Your skin is a barometer of what is going on inside your body, and many skin conditions, from eczema to acne to signs of aging, can simply be a reflection of your body’s internal needs and many of these needs are nutritional ones.
Our outer layer of skin is all brand new every 28 days so we have an incredible ability to alter the way our skin looks, feels and shines, by firstly changing what we put into our bodies. Here are some tips on foods and drinks to incorporate into your diet for healthy glowing skin:
1. Drink plenty of water
When we are born scientists suggest our bodies are about 75% water and during our adult life the water content of our bodies decreases to about 57%. To keep our skin plump and youthful it is important that we keep ourselves hydrated and listen to the signs our bodies give us when it needs some extra hydration. I call the second layer of the skin – the dermis – “water world” and supplying it with a clean source of water is critical to the appearance of the skin.
2. Vitamins
The vitamins that are particularly good for the skin are vitamins A, C, E, K, and B complex. They all help improve the overall health of our skin, so stock up on green vegetables, eggs, almonds and carrots…. just to name a few wonderful foods.
3. Try juicing and making smoothies
We tend to forget that plant foods have a high water, vitamin and mineral composition. Try juicing your vegetables or making smoothies with greens and berries to increase the amount of plants, vitamins, minerals and water you consume in a day. Your skin will love you for it!
4. Fight Free Radicals
Vitamins C and E are amazing for the skin and help reduce the damage caused by free radicals, which are generated by many processes, including increased respiration, and exposure to smoke and pollution. Free radicals gobble up collagen and elastin, the fibres that support skin structure, leading to wrinkles and other signs of aging. Good food sources of vitamin C include citrus fruit, capsicum, and kiwifruit, while vitamin E is found in nuts, seeds, and eggs yolks.
5. Hands off
Keep your hands off your face! Your hands touch so many surfaces, and therefore carry dirt and germs. When you rub your eyes, stroke your chin, cup your cheek, you have transferred everything on your hands to your face. As an extension of this, use headphones or a headset when talking on the phone. This, too, helps keep hands and germs away from your face.
Article by Dr Libby Weaver
