Stretch marks, as their name implies, are generally caused by stretching of your skin, which can lead to pink, red or purple streaks that fade to a light pink, white or silvery color, often with deep indentations, in time.

Stretch marks are typically associated with pregnancy, as most women develop them during their third trimester, not only because of stretching skin but also likely due to hormonal factors. Pregnancy, however, is not the only reason why stretch marks develop.

Stretch marks can occur during periods of significant weight gain, such as among weight lifters (who often develop stretch marks on their arms) and even during adolescent growth spurts. Certain medications, such as steroids, can also cause stretch marks, as can the following conditions:[i]

• Cushing’s syndrome
• Adrenal gland diseases
• Marfan syndrome
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

While anyone can develop stretch marks, they’re more common in women, as well as in people who are overweight or obese.

If you want to eliminate stretch marks, the sooner you do so, the better, as those still in the early stages (when they’re still red or purple) are most likely to respond to treatments. While everything from wheat germ oil to lasers have been touted as effective ways to eliminate stretch marks, one of the best options is to help heal them from the inside out via the foods you eat.

7 Best Foods for Eliminating (and Preventing) Stretch Marks

7. Watermelon

Hydrated skin stretches easier, is more pliable and less prone to stretch marks. Drinking water is important, but eating watermelon, which is about 92 percent water, is another tasty option.

6. Homemade Broth

Pick up a soup bone from your local market and simmer it in some water along with herbs, spices and veggies like carrots and onions. The bone is a rich source of collagen, a protein found in animal connective tissue. As a primary component of skin, collagen helps provide structure in the dermal layer of your skin, and it’s key in giving your skin the flexibility it needs when faced with serious stretching.

5. Butter from Grass-Fed Cows

This is a rich source of vitamin A, which helps promote cell turnover in your skin, allowing for the development of new skin cells. Dry skin is also a common sign of vitamin A deficiency, and this will make stretch marks worse. As a bonus, grass-fed butter is also a source of healthy fats your skin needs for added elasticity.

4. Grass-Fed Beef

Grass-fed beef is an excellent source of zinc, a mineral that plays a role in maintaining the structure of skin cell membranes and improving wound healing. Since stretch marks are the result of broken down tissue fibers in your skin, eating zinc-rich foods may help these issues to heal. Pumpkin seeds also contain high levels of zinc.

3. Papaya

Papaya contains large amounts of vitamin C, which improves skin health in numerous ways. Not only does it play a role in regulating collagen, it also promotes faster healing and improved skin appearance.

2. Almonds and Avocado

Snacking on almonds and avocado will ensure you’re getting enough vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from damage and also helps with repairs. These foods are also a good source of monounsaturated fats your skin needs to stay soft and healthy.

1. Wild-Caught Salmon

Eating this fish is a great way to boost your intake of omega-3 fats, which help keep your skin hydrated and protect against dryness. They also help protect your skin against damage and facilitate repairs. One omega-3 fat, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), has even been shown to prevent the release of UV-induced collagen-destroying enzymes.

Are You Missing This Essential Element of Healthy Skin?

The healthier your skin is, the more it will be able to "bounce back” from assaults like stretching. Along with nourishing it with the proper nutrients, another key element lies in flushing toxins from your body that can contribute to a variety of chronic health conditions, including skin problems like stretch marks.

Choosing a gentle detoxification system like Natural Cleanse is essential. Unlike chemical laxatives or fad cleansing diets, which often contain harsh ingredients that can irritate your GI tract and cause inflammation, Natural Cleanse combines the very latest research and clinical studies in digestive health with centuries of traditional healing wisdom into a natural product that gently releases and flushes impacted fecal matter from your colon.

In just 2 capsules daily for 30 days, Natural Cleanse can help to flush your colon clear of toxic build up (including impacted fecal matter, toxins, bacteria and parasites). Natural Cleanse contains herbal remedies like buckthorn bark, ginger root, and milk thistle extract combined with psyllium husk and a patented probiotic blend that helps rebalance your vital gut microflora and is clinically proven to improve digestive function, which has the added benefit of helping you to absorb all of those skin-boosting nutrients from the food you eat.

In a nutshell: the toxins in your body can contribute to poor skin. Give yours a clean slate by flushing the "debris” from your body and revealing the glowing, blemish-free skin it’s been hiding.