of saggy skin. Blueberries are also rich in antioxidants that prevent damage caused by the sun. 

8. Nuts.

Many nuts are rich in essential vitamins for skin elasticity. The presence of vitamin E in nuts helps to repair the skin, moisturize it, and protect it from UV damage. Nuts strengthen cell membranes and repair skin cells to get rid of saggy skin.  

Nuts such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, brazil nuts, and others can help you attain a firm, flexible skin, and wrinkle-free skin. 

9. Tomatoes.

Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and major carotenoids that are essential for skin health and elasticity.  Among the many carotenoids are lycopene, beta carotene, lutein, and lycopene that help protect the skin against UV damage which prevents wrinkles. The huge amounts of vitamin C boost collagen development to get the skin firm and elastic.   

10. Garlic.

In garlic is allicin an active compound with a lot of health benefits for the skin. Allicin in garlic can prevent inflammation, improve blood circulation, and help fight infections. 

Garlic is also rich in vitamin C that boosts the formation of collagen which is necessary for skin elasticity. 

11. Sunflower seeds.

Sunflower seeds are excellent sources of vitamin E which is essential for skin repair and health. Other important nutrients in sunflower seeds for healthy skin include; zinc, proteins, and selenium. Sunflower seeds are also rich in antioxidants that help to protect the skin against UV radiation.

12. Dark leafy greens.

Leafy greens generally have a great effect on making your skin firm and flexible.  

They are rich in vitamin C as well as other vitamins such as vitamin E that enhance skin repair. Dark leafy greens such as kale, collards, asparagus, spinach, and others help in the manufacture collagen to improve skin elasticity and prevent wrinkles. 

Did you know that kale is also good for weight loss?  Read the full article here: Is kale good for weight loss? 

14. Citrus fruits.

Citrus fruits in general are healthy for the skin as they contain various vitamins responsible for skin health and elasticity. These fruits are rich in vitamin C which is an essential vitamin for collagen formation.   

Other nutrients such as zinc, selenium, magnesium, fiber, copper, folate, and other nutrients can help get a firm, smooth and flexible skins. The nutrients in citrus fruits help to build connective tissues, aid wound healing, rejuvenate the skin, and help to make the skin firm. 

You might be interested in “The best fruits for weight loss”

15. Bell peppers. 

Bell peppers enhance collagen production as they are rich in vitamin C. In fact they contain up to about 80.4 mg of vitamin C. Bell peppers also contain nutrients such as zinc that can help tighten the skin.

Examples of citrus fruits for the skin are grapes, lemon, lime, mandarin, oranges, and tangerine. 

Other ways to get rid of loose skin.

Besides foods, other practices and products can help you get rid of that saggy skin. 

• Exercises. 

Exercises can build muscle mass which in turn can help to decrease the appearance of loose skin, especially after weight loss.  

• Massage. 

Getting massage around the loose skin can help increase blood flow and reactivate anti-aging responses. 

• Use of supplements. 

Supplements can give the body certain nutrients that it might be missing to tighten. 

• The use of cosmetics.

Many cosmetics can help to tighten the skin and help get rid of that saggy skin. Cosmetics work in different ways to benefit the skin. You will probably find many products on the market and below are my best picks from Amazon. You can check the latest prices.Many cosmetics can help to tigten the skin and hlp get rid of that saggy skin. Cosmetics work in different ways all to benefit the skin.

Foods that can cause wrinkles. 

Deep-fried foods: these are rich in unsaturated fats that can break down collagen causing early skin aging and development of wrinkles. 

Foods with a lot of added sugars:  foods such as cakes, ice cream, donuts, and others with a lot of sugar can cause collagen breakdown. They are usually high in calories yet low in nutrients necessary for skin health. 

Alcohol: Dehydrates the skin and can cause early aging signs. 

Fatty meats: These are packed with a lot of saturated fats that aren’t healthy for the skin. 

The bottom line. 

Eating whole foods especially fruits and vegetables can help you get firm and elastic skin. Refined foods and processed foods that have high quantities of sugars and oils should be avoided as they can breakdown collagen and cause wrinkles.