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It is rightly said that beauty is an inside job! Putting your best face forward may be as simple as choosing to include specific foods with powerful anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties in your diet. Whether you have aging skin, dry skin, wrinkles, rosacea, puffiness or acne, there are certain foods that you can eat to help your skin look its very best.
Dry, ageing wrinkled skin: Wrinkles usually form when the skin loses its elasticity. These are to some extent, a result of aging. It is true that as we age our skin becomes dryer and thinner which lead to the formation of wrinkles. But nutritional blunders committed by us cause the same deterioration of the skin identical to that caused by ageing. One such blunder is an inadequate intake of vitamin C. It helps to form the connective tissue, makes the skin supple and prevents it from drying. You need to take at least 500mg of vitamin C daily to get its skin-protecting benefit. Natural sources include guava, oranges, capsicums, cabbage, grape fruit, sour lime, papaya etc. Eating foods rich in Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), such as salmon, flaxseed oil, almonds and walnuts is also advised.
Rosacea or redness on the face: Certain foods can trigger or worsen symptoms of rosacea so it is suggested to avoid common triggers like hot and spicy foods, excess caffeine and alcohol, sunlight, stress, strenuous exercise, hot baths, certain drugs and skin care products. Eat lots of anti-oxidant rich fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, carrots and strawberries.
Puffy and swollen face: You will notice puffiness mostly on those days when you have eaten out the night before. Or you may have eaten salty or fatty food at home. Fats in the blood stream slow down the circulation and salt draws fluids in the tissues causing them to swell. Excess consumption of fat also causes hormonal imbalances that worsen swelling. Eat a low-salt, low-fat diet like curd, steamed vegetables and salads for a few days at dinnertime to flush away the edema (swelling) from the body Acne: The exact cause of acne is not known but androgens, an oily skin and heredity do play a role. You could also get eruptions on the skin when you put in a lot of toxins in your body by way of faulty food, some medicines, especially steroids, oral contraceptives, anti-epileptic drugs, exposure to pollutants, using poor-quality cosmetics etc. Constipation, not drinking sufficient water, consuming foods with a heat effect like almonds, walnut, soybean can also precipitate acne. As diet influences hormones which in turn influence acne flare-ups, eating a low fat diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains etc seems to have a positive effect on the skin. Your skin is a reflection of what you choose to eat and the life style that you follow. Beauty does begin with good health!
— The writer is a
nutritionist. She treats obesity and related health disorders online.
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Undergo
a blood, liver and colon cleansing routine with your health
care practitioner.
Practice
skin-cleansing routine regularly. For e.g to clean large
pores effectively, you could rub a mashed tomato over your
face. It is rich in enzymes, which go deep into the pores,
& cleans out dirt & excess oil. Avoid wearing too
much make-up. If you must, then use cosmetics which are
water-based not oil-based, and most importantly clean your
face off make-up with a good cleanser.