If you’re vigilant about eating right to help beautify your outsides, then you’ve probably heard how important it is to eat plants rich in vitamins and minerals.  As a vegetarian who is almost vegan (I will never give up my poached eggs!), I already eat a mostly plant-based diet.  For the most part, I’ve given up dairy, and I noticed a drastic difference in my skin, weight, and energy.  But I’m a lucky girl; I’ve always loved fruit and vegetables, so it is extremely easy for me to preach about making them a majority player in your diet.

Vitamin A is an especially powerful tool for taking care of your ins and outs because it fills your body with retinoids and carotenoids.  Without getting too scientific (because it is a little too complicated for me), these babies will help your immune system, and pump you full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.  It’s also a great way to help your skin without doling out big bucks on skincare products.  Vitamin A helps with both acne and anti-aging; but why buy expensive retinol products when you can eat a bunch of kale?

I’ve rounded up some of my favorite foods to eat to boost up your A-intake.  You’d be surprised; you might be eating your vitamins and not even knowing it…

Carrots – Along with their fellow orange food, the sweet potato, carrots are filled with beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A.  These babies are helpful for maintaining a healthy scalp and hair.

Blueberries – Between the antioxidants and the A, blueberries help stabilize your skin’s oil production, and are one of the best fruits to eat to help prevent aging skin.

Kale – I am a kale addict, and yes, my friends and family think I’m weird.  But the joke’s on them; my iron levels are unreal, and my skin is acne-free and glowing from all the vitamins A and C.  If you really hate kale, spinach is a good substitute

Mango – The world’s most popular fruit is also rich in vitamin A, C, B6 and fiber.  I love eating plain frozen mango chunks, and I put mango in every smoothie I make.

Here’s a little more info on the amazingness of A…