You may not have considered how your diet affects your skin.
Many skin conditions are related to inflammation. Your diet contributes to inflammation.
Your digestion slows down If you don’t drink enough water. This increases inflammation in your gut. You become more prone to rashes, collagen breaks down and you may develop acne. You should drink half to one full ounce of water per pound of body weight per day.
Top Five Foods for Healthy, Beautiful Skin
- Cooked tomatoes. Tomatoes are rich with lycopene, an antioxidant that fights sun damage. You can also find lycopene in red peppers, guava and watermelon. The body absorbs the lycopene faster when the food has been cooked.
- Green tea. Green tea protects your skin against sun damage and blotchy skin. It helps soothe skin and reduce inflammation.
- Green and yellow vegetables. Squash, leafy greens and peppers reduce facial wrinkles. It could be due to the higher concentration of antioxidants in green and yellow veggies.
- Green beans. Green beans are great for hair and nails. They are high in silicon, the element that improves bone strength. Organic green beans retain more silicon from the soil. Try blanching them and keeping them in the refrigerator as a snack.
- Fish. A certain type of Omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, is commonly found in cold water fish. It isn’t just great for your heart but also for acne. DHA reduces inflammation. If you’re not a fish eater, find an algae oil supplement.
The Three Worst Foods for Your Skin
- Sweetened, blended coffee drinks. They’re filled with sugar and dairy. Some studies link dairy with inflammatory skin conditions. Sugar is very inflammatory and breaks down into glucose that breaks down collagen.
- Protein bars. Some have more sugar and fat than others. They tend to be highly processed. If you must consume a protein bar, select one that has visible chunks of ingredients. It should have more protein than sugar and fat. If you have acne, avoid whey protein.
- Vinegar. It’s full of histamine that increases blood flow to your face. It can contribute to redness. If you have rosacea or a tendency to flush, be sure you’re not consuming products that have vinegar as an ingredient.
Great Foods for Your Skin
- Yogurt. It can help control dandruff. Contrary to popular belief, dandruff is not caused by dry skin. It’s actually due to oily scalp. There’s a yeast that lives on human skin that can overgrow. It feeds on oil and skin on the scalp which causes flakiness.
- Kiwi. It is very high in vitamin C. It’s lower in sugar than oranges. Kiwi is wonderful for fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin C helps make collagen and elastic tissue.
Topical Foods
- Coconut oil. You can apply it to your skin. It’s semi-solid at room temperature. It can be used for many parts of your skin. Use extra virgin food grade coconut oil for chapped lips and your entire body.
- Berries. They are high in antioxidants. Raspberries, strawberries and cranberries contain ellagic acid. Ellagic acid fights wrinkling and discoloration. Mash up berries and apply them as a mask.
- Lavender. You can make a soothing lavender toner to use before bed. Mix water, green tea, vegetable glycerin and lavender essential oil in a bowl. Use a mister to apply it to perk up your skin. It can help you get quality sleep.
- Carrots. A carrot eye mask can help firm up the skin around the eyes. Mix two egg whites with a tablespoon of finely shredded carrots. Lie down on a towel and apply the mask around your eyes. Use a cool, damp cloth to wipe away the mixture after 20 minutes.
- Peppermint. Make a food scrub with some course sea salt, minced fresh mint, peppermint essential oil and cocoa. Let your feet soak for 10 minutes to soften the dead skin. Use the scrub on your feet. Concentrate on heels, calluses and cracked skin.
Dr. Jessica Wu is a Cosmetic Dermatologist in Los Angeles, California, where she has practiced for 20 years. She is a graduate of Harvard Medical School, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the USC School of Medicine. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Wu frequently lectures at national and international medical conferences and was an investigator in the clinical research trials that led to FDA approval of Juvederm wrinkle filler and Latisse lash growth serum.