Eating your Way to Younger Skin

Your skin tells others so much about you; your age, how tired you are, your stress levels, illness and how much you are sleeping.  In order to improve the way your skin looks, you need to assess what foods you are putting into your body. Beautiful skin starts with nourishment from within. Remember the famous quote, “You are what you eat”?

As our skin constantly produces new cells and gets rid of older cells, we can enhance our new skin regeneration through the foods we eat. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), reports that a healthy diet is crucial for healthy skin cell development. The quality of our replacement cells relies on eating the right balance of foods. By feeding our skin cells the vital nutrients it needs; it becomes more radiant, stronger and healthier than the old cells they replace.

The NIH recommends certain vitamins and minerals to help in making healthy skin cells.

For example, Vitamin A, C and E, are powerful antioxidants that helps promote a strong immune system and helps in fighting stubborn acne. They also can protect and aid in the production of collagen, which can result in tightening of the skin. Taking these vitamins from a young age can help prevent premature ageing and generally boosts overall skin health.

In addition, minerals such as Selenium are an Antioxidant found in nuts! This protects skin cells from damage by neutralising free radicals, such as smoking or sunlight exposure, before they lead into wrinkles. It can also temper inflammation caused by UV light and stress, which contribute to the breakdown of collagen; it thus promotes youthful skin elasticity.

Zinc is another important mineral that can help in repairing skin damage from UV light, pollution and other skin-agers and helps skin become more radiant. It also has potential in preventing acne, by controlling the inflammation and scarring. It reduces the overproduction of natural oils in our skin that causes bacteria and blocked pores.

Fruit and vegetables also contain powerful antioxidants that help protect skin from cellular damage from free radicals, which can cause premature ageing. Eating Fruit and Vegetables regularly can help you achieve glowing skin.

Skin also needs consistent moisture, drinking two litres of water a day helps rid the body of toxins that can affect skin’s health. Increasing your water intake helps your skin have a more radiant glow.

Once changes are made to our diet, you will need at least 8 – 10 weeks before you notice the improvements on the skin. By following the good skin diet, your skin will generate new skin cells that have the right nutrients to regenerate as strong, youthful and glowing. In turn, you will end up with gorgeous skin, free of acne and other skin issues!