You are what you eat. We have all heard this, but what does it really mean? Surely if we eat healthy 
foods, our health and body will show for it. Have you thought about what your choice of foods does for your skin? Skin is the largest organ in the body and greatly affects our appearance and only 20% of the skin (aka the epidermis) can be treated by topical skincare products. Healthy, beautiful skin is associated with smooth texture, plumpness, and a glow. We can all get our skin healthier by treating it from the inside-out with a diet full of antioxidants, healthy fats, and water that all play a huge role in the synthesis of collagen and elastin.
Here are some great foods to get you started.
1. Antioxidants help with the production of collagen, fight free radicals, and speed up wound healing. Some great foods that contain antioxidants are:
- Bluberries. Along with Vitamin C, blueberries have other potent antioxidants that help fight free radicals that come from sun-exposure, pollution, etc.
- Green Tea is also loaded with antioxidants that help increase cell turnover. It also helps protect the skin from the effects of UV damage by offering some photo-protection against the sun. Bonus…Green tea may help boost your metabolism, too!
- Almonds have large amounts of Vitamin E that will give your skin the healthy glow by repairing skin tissue and maintaining skin moisture.
- Milk (preferably low fat or nonfat), dark leafy green veggies, and carrots contain Vitamin A, which helps maintain and repair skin tissue while speeding up cell turnover. A diet low of Vitamin A will look dry, flaky and dull.
- Kiwis, oranges, red and green peppers, grapefruit, broccoli, mangos, and more! Antioxidants are in so many great foods and provide such great benefits, so eat up.
2. Healthy Fats that contain omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation in your body by keeping out toxins. They also maintain a natural oil barrier that makes your skin look younger and clearer. Here are some foods that contain healthy fats:
- Salmon preserves good skin elasticity. Other great fish loaded with essential fatty acids are sardines and mackerel.
- Not a seafood person? Don’t worry. Foods containing flaxseed (like cereal) will contain a great daily dose. Or, you can buy raw flaxseed and throw it in yogurt.
- Walnuts, canola oil, olive oil, and avocados too.
3. Water, Water, Water! Water is important to your health for many reasons. For your skin, it helps with moisture, elasticity, flexibility, and tone. Drink 6-8 glasses a day for best results.
Your skin is a reflection of overall wellness. Eat healthy and your skin will show its appreciation with a healthy, radiant complexion. Be sure to pair your good eating habits with a healthy skincare diet for the best results. Come see me at GLOW and I can help personalize a skincare regimen for you with IMAGE skincare or you can start by visiting our skincare page by clicking here.
