Article by Dr. Farid Mostamand
Healthy Foods Equals Healthy SkinWe all know that our diet plays a big role in our health. Often times it has a direct effect on our organs. Believe it or not, the biggest organ that food effects is our skin. Healthy nutritious food equals healthy looking skin. On the other hand not so healthy food equals not so healthy looking skin. So, the next time you’re pondering what to eat, take a few minutes and think about what that food will do to your skin. You have probably heard many people say that chocolate is bad for your skin, that it causes acne. You may have also heard how good water is for the skin, how it helps your skin look younger. These were once thought of as just myths; however over the years scientists are finding that there may be some truth to this. It does make sense when you think about it. One of the functions of the skin is to sweat out toxins from our body. Most of the toxins comes from what we put in our body, so if we are sweating toxins from unhealthy food that’s what’s getting on our skin. Below are foods and beverages you should add to your daily dietary intake. Healthy foods for healthy skinProteinEating enough protein should not be a big problem for some being that we tend to consume quite a bit of meat. The good thing is even if you are a vegetarian you can still get your protein. Other than meat, protein can be found in beans, nuts, flaxseed, peanut butter, and other sources. The amount of protein you consume each day depends on your daily activity and body weight. Berries and PlumBerries such as strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries as well as plums are all very high in antioxidants. There are other fruits, vegetables and beans that’s also high in antioxidants; however these berries ranked the highest.
Walnuts, Canola Oil, and SalmonWhat do all three of these things have in common? The answer is quite simple, they all have essential fatty acids which helps us to have healthy cell membranes. Having healthy cell membranes is very important to the skin because these cells help to hold in moisture. Without them we would all be dealing with very dry skin. If your skin is dry you should try increasing your daily intake of essential fatty acids.
Whole wheatYou’ve probably already know the benefit of whole wheat when it comes to dieting and eating right, but it also works wonders for the skin. Whole wheat items such as bread, rice, and cereal. Whole wheat foods contain a mineral called selenium. Selenium is a major player when it comes to healthy skin cells. People who spend a great amount of time in the sun should definitely eat plenty of foods with selenium because it’s been known to reduce the damage too much sun exposure causes to the skin.
Green TeaWhether you choose to take it orally or if you want to apply it directly to the skin, either way the benefit of green tea is amazing when it comes to healthy skin. Green tea reduces the damage that ultraviolent light causes to the skin. Ultraviolet light comes from the rays of the sun. These are the rays that cause skin cancer. So green tea will help to reduce your chances or even prevent you from getting skin cancer if you’re exposed to the sun for long periods of time. Anti-Inflammatory properties found in green tea is what makes it so beneficial to the skin.
WaterThe amount of water you need to consume a day varies from person to person. It all depends on your size and activity level. As a start you should at least try to drink 6-8 glasses a day. Water helps to keep the skin hydrated. Pure water is best when it comes to skin care, not water that has extra additives. Water is also responsible for helping the cells to move nutrients into our body and toxins out of our body.
It’s time to really pay attention to what we’re putting in our body. Not only does it affect our overall health but it also have a great impact on our skin. The next time you’re planning your menu, make sure you include lots of skin healthy foods. Remember that everything you eat becomes a part of you. Eat healthy and your skin will thank you.
