“Everything you eat becomes a part of not only your inner being, but the outer fabric of your body as well. The healthier the foods are that you consume, the better your skin will look” – Samantha Hellar (Clinical nutritionist, NYU Medical Centre)
Ever seen a person fresh out of bed in the morning, sans makeup, with skin looking so radiant and complexion so clear that it immediately makes you envious? I have! And here is what I found out about achieving such effortless skin radiance: naturally gorgeous skin often starts with your diet! As much as we try to resist it, our skin does age. Wrinkles and age spots are the result of gradual, accumulated damage from the sun, chemicals, and poor nutrition. True, everyone has a favourite body cream or skin treatment routine, but beautiful skin starts with nourishment from within. What you put in your mouths is as important as the products you apply on your skin, and whatever is going in your stomach will eventually show on your skin. This means that if you do not eat right, for example, if you are always eating highly processed foods, your skin won’t be as smooth or supple as it could be. Eat the correct balance of foods and you’ll feed your skin with the vital nutrients it needs to help it stay soft, supple and blemish free.
So, to keep your skin looking velvety and glowing without having to drown yourself in foundation and other makeup products every morning, renowned aestheticians have advised that we eat lots of vegetables; not just the green leafy ones like the doctors always say to eat, but vegetables of different colours too. And swap your every morning beverage ritual for green juice instead. Fruits and vegetables contain powerful antioxidants that help to protect the skin from wrinkles, acne, and other damages. “Eat a rainbow of colourful fruits and vegetables, and aim for at least five portions a day” says Jo Lewin – nutritionist and writer for BBC goodfood. According to Dr Jessica Wu (cosmetic dermatologist and author of Feed Your Face) tomatoes help to reduce the damage done to the skin from too much sun exposure. Eat your tomatoes cooked and with healthy fats like avocado or olive oil. She also advises to buy tomatoes, and vegetables in general, that are darker and brighter in colour, as they contain more nutrients that will nourish your skin.
Other foods recommended to improve the health of your skin include: nuts, brown rice, legumes (beans and peas), avocado, eggs (especially the yoke), sweet potatoes, fish, papaya (pawpaw), lemons, etc.
Finally, let us not omit our dear water. As we now know, clear skin starts from the inside and one of the best, and most effective ways to get there is to help the body flush out toxins. There is no better way to do this than drinking plenty of water. Also, increasing your fluid intake reduces skin rigidity as the skin needs moisture to stay flexible. Even mild dehydration will cause your skin to look dry and tired. Make sure you drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day, and on hot days or after an exercise, drink more.
Bonus tip: Try to avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, both can age your skin.
By Akaomachi B
