It's the same song and dance every year. The weather gets colder and the air gets dryer, which means moisture is sucked from our skin and it starts to flake. There are plenty of expensive lotions and creams out there, but there’s a cheaper, and more natural option – and it starts with your diet.

There are a number of delicious foods that help moisturize dry skin! Just like the rest of the major organs, our skin needs certain nutrients to catalyze healing and self-repair. Eating the right food won’t only keep your skin hydrated, but will also improve things on a cellular level – making your skin smooth and supple. 

Here are the top five foods we recommend to combat dry skin this winter

1. Nuts
   Besides the yummy nutty taste, the best part about nuts is that they are rich in vitamin E. Vitamin E is fantastic for your skin. It protects your skin from oxidative cell damage, and from exposure to things like UV rays.
   
   
2. Fish
   What make fish so great for your skin is that they contain tons of omega-3 fatty acids. These types of acids help your body retain moisture and strengthen your skin’s resistance to damage.
   
   
3. Sweet potato
   Sweet potatoes are loaded Vitamin A, which is one of the most effective nutrients in preventing dry skin. This vitamin helps repair tissue damage and even prevent premature aging.
   
   
4. Olive oil
   Olive oil is a triple threat. It contains vitamin E, monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids. Combined, these three nutrients protect your skin from UV rays, and make olive oil a powerful resource against dry skin.
   
   
5. Avocado
   Avocado is both delicious, and full of vitamin E. And, like olive oil, avocado contains monounsaturated fats, which reduces skin inflammation and premature aging.

Start working these amazing foods into your winter diet to see a difference in your skin. There is some overlap with different nutrients, so make sure to choose foods that you both love and that have the right benefits for you. Food is meant to be enjoyed, but it’s a really a zero-sum game when it’s delicious and beneficial to your skin.