What foods should you eat during Tet (Vietnamese New Year) to have beautiful skin?

Green vegetables, fish, jellied meat, pork knuckle soup, fruits, and nuts rich in collagen and antioxidants help keep skin youthful, beautiful, and smooth.

According to Dr. Tran Nguyen Anh Thu, a specialist in Dermatology and Cosmetic Dermatology at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, while sticky rice cakes, braised pork, sausages, jams, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks during Tet (Lunar New Year) can easily cause weight gain and harm the skin, there are also many other foods that are good for the skin and slow down aging.

Pork trotters, jellied meat, boiled chicken : These dishes are rich in collagen – an important protein that acts as glue binding the structures of the skin, helping it stay firm and supple. Collagen provides elasticity and slows down skin aging.

Collagen is primarily found in animal skin, bones, tendons, muscles, and other tissues. Pork jelly is rich in collagen because it's made from ingredients like pork skin, pork trotters, and pig ears. Chicken breast and loin also contain a lot of collagen. However, Dr. Thu advises that these dishes also contain a lot of saturated fat, so they should be consumed in moderation, avoiding overconsumption, which can easily lead to weight gain and affect cardiovascular health.

Soups : Bitter gourd soup, bone broth, vegetable broth, and other beverages (water, fruit juice, etc.) all provide hydration to the body; you should drink about 1.5-2 liters of water per day. Soups also contain nutrients and collagen, which moisturize the skin, keeping it smooth and supple. Water promotes metabolism, helping to eliminate toxins from the body, reduce acne, and fade dark spots.

Stewed soup contains nutrients and collagen that are good for the skin. Photo: Freepik

Fatty fish: Soups, steamed dishes, and hot pots made with salmon, mackerel, herring, etc., are rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids – important components for fighting aging, moisturizing, and increasing skin elasticity. Omega-3 fatty acids, in particular, also reduce inflammation, prevent acne formation, and lessen the impact of sunlight on the skin.

According to research from King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, collagen from marine fish is similar to human collagen, so this food group can be used as a nutritional supplement along with collagen peptides.

Nuts : The healthy plant-based fats in almonds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc., are good for the skin. They contain plenty of vitamin E, selenium, and zinc, keeping the skin soft, smooth, less wrinkled, and promoting faster wound healing.

Walnuts contain more omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids than other nuts. These are essential fatty acids that fight skin aging and that the body cannot produce on its own.

Vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables: Dishes made from dark green vegetables and citrus fruits like oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits are rich in vitamins and minerals. These not only help prevent food fatigue during Tet (Lunar New Year) but also slow down the aging process of the skin. Simple, low-fat cooking methods such as salads, steaming, and boiling are recommended.

Broccoli, in particular, contains lutein, a natural antioxidant. Kale is rich in retinol, which supports collagen production, reduces wrinkles, promotes cell turnover, and aids in acne treatment.

Fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals that fight aging. Photo: Freeoik

Guava, tomatoes, and strawberries are rich in vitamin C, which can protect the skin from sun damage, reducing wrinkles and dark spots. Ripe avocados contain healthy fats that help keep skin moisturized and elastic, fight oxidation, and reduce sun damage.

To protect and maintain healthy, beautiful skin, it's necessary to reduce consumption of salty foods such as fish sauce, pickled vegetables, and braised meat; sugary foods like cakes, jams, and candies; and alcoholic beverages and tobacco. Getting enough sleep (7-8 hours per day) also benefits the skin.

Thu Anh

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