What Foods Can You Eat To Attain Healthy Glowing Skin?
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at
2:46 pm
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We Are Here To Clear Up The Acne Problem
Originally published September 13 2006
The top five foods for healthy skin
by Jessica Fraser
The U.S. cosmetics industry raked in more than $32 billion in 2004, with sales of skin care products bringing in the largest share — more than $8 billion. Americans are shelling out big bucks for expensive cosmetics to treat skin problems such as acne, wrinkles and dryness, but most consumers are overlooking the cheapest, safest and most effective remedies: healing foods.
A host of healthy, natural foods offer potent healing and preventative powers to remedy a wide range of skin troubles. These foods can dramatically improve skin for a fraction of the price of costly cosmetics or dermatologist visits:
Green Tea — Green tea is rich in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes. It has been proven to reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light, which in turn reduces the risk of skin cancer. Green tea is also high in polyphenols — compounds that eliminate cancer-causing free radicals.
Recent research by scientists at the Medical College of Georgia shows that the polyphenol most abundant in green tea — EGCG — also acts as a “fountain of youth” of sorts for skin by reactivating dying skin cells. In addition to its skin-healthy properties, green tea is also high in vitamins C, D and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.
Salmon — Salmon — along with other fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed — is high in healthy fatty acids that are key for achieving healthy skin. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s help keep cell membranes healthy by keeping out harmful substances as well as allowing nutrients to enter cells and exit with waste products. Omega-3s also reduce the body’s production of inflammatory agents that can damage the skin.
Increasing consumption of omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods such as salmon will help keep the skin supple and youthful. A 1:1 ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3s is ideal, but the ratio in the typical American diet is more like 20:1, so boosting consumption of salmon and other oily fish can help bring that ratio closer to 1:1. Salmon is also rich in protein, potassium, selenium and vitamin B12.
Blueberries — Blueberries are considered by many experts to be the highest food source of antioxidants, which target free radicals that can wreak havoc on skin cells. The antioxidants and phytochemicals (plant sources of nutrition) in blueberries neutralize DNA-damaging free radicals, reducing cell damage. When skin cells are protected from damage and disintegration, the skin looks younger for longer. Blueberries are also an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E and riboflavin.
Carrots — Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is a required nutrient for healthy skin. They also contain high levels of antioxidants, which prevent free radical damage of skin cells. Vitamin A is required for developing and maintaining skin cells, and a deficiency of the vitamin can cause dry skin. Carrots are also a superior source of fiber, biotin, vitamins K, C and B6, potassium and thiamine.
Water — Drinking plenty of water — at least your individual minimum intake — will help keep your skin young and healthy-looking. Water in caffeinated or sugary beverages does not count; water intake must be from pure, clean water, which rejuvenates skin cells. Water both hydrates cells and helps them move toxins out and nutrients in. Nutrition expert Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, says when the body is properly hydrated, it sweats more efficiently, which helps keep the skin clean and clear.
In addition to consuming therapeutic quantities of green tea, salmon, blueberries, carrots and water, consumers should avoid certain foods that trigger bad skin reactions. Such ingredients include sugar, white flour, saturated fats and fried foods, which are especially bad for the skin, since they can trap oil and bacteria beneath the skin, causing acne and other skin ailments.
The skin is considered the outside indicator of inside health, and putting expensive creams, lotions and treatments on the outside of the skin can’t alleviate problems that stem from inner nutritional deficiencies. Consuming the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones can reveal beautiful, youthful-looking skin without the high price tag of expensive cosmetics.
Note from Mike Adams: An important “overlay” factor on all this concerns raw foods versus cooked foods. Raw food juicing is the surest way to healthy skin, and I recommend juicing fruits, vegetables and nuts (soak them first) in a Vitamix to create superfood smoothies. People who drink raw juices on a daily basis have skin that absolutely glows. On the other hand, those who eat mostly processed, refined or cooked foods have skin that ages rapidly. So be sure to include raw food smoothies in your diet on a daily basis if you want great looking skin!
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Omega 3′s is what your skin needs. Eat fish. Salmon is a good source. If you live on the East Coast Haddock is good. Try to eat fish at least three times a week. Take an Omega 3 pill and a Multivitamin. My daughter eats flax seed mixed with tofu and fresh fruit and soy milk, drinks it like a smoothy. I don’t like it but she says that makes a big difference with her skin and stopped her hair from falling out.
The Omega 3 pills can make your stool soft so don’t go over board. Adding fish to your diet and the pill will do nicely.
You might be eating things that are causing you to have bad skin. Pay attention to labels. If you eat a lot of foods that come out of boxes and cans I would stop that and start eating fresh vegetables, raw or cooked lightly. Reduce the amount of wheat processed foods you eat, breads, cakes, cereals. Notice that the sweeteners used is not sugar much anymore, it is corn syrup. Better to eat fresh fruit if you want something sweet. Living food, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Your skin will respond to this in about 3 months. Maybe sooner, all depends on how unhealthy you are. Berry’s are detoxifying. Good luck
Hi, Twiggy!
Here are some samples of different foods that I’ve found useful, and foods that I think worsen acne.
GRAINS:
+++oats
+++rice
++rye
–wheat (especially since many cereals with wheat contain too much sugar)
FRUIT AND BERRIES
+++blueberries
+++raspberries
++wild strawberries
(most berries contains loads of flavonoids and thus are good for your body and your skin)
+++peach, mango, most mild fruits
FOODS
+++meat, mostly low-carbo foods with plenty of proteins
+++avocado (contains pretty much fat but that’s necessary, too)
++soya products
OILS
+++olive oil
According to my own experience, most candies, chocolate and cakes do not cure acne at all. I like sugar a lot and so I’ve started to replace sugar with honey – it has more enzymes and flavonoids and thus doesn’t worsen acne that much.
Skin needs zinc as a building block, too. You might want to think of zinc tablets as a good option to cure acne. A friend of mine has a perfect skin and she takes one zinc tablet every morning. She even eats a lot of high-carbo food but it seems like that essential mineral keeps her skin in shape.
I wish you good luck, and hope you find food that is healthy and tasty at the same time!
it’s a myth that certain foods cause breakouts….
of course eating a healthy diet overall and drinking the recommended amount of water can’t hurt…..
acne is caused by hormones and/or bacteria (basically)…
eating a balanced diet certainly won’t hurt, but it’s not gonna cure it
(sorry!!….i feel for ya!!)
carrots