Lifestyles: Eat For Healthier Skin

Typically you eat for your waistline, but if you make sure to include some skin enhancing munchies in your diet, both areas will benefit. What you put on your plate is more important than what you put on your skin.Here are some top picks for eating choices that contribute to heathier skin.

-Sweet Potatoes: They are rich in beta-carotene and, when ingested, are converted into vitamin A, a prime factor in keeping skin soft. Not a potato person? Carrots will do the trick, too.

-Kiwi: Any food with lots of vitamin C, like kiwi, oranges, and grapefruit, is a big skin saver. Vitamin C stimulates collagen synthesis and protects against wrinkles. In a study done by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women who had a diet high in vitamin C foods had noticeably less dryness and fewer wrinkles.

-Wild Salmon: Foods heavy in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, herring, and trout play a key role in keeping our skin smooth. They provide our skin with oils that lubricate and reduce inflammation, which often leads to redness, acne, and scaly skin.

Dark Chocolate

This has to be too good to be true, right? Wrong! Drayer says enjoying a small piece of dark chocolate will provide high levels of cocoa flavanols, which have been associated with softer, more hydrated skin. Notice we said small. Eating a jumbo Hershey's bar probably won't make you look or feel very good after the fact.

Milk

Milk does a body good, but what it does for your teeth is a whole lot better! Since it's an excellent source of calcium, Drayer says it helps support your jawbone, keeps your teeth cavity-free, and promotes the reformation of enamel. Bottoms up
Yogurt
Yogurt makes your skin and nails glow, according to Paula Simpson, international nutritionist and beauty expert. It's a good source of protein and has been found in clinical studies to help stimulate fat metabolism and whittle your waistline. An added bonus: Drayer says thanks to the biotin found in yogurt, it helps increase nail strength.

Oysters

Flaky scalps are often due to low levels of zinc. "Oysters are the best food source of zinc, keeping your hair and scalp healthy," Drayer says. If oysters aren't your thing, try dark-meat chicken, turkey, crab, dairy, or beans as an alternate source of zinc.

Nuts and Seeds
Snack on some almonds or sunflower seeds this summer, says Robyn Flipse, MS, RD. They contain anti-inflammatory and immunity-enhancing nutrients, including vitamin E, that help reduce skin flare-ups.

Dark, Leafy Greens

Greens like spinach and arugula are stocked with naturally occurring antioxidants, Flipse says. Eat a mouthful for lunch to keep your complexion radiant and blemish-free.
Brocolli

Broccoli has been proven to keep your gums healthy, along with other vitamin C-packed foods like citrus and peppers. So that's why Mom wouldn't let us leave the table until we finished our vegetables.

Green TeaThe anti-inflammatory properties (polyphenoes) in green tea protect the cell membranes and help prevent or reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Water

It is recommended that you drink 8 glasses of water daily. Water plays a vital role in keeping your body hydrated. When you are properly hydrated, you sweet more efficiently. This keeps the skin clean and clear. Water also helps the body move nutrients in and toxins out.
 

Make sure you watch what you eat, afterall you are what you eat.

Posted in: eat for your skin,Heallthy eating,Lifestyles,The Emerald Qill