I shake my head every time I see TV commercials for skin creams. Usually they depict famous older actresses who get a lot more help from skin care professionals and chemical treatments than they do from the skin cream they’re being paid to endorse. These commercials do a good job of trying to convince us that skin cream is the only answer to beautiful skin.
I would like to make a rebuttal: No matter how many different types of products you put on your skin or how much money you spend on them or which actress endorses them (even if she doesn’t use them), ultimately, having a radiant, youthful complexion depends on the quality of the food you eat.
A healthy diet is the best way to have great skin, especially when combined with regular exercise and good hydration.
Here are the top three food categories you should include in order to have radiant skin.
Antioxidants
Your body naturally produces free radicals through its natural processes. Free radicals are particles that damage your body’s tissues. Living in a toxic environment (from pollution) can greatly add to the number of free radicals in your body.
Antioxidants from your food are the best way of neutralizing free radicals. The best way to make sure you get enough antioxidants from your diet to protect your tissues from free radicals is to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Vitamin C is the main antioxidant in fruits and vegetables. It’s important for collagen production, which improves the circulation and structure of your skin.
Healthy Fats
The healthiest fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These fats are natural skin moisturizers. If you have dry skin, try eating more healthy fats, such as olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish, such as salmon and sardines. These foods also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which make up cell membranes. This is why omega-3’s improve your skin’s elasticity. These foods also contain Vitamin E and selenium, which are powerful antioxidants.
Low Glycemic Carbs
The last food category for healthy skin is low glycemic carbs, such as whole grains, beans, pulses, fruits, and vegetables. These carbs are good for your skin because they don’t spike your blood sugar. Instead, they release it slowly because of their high fibre content. Sugary foods, which have a high glycemic index, spike your blood sugar. The sugar then attaches to collagen and inhibits its function throughout the body, not just in the skin but also the joints and bones. This is why people with diabetes lose collagen faster than non-diabetics. So, if you want healthy skin, avoid sugary foods.
The first step to great skin
If you want great skin, instead of running to the drug store to buy the latest skin cream endorsed by a famous actress, look no further than your own kitchen.
A good place to start is to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.
Ask yourself, are you really eating enough for optimal health? Most of us know that we should eat several servings a day, but do you know how many servings are in a banana, for instance?
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