You Are What You Eat!
What we eat has a huge impact on our bodies. It doesn’t just affect our nutrient levels, muscle mass and weight, but it also can do wonders, or serious hard to your skin.
Older cells are constantly shed and replaced by younger ones and a steady supply of micronutrients is essential to support this rapid growth. Eat the correct balance of foods and you’ll feed your skin the vital nutrients it needs to help it stay soft, supple and blemish-free.
Eating your way to younger, healthier and more nourished skin can actually be pretty easy if you know which foods are your friend and how they help. I’m going to run you through some of my personal favorite foods to keep my body, and my skin healthy and glowing!
Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and Veggies is the easiest place to start. Nutrition guides suggest at least 5 portions of fruits and veggies a day and they are totally right!
Fruit and vegetables contain powerful antioxidants that help to protect skin from the cellular damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are caused by smoking, pollution and sunlight and can cause wrinkling and age spots. Eat a rainbow of colourful fruit and vegetables and aim for at least five portions a day.
For fruits and veggies, I suggest starting out with options that are high in Vitamin C like oranges, papaya, strawberries, blueberries and even sweet potatoes and broccoli. Vitamin C is needed for a strong immune system, radiant skin and helps blemishes heal properly. Added bonus is it is a super-antioxidant and it can help produce collagen and strengthen the capillaries that supply the skin.
Avoid Crash Diets
You want to make sure that on your quest for perfect skin you’re looking at long term goals and not the short term so stay away from crash diets. Repeatedly losing and regaining weight can take its toll on your skin, causing sagging, wrinkles and stretch marks. Crash diets are often short in essential vitamins too. Over long periods of time this type of dieting will reflect on your skin.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another benefit you want to look for in your snacks. I mean, not everyone can live off fruits and veggies all the time, right? Vitamin E protects skin from cell damage so it’s a no brainer when thinking about consuming it for the benefit of our skin. Foods high in Vitamin E are things like almonds, avocado and hazelnuts.
Drink Lots of Water, And Then Drink Some More!
One of the most simple and effective ways to make your skin healthier and more nourished is to drink water. When I say drink water, I mean drink LOTS OF IT! Skin needs moisture to stay flexible. Even mild dehydration will cause your skin to look dry, tired and slightly grey.
Drink six to eight glasses of water a day – all fluids count towards your daily allowance, but water is the best. If you work in an office, keep a large bottle of water on your desk to remind you to drink. Herbal, caffeine-free teas are good too.
Try to avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, both can age the skin and un-do all the good that proper hydration and water intake can have.