You might know that some foods help you manage your weight and improve your overall health. But did you know they can also help your skin? If you want to keep your skin glowing, it helps to know what foods to avoid as well. Get started by learning how your skin reacts to what you eat and drink.
You are what you eat
Eat dry, brittle or processed foods and it reflects on your skin. Drink too much alcohol, and the effects of dehydration show up on your face. Though it’s not always that simple, what you put into your body does show up on your body.
Sugar is one example. Eating too much sugar may lead to skin breakouts. Research suggests this is because the more sugar you eat, the more havoc it causes on the levels of sugar in your blood. A high blood sugar level sends more insulin around your body. This process has been linked to acne.
Other research shows that too much dairy can stimulate your testosterone levels and may also lead to skin problems. Fortunately, there are five simple ways to improve your complexion.
- Hydrating foods can decrease inflammation
Drinking water and eating water-dense foods helps keep your skin clear. Hydrating your body has indirect benefits for your skin. Getting enough water reduces redness and swelling. That’s because water keeps fluids moving through tiny blood vessels in your face. Besides water, here are other water-packed foods you can eat to help your skin:
- Avocados
- Cantaloupes
- Cucumbers
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Watermelons
Eating these foods can give your body a huge dose of antioxidants. These substances protect your cells from getting damaged. The nutrients also keep your skin supple.
- Fish can lead to fantastic skin
Choose healthy, fatty fish to help your complexion. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation. Fatty fish may also help prevent processes that lead to your skin getting wrinkles. Try these types of fish:
- Halibut
- Mackerel
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Olive oil can prevent wrinkles
Olive oil is a heart-friendly food, and it also helps your skin. Cooking with olive oil helps slow the protein breakdown in your skin that leads to wrinkles. In addition, it works from the inside out to block sun damage that may lead to skin cancer. Switching to olive oil is a simple tweak. When you’re cooking and baking, use less corn, canola or safflower vegetable oils.
- Chocolate can fight off toxic molecules
Who’d have thought indulging in chocolate would be a good thing for your skin? Dark chocolate isn’t as sweet as milk chocolate. However, it’s packed with antioxidants called flavonols. Flavonols help protect your skin from damaging UV rays. They also help fight off free radicals. Free radicals are unstable, damaging molecules from toxins in the environment. When they attach themselves to healthy molecules, cells can turn into cancer.
Look for a dark chocolate that has over 60 percent cacao. That way, you’ll know it’s a true dark chocolate with all the health benefits.
- Legumes can prevent premature aging
Another category of food that can lead to healthy skin? Legumes. These include beans, chickpeas and lentils. There’s an important reason to eat legumes. They’re high in all the essential nutrients that work to prevent early aging in your skin. One of the more important elements in legumes is folate. Also known as vitamin B9, folate fights inflammation. It also works to counteract free radicals that cause damage in your body.
Let’s continue to discuss the healthful foods that can become part of your skin-friendly diet. Find a Bon Secours provider near you today.
