Here is another way we can GLOW FROM THE INSIDE OUT!
We have all heard it religiously: " You are what you eat". The quality of your appearance reflects the quality of your diet. Food will affect your skin positively or negatively. Let's be real- you can’t just plow through a bag of Cheetos and expect to have smooth, supple skin. Swap that orange crusty evidence for a cup of cottage cheese and you’ll get glowing results. It isn't about changing habits over night, but it is as simple as one better choice after another. When it comes to your health, the outside reflects the inside. A dull, dry complexion or an oily acne-prone complexion is a blinking neon sign that you’re not eating right. Listed below are some excellent foods that will give your skin the vitamins and nutrients it craves, along with some of the worst foods for your skin.
GOOD Skin Decision #1: OystersSome people hate them, mostly due to the ooey-gooey texture. I happen to LOVE these babies RAW. Whether they’re an aphrodisiac or not, oysters are a love-fest for the skin. They fight pimples because they’re rich in zinc. You can't beat that! Zinc helps boost elastin production with the help of vitamin C. This mineral also affects our sebum production. A sebum deficiency is what may be contributing to your acne.
GOOD Skin Decision #2: Mangoes
Anyone up for a smoothie? Mangoes have more than 80% of your daily requirements for vitamin A, which is why they’re such a GOOD skin decision. As an antioxidant, vitamin A fights free radical damage that can prematurely age the skin. Vitamin A maintains and repairs skin cells. A vitamin A deficiency will result in a dry, flaky complexion.
GOOD Skin Decision #3: Cottage Cheese
Dairy is good for your bones.... sometimes not so much for your SKIN. But it’s the selenium in cottage cheese, that makes those creamy curds another GOOD skin decision. Selenium, an essential mineral, teams up with vitamin E as a powerful free radical-fighting antioxidant duo. It also protects against skin cancer and fights dandruff.
GOOD Skin Decision #4: Avocados
Holy guacamole! This yummy, green fruit is full of essential oils and B-complex vitamins that nourish your skin inside and out. They also contain lots of Niacin (vitamin B3) that is especially important for healthy skin. Niacin, an anti-inflammatory, soothes irritated skin.
GOOD Skin Decision #5: Acerola Cherries
Don't mistake this for your average cherry. The average cherry does not supply much of the vitamin C we need. As an antioxidant, vitamin C fights skin damage and wrinkles and produces collagen, the structural protein in your skin. Acerola cherries supply 100% of your daily need for vitamin C, which is a winner winner for your skin.
GOOD Skin Decision #6:Baked Potatoes
As hard as it may be, we must set aside the greasy/salty French fries. If you replace those with a big fat steaming baked potato, your skin will thank you. Eat one baked potato (with the skin) to get 75% of your daily copper need. A copper deficiency in your diet can reduce your skin’s ability to heal itself. This essential mineral teams up with vitamin C and zinc to produce the elastin fibers that support our skin structure.
GOOD Skin Decision #7: Mushrooms
Can a fungus actually be good for your skin? YES- This fungus is rich in riboflavin, a B vitamin that’s vital to your skin. This vitamin is so important for skin repair that the body uses large amounts after sustaining a burn wound, undergoing surgery, etc. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is involved in tissue maintenance and repair, and improves skin blemishes caused by rosacea.
GOOD Skin Decision #8: Almonds
Almonds are amazing for your complexion. These little suckers contain 150% of your daily
GOOD Skin Decision #9: Flaxseed Oil
It’s no big secret that Omega 3's are troopers for your skin. Flaxseed oil is one of the best sources of this essential fatty acid. Fatty acids dilute sebum and unclog pores. Just one teaspoon of flaxseed oil per day provides 2.5 grams of Omega 3's hydrating the skin.
GOOD Skin Decision #10: Wheat Germ
Just like with the fungus, it is hard to believe that a germ can be healthy.....it is actually just the nutritious embryo within the grain of wheat. Wheat germ is a great source of biotin, a B vitamin that's crucial to the health of our skin. A biotin deficiency can cause dermatitis (itchy, scaly skin). Sprinkle some wheat germ on yogurt for a yummy way to get more biotin in your diet.
BAD Skin Decision #1:Non-Organic Foods
Eating organic is not just a fad. Studies prove that non-organic foods contain hormones, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and waxes. Yummy! Certain hormones and pesticides have been linked to a variety of diseases and health conditions. Our bodies don’t recognize these chemicals and they often create an inflammatory response. Studies show that organically grown food has two to three times the vitamins, minerals and trace elements of commercially grown food. The more nutrients – which are the building blocks of a healthy complexion - that our body gets, the better our skin will look and LAST.
BAD Skin Decision #2: Processed Foods
During processing, nutrients are broken down and lost. If you eat a lot of these foods, you are setting yourself up for nutritional deficiencies, and such deficiencies always show up in the skin. The better the quality of your food, the better your health and skin will be. Also, these ready-to-go boxed foods have low water content. All foods in their natural/raw state, are higher in water content. This adds hydration to the body necessary to healthy skin (assisting in detoxification, etc.) and proper organ function.
We have seen the gruesome videos/pictures of what really goes on in these industrial farms. I think we have turned a blind eye to what is going on. Animals in these farms are being fed a cocktail of antibiotics, steroids, and growth hormones. Instead of being fed their natural herbivore diet, these animals are crammed with foods to make them fatter faster, NOT healthier. We get a second-hand dose of their chemical-packed diet when we eat these animals. This can create hormonal imbalances in our bodies, which can lead to acne and inflammation piled on top of TONS of other health problems. BAD Skin Decision #4: Fried foods
Antioxidants= GOOD. Oxidants= BAD. When oil is at a high heat, it oxidizes. Oils that sit and are used over again, (how French fries, etc. are cooked) are really bad. These fats are thicker and don’t detox from the body. They can contribute to heart disease, poor circulation of the blood and a weakened metabolism. Healthy skin requires healthy circulation and metabolism. If you have a weak system, this can lead to a lack of oxygen in the skin, slowing the production of collagen and elastin necessary for youthful radiance.
The situation is similar with Dairy products. Most industrial farms feed dairy cows hormones to keep them lactating year round. This doubles their milk production, which doubles the profit- I get it. The bad news is when we consume the dairy products, we get a dose of those hormones too. Dairy consumption has been linked to excess estrogen, acne, and a ton of health problems. Moo.
BAD Skin Decision #6: Artificial Sweeteners, Coloring And Flavorings
Artificial flavors, dyes, and sweeteners are a huge staple in our diets. We think since we are avoiding the extra calories, we are doing our bodies a favor. Really, we are ingesting chemical sets that should not go into our bodies. Our bodies store chemicals like these in our tissues that can irritate and cause inflammation and histamine reactions. No thanks.
BAD Skin Decision #7: Too much SugarSugar- everyone's guilty pleasure. Unfortunately, it can weaken our immune system. When our immune systems are weak our bodies can't fight off bacteria as well. More bacteria, more infection, more toxins, more ACNE. Now, a not so glamorous topic... CONSTIPATION- there, I said it. Sugar also can contribute to constipation in our bowels, which can lead to congestion in our skin. If you are full of it, your pores will be too :)
BAD Skin Decision #8: Too much Caffeine
If you are like me, I am a grumpy delight in the mornings... until I have my precious coffee. Studies have shown that caffeinated beverages lead to increased cortisol levels in our bodies. Excess cortisol (stress hormone) speeds up the aging process. YIKES. The thinner your skin, the more prone it is to wrinkles, fine lines, dehydration and a lackluster appearance. Coffee is also a diuretic that dehydrates us. The better hydrated the body, the healthier the skin appears.
BAD Skin Decision #9: Gluten-Packed Grains
Gluten is word we are hearing a lot of lately. It is a protein in grains that are staples of the US diet. What is crazy is that 40% of adults have some form of gluten or wheat sensitivity or intolerance. Thanks for telling us this NOW! When we reduce our gluten intake, there is almost always a large improvement in complexion and overall health. The good news is that there are more and more varieties of Gluten free foods that are being offered in grocery stores and markets.
BAD Skin Decision #10: Bad Quality Supplements
Poor quality supplements often contain allergens, fillers or hidden ingredients that you don’t know about. It is important to look for supplements that say whole food on the label, have a lot number on the bottle, and an expiration date. Taking too much Vitamin A or Zinc, for example, can dehydrate the skin.
Does this need a caption??
I hope this research helps in your quest for glowing and youthful skin. As I am learning more and more about how much our diet controls everything, I am determined to start making better decisions. It is definitely NOT easy, but once you have the knowledge about what your food does to your health, there is no reason we shouldn't make a change. If you have made any changes, and notice a difference in your body, health, and skin, I would LOVE to hear from you!
I heard this quote earlier today: "Decisions of our past are the architects of our future". Let's start making better decisions people!
Much Love, Meg
HELPFUL TIP: You don't have to eat these 10 GOOD Skin foods to nourish your complexion. Try this avocado mask to instantly moisturize your skin:
1. Mash up an entire avocado.
2. Mix in 1 teaspoon flaxseed oil and 1 teaspoon honey.
3. Stir together until smooth and creamy.
4. Apply to your face and let the mask sit for 15-20 minutes.
5. Rinse clean with warm water.
No comments:
Post a Comment