WAIT! Before you buy another skin cream for wrinkles, acne, psoriasis or any skin condition – head to the grocery store first! We know the importance of eating well to keep us healthy and manage our weight. But did you know that how you eat also controls how our skin looks and feels?
Proper nutrition affects your mood, attitude, your health and your whole body from the inside out! They say our skin is the fingerprint of what is going on inside of our bodies and all skin conditions are the manifestations of your body’s nutritional needs.
So what’s the secret? Nothing extraordinary or exotic, so don’t worry.
Just simple food switches can have a profound effect on your skin, as well as your overall health!
Trash the simple white refined carbohydrates! White bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and sweets cause our insulin levels to spike, which is obviously poor for weight management but researchers speculate that this sets off a series of reactions that leads to breakouts and poor skin health. So just reach for moderate amounts of complex carbs instead like whole-grain bread, brown rice, and whole-wheat pasta as they’re digested more slowly and don’t lead to that skin-sabotaging insulin spike.
Seafood saves the skin! We need essential fatty acids (EFAs) like omega-3 and omega-6, and they reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation causes cells to clog pores, bring on acne and leads t wrinkles later on. Fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna are packed with EFAs. And if you’re not big on seafood, try almonds, hazelnuts, and flaxseed to get your EFA fix.
Oh Olive Oil! Yeah, I know, we stay away from it to keep our waistline trim. But, if we don’t get enough of the good fats, our skin suffers along with our diet. Your skin can’t lubricate itself and your body may not absorb enough vitamin A, which your skin needs to prevent premature aging if you’re getting fewer than 20 grams of fat a day (about 2 tablespoons of oil).
Also, to help minimize inflammation and facilitate the flow of blood to the skin, have some Green Tea or Dark Chocolate. (See you can still have some chocolate! BONUS!)
So yes, we need to take care of our skin with moisturizer and SPF, but next time you’re thinking about buying more cream loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals – try putting it IN your body rather than ON it and your whole body benefits!