Like many people, you’re probably wondering what to do to keep your skin looking young, fresh, and beautiful. There are plenty of options to achieve that goal, including learning how your diet impacts your skin.
As the saying goes, you are what you eat. How you look directly reflects what you put into your body. For instance, if you binge on unhealthy foods, you may find it difficult to keep your skin looking its best.
The Challenge
Your skin is exposed to pollutants and dirt all day long. You need to give it a layer of protection through nutrition. Eating lots of processed foods and foods high in sugar can be detrimental to your goal. That will lead to premature aging, inflammation, and other common skin problems.
For instance, a diet containing pizza, burgers, and fried foods can lead to acne breakouts. These have plenty of oil, which is bad for your pores.
The primary nutrients you need are collagen, protein, and elastin. These nutrients keep your skin healthy.
The Diet Solution
The best way to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy is to have a proper diet. Eating junk food will undermine your skincare routine. You want to have meals containing the nutrients your skin needs, like antioxidants.
To achieve healthy, young-looking skin, incorporate the following foods into your daily diet.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Is it even a surprise that eating fresh fruits and vegetables is good for your skin? Any nutritious diet contains high amounts of these foods. They provide your body with the nutrients to function better, fight off bad bacteria, and keep your skin looking good.
Choose colorful fruits and vegetables for your diet. These contain vitamin A and carotenoids, both of which help your skin cells with reproduction and regeneration.
The nutrients in fruits and vegetables promote the healthy production of cells. The human body sheds over 30,000 skin cells daily. If you cannot reproduce the same amount, the skin starts to look old and frail.
Another advantage is that fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of collagen and vitamin C. These are crucial in keeping your skin smooth and soft, even with a basic skincare routine.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts like almonds and walnuts have the oils to keep your skin smooth. Try to replace fries and chips with these whenever you want to snack on something.
It is also a good idea to add some seeds to your diet. Putting chia and flax seeds in your daily meals can result in a noticeable change in your skin texture within a few months. These have become very popular due to their efficiency.
Seeds are easy to consume, too. You can grab a handful of chia seeds and mix them in with your salad. They barely affect the taste, which is good for picky eaters.
Fish
You need a good source of protein for any diet, and fish is a great choice. You have several options available, including fatty fish such as salmon, herring, anchovies, albacore tuna, and mackerel.
They can help build healthy skin while reducing inflammation. More importantly, fish contains many great nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids that aid in cell repair.
The Bottom Line
To improve the health and appearance of your skin, you can start eating a more nutritious diet. Over time, you’ll find that it’s easy to find healthy foods that fit your taste and provide the nutrition you need. If you have any questions, contact us at Complete Family Dermatology, and we will help you with your journey towards healthy skin.