EATING FOR YOUR SKIN – ACNE, ECZEMA, PSORIASIS, DRY SKIN, & PREMATURELY AGED SKIN
Our skin mirrors the health of our whole body. A direct correlation exists between the quality of the foods we eat and the condition of our skin. Our bodies might not show it overnight, but if we starve our skin of good nutrition, we will definitely see negative consequences to our appearance over time. Our society spends a lot of money trying out the latest skin products, many of which are filled with harmful chemicals. The fact is, even if you use the best skin products made in the whole world, your skin still won’t look its best if you are not eating the right foods.
A number of skin problems can be affected by diet such as Acne, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, and prematurely aged skin. Proper diet and nutrition have been shown to help these conditions. If you are experiencing skin problems or want to avoid them in the future, examine your diet. Skin conditions can also be due to allergies and/or hormone imbalances.
CHOOSE WHOLE GRAINS
One of the biggest diet culprits to unhealthy skin that we typically see at Caring Medical is eating simple carbohydrates. We are talking about foods such as white breads, white flours, white rice, white pastas, most desserts, and pizzas. Simple carbohydrates are stripped of nutrients during processing, have no nutritional value, and are filled with hidden sugar (you might be surprised at all of the added sugar in them). Your best bet is to choose whole grain foods, as they are filled with nutrients that promote healthy skin such as vitamin B and E complexes, and many minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese. Start eating whole grain breads, whole grain cereals, brown rice, oats, and whole grain pasta. Organically grown whole grains are best. If you decide to eat pizza, make it yourself using whole grain dough.
SUGAR IS OUT!
Sugar is another no-no for good health and skin. Stay away from soda, sugar sweetened coffee, candy, chocolate, cookies, sugary cereals, fruit juices, and packaged fruit snacks. These foods accelerate the production of free radicals, which cause the skin’s collagen to break down.
If you need a “pick me up”, try drinking green tea with a tiny bit of organic honey. Green tea has been shown to have many health benefits, as well as “anti-inflammatory” properties – so give that a try!
WATER IS IN!
Drink lots of water. You’ve heard us say this before! Many people are walking around dehydrated. Keeping your body hydrated will help bring nutrients in and toxins out. We get rid of toxins by perspiring and we hold toxins in if our bodies are water deficit. An average amount of water to drink each day is half of your body weight in ounces; so if you weigh 150 pounds you need to drink 75 ounces of water per day.
FATS AND OILS ARE GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN
Salmon, nuts, soybeans, and flax seed are excellent sources of essential fatty acids, which are key foods for healthy skin. Essential fatty acids protect skin cells and are responsible for healthy cell membranes, which not only act as barriers to keep harmful things out, but also act as the passageway for nutrients to cross into the cell and waste products to cross out of the cell. The cell membrane also holds in water to keep the skin adequately hydrated. The stronger the cell membrane is, the more moisture your cells can hold. This means, through time, your skin will stay “plump” and younger looking if the cell membranes stay strong. The key essential fatty acids are omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6, which need to be in balance for healthy looking skin.
Eating healthy oils help lubricate the skin, so make sure you include them in your diet every day. Soybean, sunflower, canola, olive, linseed, and flaxseed oils are rich in essential fatty acids. Try finding these oils cold pressed, expeller processed, or extra virgin since typical grocery store oils have been stripped of nutrients through over-processing.
Nuts are also excellent foods for the skin and helping reduce acne because they are a valuable source of many minerals and nutrients important for healthy skin. They are also a good source of protein which is good replacement if you don’t want to eat meat, poultry or fish all of the time. Nuts contain plenty of essential fatty acids which are required for good skin health. Nuts make a great snack to take to work, school, or on the road, especially if you are following The Lion, Otter or Bear Diets.
PROTEIN REPAIRS CELLS
Protein is necessary for cell repair and helps fight against aging. Fish, eggs, lean meats, and tofu are good choices. Make sure you get enough! This is especially problematic for our patients who are strict vegans.
BERRIES AND FRUIT HELP PROTECT AGAINST AGING
Berries are high in antioxidants, which helps to protect against premature aging. Try eating strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries, as long as your diet allows for them. The antioxidants and other phytochemicals are quite high in these fruits, which can help protect the cell membrane from damage. Try and eat a wide range of fruit to get the best variety of vitamins and minerals. Make them into smoothies or juices, fruit salads and keep them as handy snacks. Plums, mangos, and pineapple are good choices. Eat them in their natural, raw, state for best absorption of nutrients.
So stop spending tons of money on products that promise you to be wrinkle free or acne free overnight and start spending time shopping for the right foods. I’ll be honest, you won’t see results overnight but through time you will start feeling healthier and it will start showing through your skin!
If you want to figure out what type of diet you should be following based on your individual body type, make an appointment for Diet Typing. You’ve heard us talk about this many times before. But we feel it is the best way to determine what your body needs. Our Diet Typing includes Blood pH (this tells us if your blood is alkaline or acidic) and a Modified Glucose Tolerance Test (which shows us how fast you oxidize your food.) Come to Caring Medical, we can help you get on the right diet to help your skin and your overall health!
