Healthy Foods for Healthy Skin

By Heather Moore

As the weather gets colder, my skin gets drier. I wouldn’t mind this so much if it meant that I never got another zit, but they still pop up every once in while. To combat both problems I use The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil mattifying moisture gel for oily and blemished skin. It moisturizes my skin and curtails breakouts. I recommend it for anyone with similar skin issues, but I also suggest eating foods that are known to promote clear, glowing skin.

By now, most people know that chocolate doesn’t cause acne, as once believed. Milk, however, is still implicated in causing pimples and other problems (Read “Four Ways Milk Causes Acne” from Natural News at http://www.naturalnews.com/024613.html to learn more.) The jury is still out on fried foods; some dermatologists still say they can cause acne, but personally I’ve never noticed a connection. (Of course, I don’t eat all that many fried foods anyway.)

Certain foods—or more specifically, the nutrients found in certain foods—can give you smooth, younger-looking skin. Be sure to include the following foods in your diet if you want healthy skin—and who doesn’t?:

*Antioxidant and vitamin C-rich foods, especially blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, plums, kiwis, red bell peppers, broccoli, and citrus fruits, produce collagen and elastin for firm skin.

*The essential fatty acids in walnuts, canola oil, and flax seeds are essential for healthy skin. Some people might include fish in this list but I don’t consider fish to be a healthy (or humane) food.  

*The anti-inflammatory properties in green tea make it one of the best things you can consume for healthy skin.  At least one study has shown that this “super food” can help reduce the risk of damage from ultraviolet light, thus reducing the risk of skin cancer.

*Carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, and other antioxidant-rich orange, yellow, and red fruits and vegetables contain beta carotene, which defends against sun damage, and vitamin A, which is required for developing and maintaining skin cells, leading to supple skin.

*Foods like almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, whole grains, legumes, and  green leafy vegetables are high in vitamin E which can slow aging and diminish the appearance of scars.

* Avocados and other foods that high in B vitamins and essential oils can help your complexion by soothing red, irritated or blotchy skin.

By eating a wholesome, balanced diet you can all get the nutrients you need to look like you belong in an advertisement for skin care products. Oh, and don’t forget to drink plenty of water too.