Great Skin Foods
Stay Younger and Feel Good
In your teens and 20s, you were able to abuse your body quite a bit and still look great. Once you hit 30 though, your body isn't so forgiving any more. This is especially true of your skin. Everything you put into your body gets reflected in your skin. If you have a diet high in fat, processed foods, and little fruit and vegetables, your skin show it.
Let's examine some foods that are good for your skin, followed by some that are not.
Positive Skin Foods
Green tea – Not only is this drink loaded with health benefits, it will also help the look of your skin by reducing inflammation and fighting free radicals that cause skin damage. So drink up.
Water – You probably already know this one but we need approximately 8 glasses of clear water a day (no sodas, soups or other drinks are included in this quota). For maximum benefits clear water is best. It helps purify your body and eliminates toxins. Click here for more articles about water.
Selenium – This powerhouse nutrient is found in foods such as turkey, brazil nuts, tuna and whole grain breads. Include at least one of these foods in your daily diet.
Fatty Acids – These are found in oils such as walnut and flaxseed. Oily fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel are also rich in essential fatty acids.
Dairy – Low fat dairy products are high in Vitamin A which is beneficial to the skin. Low fat yogurt is also good for the digestive system which in turn helps skin health.
Fruits and Vegetables – A variety of fruits and vegetables are good for overall healthy skin but there are some foods in particular which are very high in powerful antioxidants and promote good skin health. Berries, such as blueberries, strawberries and blackberries are great for fighting against free radicals which can cause skin cell damage. Vegetables that are brightly colored such as red peppers, yellow peppers and sweet potatoes are also great skin foods. This site has additional articles about fruit and vegetables.
Negative Skin Foods
White Flour Foods – White bread, rice, pasta and sugar are less nutritious than the whole grain types and will cause inflammation in the skin which can lead to aging. Try cutting these items from your diet for two weeks and look in the mirror. Your skin should look less inflamed and fine lines will be less apparent.
Alcohol – dehydrates the skin and speeds the aging process, try to only have it in moderation. A little red wine may have some health benefits whereas beer does not.
Smoking – This will age you; cutback or better yet cut it out altogether. Your skin and lungs will thank you for it.
Processed Foods – Processed foods are loaded with sugar and additives, these wreck havoc on the skin and are best left out of your diet altogether. Sodas and other sugary drinks are not only bad for your health but can also rob your skin of essential nutrients. They’re also not good for your waistline and have been known to cause cellulite (even the diet variety).
Summary
For truly glowing, young skin, a balanced diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and essential oils is best.
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