Better Diet for Your Skin

Your skin is the first thing people see when they look at you. Your skin is a imitation of your underlying health, so good nutrition, getting adequate sleep, decreasing stress, staying hydrated, etc., all play a role in creating better-looking skin. Skin that's dry, sallow in color, or prematurely aged can truly be revitalized through improved diet. Healthy eating is great for the figure and face. Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including more dark green and orange vegetables. Food ingredients such as avocados, milk, fish and even coffee are making their way into lotions and potions promising smoother, younger skin.

Ground flaxseeds are a wonderful source of omega-three fatty acids, which promote good skin health. One the most important components of a healthy skin diet is vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for healthy skin. The health of our skin cells is dependent on dietary vitamin A. This diet includes plenty of dark orange (carrots, sweet potatoes) and dark green (broccoli, spinach, kale) vegetables all of which are high in vitamin A. To protect skin cells from free-radical damage, indulge in dark colored berries and plums. Anti-oxidants are plentiful in most deeply colored fruits and vegetables.

Anti-oxidants are found in abundance in brightly coloured fruit and vegetables and you should be eating a least of five servings of fruit and/or vegetables a day. Fruits like apricots, strawberries, plums and raspberries are excellent sources of anti-oxidants, as are vegetables such as carrots, squash, spinach, broccoli and any leafy greens. One of the best additions to your skin diet, though, is blueberries which have one of the highest anti-oxidant counts of any foodstuff. The most important B vitamin for the skin is biotin, which is found in bananas, eggs and rice. Zinc deficiency can be a factor in psoriasis and acne.

Good sources of zinc are sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Green tea is rich in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes. It has been proven to decrease 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. Drinking plenty of water at least your individual minimum intake will help keep your skin young and healthy-looking. Vitamin E helps promote great skin, which is why this diet includes nuts such as hazelnuts and almonds.