Written By Natalie Wilson / Reviewed By Ray Spotts
Your skin is one of the largest organs in your body and it provides a visible reflection of your health. If something isn’t quite right in our bodies, then it can usually be visible on the skin’s surface.
A lot of people are on the lookout for a magic cream or cleansing technique to get better skin, but what many people don’t realize is that one of the biggest and best kept secrets to achieving glowing skin isn’t what you apply to your skin, but instead what you eat.
Our diet has a lot to do with the health of our skin and the different proteins, vitamins and nutrients that are naturally occurring in food can help support collagen production and protect skin from potentially damaging stressors.
Nutrition is important for our health and an unhealthy and unbalanced diet can cause damage to your metabolism, affect your weight and even contribute to long-lasting damage to your organs, such as your heart and liver.
As scientists learn more and more about how your diet and body are interlinked, it’s becoming clear that the foods we eat can significantly affect the appearance and health of our skin. With that in mind, here are some tips on how you can eat your way to better skin.
Omega-3 Is A Must
Fatty fish, such as mackerel and salmon, are great sources of omega-3 and are excellent foods to help promote healthy skin. They contain high volumes of fatty omega-3 acids that are important for maintaining skin.
This is because omega-3 can help keep skin supple and moisturized and reduce inflammation, as the oil found in omega-3 keeps the skin cell membranes fluid and flexible, meaning they’re less likely to become damaged or irritated.
If you regularly suffer from dry skin that isn’t linked to eczema or dermatitis, then it could be down to a deficiency in omega-3. Some studies have shown that omega-3 and fish oil supplements can help protect your skin against some autoimmune conditions such as lupus and psoriasis.
Fatty fish is also high in vitamin E, which is one of the most important antioxidants for your skin. By consuming a diet that is high in vitamin E, you can protect your skin from damage caused by inflammation and free radicals.
Enjoy Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
We all know that eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables is good for our health, but many of us don’t realize that fruit and vegetables play a huge role in our skin health, too. Fruits and vegetables form the building blocks of our health, especially when it comes to achieving soft and healthy skin.
There are some fruits that are more skin-friendly than others, with blueberries, blackberries, pomegranates and raspberries all rich in skin-friendly nutrients and antioxidants. These fruits help with cell renewal and can help skin cells stay plumper for longer.
Tomatoes have also been shown to be effective at keeping wrinkles and fine lines at bay. This is because tomatoes are rich in lycopene - an antioxidant that has been shown to fight sun damage and sunburn that can create wrinkles and even lead to skin cancer.
Avocados are another fruit that are great for skin health. They are high in healthy fats, which can benefit many functions in your body, including your skin health. Avocados, like tomatoes, also contain compounds that protect your skin against sun damage and they are a great source of vitamin E.
Look After Your Gut
Alongside your brain and heart, your gut is perhaps one of the most important organs in your body. It is linked to a whole range of different organs and can impact your mood, food cravings, cause stomach discomfort and even impact your skin.
Our skin can be massively influenced by our gut health, so learning how best to look after and support your gut should also form part of your daily skincare.
Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, enjoy a varied and well-balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds and incorporate some fermented foods, such as cheese, yoghurt and kefir, as these can help generate collagen production.
You should also look to support your diet with a range of vitamins and supplements if you feel as though your diet doesn’t contain all that you need. Vitamins such as magnesium supplements, vitamin C tablets and vitamin B complex can all help support your diet and contribute to better, healthier skin.
Take Time To Rest And Digest
There are different factors other than your diet, whether external or internal, which can cause stress to your skin. Consuming high amounts of sugar can create a process called glycation that ages the skin prematurely and can leave it more susceptible to damage and stressors.
The timing of your meals can also impact your skin’s health. Be sure to evenly space out your meals adequately and avoid eating late at night, as this can greatly affect your blood sugar levels, which allows time for regeneration and repair, including your skin.
Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Written By:
Natalie Wilson is a freelance health and wellness writer. She loves researching and writing about new health trends and topics, as well as keeping up to date with the latest health news. When not writing, you can find her taking long walks in the countryside with her dog or browsing her nearest bookstore. You can connect with her on Twitter @NatWilson976.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
Photo by Jean-claude Attipoe on Unsplash