What to Eat For Healthy, Beautiful Skin

The old adage goes: you are what you eat. In the case of healthy and beautiful skin, this is absolutely true. Eating the right food plays a big part in giving you skin that glows with health and attractiveness, and on the opposite end, the wrong food will ruin what could be your most valuable asset. This article shows you which is which!

The first thing to remember is that, yes, all those cosmetics and skin products you see on drugstore shelves will likely improve your skin to some extent, but much more dramatic and long-lasting effects can be gained by following the right skin-centered diet. Some chemical preparations will give you short-term benefits and then lose efficacy, and some will skip the benefits altogether and go right to emptying your pocket and destroying your skin!

Just like the rest of your body, healthy, well-chosen foods will eventually create skin that is glowing and vibrant, and, as the television ads say, younger-looking. We have all been taught that lesson over and over again, but the problem is that we like shortcuts and quick fixes. Be wary of these shortcuts, because just like junk food that will make you full without giving any nutrition at all, they can lead to skin that is starving of the proper nutrients. The effects you see are sallow, dry, wrinkled and blemished skin.

So what food should you choose? The experts agree that Vitamin A is the most important component for better skin and this is easily supplied by dairy products. Keeping a supply of low-fat milk, yogurt, and other dairies is even better than eating carrots, the vegetable most often associated with the vitamin. This is because many people who are prone to diabetes or thyroid problems can’t convert the beta-carotene in carrots to Vitamin A. Dairy products do not have these limitations.

Anti-oxidants are also of primary importance, and a delicious source may be found in blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and plums. The antioxidants and phytochemicals in these, as well as in artichokes, prunes, pecans, and many others help protect cells from damage, such as that from exposure to the sun and other harsh environments.

Essential fatty acids as found in salmon and other fish, walnuts, and canola oil also play a big role in keeping your skin young and healthy. The acids contribute to maintaining the cell membranes, which in turn work their best at preventing the entry of harmful things while letting nutrients in. The membranes also hold moisture better, leading to youthful looking skin.

Oil as used for cooking and as a condiment to food is not necessarily bad for you. The trick is to read the labels carefully. Look for cold pressed, expeller-processed, or extra virgin oils. These processes skip the solvents and high heat that cause the loss of nutrients. Keep in mind though that even healthy oils are high in calories and we should limit intake to about two tablespoons a day.

What are the other nutrients we need to keep our skin in tip-top shape?

Selenium is one, found in whole-wheat bread and cereals, and also in tuna, turkey, and some nuts. Green tea carries a whole range of benefits for your skin as well as the rest of your body. And last but not the least, there is water. Good hydration with pure, clean water is key to keeping skin cells happy. There is no one officially mandated measure as to how much water one should consume everyday, but the usual eight glasses is a good place to start. As odd as it may sound, hard water, the type that leaves whitish, hard-to-clean stains on your glasses and scales in plumbing, is the best water to drink. Hard water is full of nutrients and minerals, and commercial water softeners may reduce the staining but they also reduce the health benefits.

Get rid of those chemical lotions and potions, and take the natural, delicious way to healthy, beautiful skin with the right food!