Diet and Your Skin

The old saying, “You are what you eat” really is true, and the effects of your diet are visible in your complexion.

Your skin is your largest organ, and eating a healthy diet leads to healthy, bright skin.

The basic rules of healthy eating apply of course, but there are certain foods, including an abundance of fruits and vegetables, that can help you maintain healthy skin and a glowing complexion.

The number one rule of maintaining a healthy body is also the most important tip for maintaining healthy skin: drink more water.

Increasing your daily water intake will help your whole body feel healthier, and your skin will thank you.

Staying fully hydrated will leave it more resilient, elastic, and less vulnerable to creasing and forming wrinkles.

If you have chronically dry skin, increasing your daily water intake can help prevent rough patches, dry spots, and flaking.

Keeping healthy and hydrated can also increase lymph drainage, keeping dark circles and puffy eyes at bay. To help heal blemishes, hyperpigmentation, and dull skin, turn to vitamin C.

This antioxidant vitamin can be found in blueberries, citrus fruits, bell peppers, and pea sprouts.

If you have acne prone skin, vitamin C can help heal breakouts faster, and prevent the formation of dark scars while lightening old scars and pigmentation.

Vitamin E is another antioxidant vitamin that fights free radicals, preventing premature aging. You can find plenty of vitamin E in avocados, sunflower seeds, and greens like spinach and Swiss chard.

For an antioxidant packed lunch, try mixing them all together with some protein for a healthy salad. Healthy fats have their place in any balanced diet, and are essential to maintain healthy, hydrated skin.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, which make them ideal for controlling inflammatory skin problems, like psoriasis.

Neither can be produced by the human body, so it’s essential to get them by including soybeans, fish, flax seed oil, and other sources of healthy fats in your diet.