Eat Your Way to Fabulous Skin

Healthy skin equals fabulous skin and since skin is essentially an organ of the body healthy skin begins on the inside. That is why a diet rich in "good for your skin" foods is so important to achieving the fabulous look and feel that you are after.

Skin needs a multitude of nutrients to stay healthy and perform at its best. Proper hydration is important in keeping your skin smooth, plump, and wrinkle-free. Antioxidants are important in fighting the battle against ageing skin. Essential fatty acids help decrease wrinkles and lubricate skin cells. And, healthy or "good" fats promote improved heart function, which speeds delivery of all nutrients to the cells of your skin.

What You Need

Knowing what nutrients your skin needs to look fabulous is just half the battle. The other half is understanding which foods will deliver these nutrients and offer the best results.

For proper hydration, which results in smoother, more supple skin, start by drinking plenty of water. Water accounts for up to 70% of your body's make up so proper hydration is important to all functions and organs, especially your skin. To further boost your water intake focus on eating foods that contain a high water content. These food choices include such items as celery, tomatoes, bell peppers, leafy green vegetables, melons, grapes, and oranges.

For wrinkle-free skin you need to consume foods high in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight skin ageing and can be found in foods like blueberries, lemons, oranges, cantaloupe, leafy greens, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.

For more supple skin, which equals smoother skin, you need to consume foods rich in essential fatty acids. These good fats provide lubrication for your skin cells, anti-inflammatory qualities, and also boost the function of your cardiovascular system. When your heart is working well it delivers more nutrients to your skin, nutrients your skin can use to rebuild and replenish itself. Great choices for this food category include olive oil, olives, tuna, salmon, trout, and other fresh fish.

What to Avoid

Along with consuming a diet geared for fabulous skin you also need to cut a few items out of your diet for the best results. Foods that are high in caffeine, contain lots of refined sugar, or that contain white flour can delete water stores, increase the occurrence of wrinkles, and speed the signs of premature ageing. For fabulous skin avoid soft drinks, coffee, tea, sugar-laden candies, cookies, white bread, and pastas.

Get an Even Bigger Boost

Once you have tailored your diet to reflect fabulous skin choices you can get an even bigger boost in results by supplementing your diet with a multi-vitamin. Even though your new food plan will include numerous ways for your skin to get a wide range of nutrients, a multi-vitamin can help ensure that you are getting all of the recommended values of every mineral and vitamin. For the best results and the most beautiful skin, take a supplement that provides adequate amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, calcium, iron, and folic acid.

By combining a varied diet rich in "good for your skin" foods and the proper supplement you can be on your way to enjoying fabulous skin in no time.

Foods To Promote Good Skin 

They say 'You are what you eat' and that is certainly the case in terms of having glowing, healthy skin.

Buying moisturisers, cleaners and facial scrubs is an enjoyable and useful part of your beauty regime, but it is important not to overlook the importance of what you feed your skin from the inside, as well as slather on the outside.

There are a number of foods and supplements that are well known for promoting a clear, wholesome complexion. The suppleness and appearance of your skin is a key part of your self confidence and by using this guide, you will feel ready to face the world.

As we all know, eating a range of different coloured fruits and vegetables is key to your overall health and well being, but there are particular ingredients you can enjoy in the knowledge that they will be giving you and extra beauty boost. Remember, these tips are for everyone - the beauty industry may be focused on women, but times are changing and there is no reason why men wouldn't want to look the best they can, too.

Avocado - King of Good Skin

The most potent beauty booster food is the avocado. Not only is a ripe avocado delicious to eat, it is full of healthy

fats that plump up your skin and smoothes away dryness. It is also good as a face pack = just mash up and use as a mask - or even for dry hair. Try to introduce at least one avocado a week to your diet and your skin will thank you for it.

A Smoothie a Day ...

For blenish prone skin, the smoothie is your friend. While the old myth thst chocolate causes spots has long been busted, a diet heavy in refined carbs and sugar will produce more of the sebum that creates the bacteria that acne loves. A vitamin rich diet alongside plenty of water will help to flush out your system so the conditions are not good

for spots. You could try a cup of hot water with a slice of lemon in the mornings instead of tea or coffee and swap biscuits and crisps for nuts and seeds. Easier said than done, of course, but worth trying for a few weeks to see if there is an important - nothing tastes as good as having glowing skin feels.

Root for Ginger

Ginger is also known as ahelp interms of inflammed skin - you can try a couple of slices of fresh ginger in hot water as a drink, or incorporate it into as many dishes as possible - stir fries, curries and desserts.

Super

This a good time to mention 'superfoods' - a recognised group of hard working, natural foods that support our immune systems as well as packing a nutritional punch. In terms of promoting good skin, nuts, seeds and berries are all the list, with almonds, linseeds and berries singled out as speciality skin warriors.

Some people may choose to take a supplement especially designed for supporting and enhancing good skin, but a healthy lifestyle full of freshair, fresh fruit and veg and plenty of water is a far more holistic way to look and feel the best you can.

Sourced from a womens magazine nov 2009

These articles are sourced from various avenues, all contents within Pure and Gentle Skincare website is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any health care professional. Pure and Gentle Skincare is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of Pure and Gentle Skincare website or advisors. Always consult your own GP is you're in any way concerned about your health as he or she will be able to advise in greater details.