I’m so excited to feature a second guest post here on Unapologetic Beauty! Here are some very special (and very useful!) tips from David Novak on the positive and negative effects of what you decide to consume.
What effects do different foods have on your skin? Plenty! Food is the proverbial fountain, or anti-fountain of youth, depending on what you choose to put in your mouth.
First, the bad and the ugly. At the top of the list of foods that can destroy your skin— Sugar! Research shows that sugar causes inflammation and this makes us look older. But sugar isn’t the only food that causes inflammation. Most carbohydrates do as well. Those carbs we can do without include starchy fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes, apples and bananas, which convert to sugar quickly. Although these foods do contain nutrients, their sugar content is through the roof, and without a lot of exercise or when eaten in excess, these foods can inflame organs, muscular tissue and our skin. Refined grains also produce the same result.
People with a gluten sensitivity or intolerance can experience a lot of inflammation when consuming gluten-enriched foods. Stay away from barley, wheat and rye for this reason. Sometimes these grains are given different names in different countries, such as Spelt, for example. Even if you do not have a gluten sensitivity, these foods can and still do cause some degree of inflammation. Rice, white or whole grain, is a starch and can cause some degree of inflammation. Foods made from these grains, also known as ‘processed foods’, are equally as bad for your skin.
Many people can improve their skin tone and texture dramatically simply by avoiding processed foods, and eating wholesome foods that are healthy for you. Your skin will respond by looking and feeling healthier. Below are some foods that are great for your skin:
Water: The number one thing that you can put into your body if you want great-looking skin is water. The more water you drink, the more you flush all of the other stuff out of your body and the healthier your skin is going to look.
Oranges, Grapefruit and Brussel Sprouts: These are very rich in Vitamin C, and Vitamin C helps delay or reduces wrinkles.
Broccoli, Spinach, Carrots and Low-Fat Dairy: All of these contain vitamin A, which improves the turnover of cells in the skin. As a result, your skin gets renewed more quickly and the freshest skin stays on top.
Lean Red Meat and Eggs: These provide iron, which helps keep you from becoming too pale or forming dark circles around your eyes. Eat lean red meat sparingly, though, and make sure the cut of meat you eat is not too high in fat. Eggs are a good iron-providing alternative for people who don’t want to eat much red meat, and you can eat eggs literally every day.
Fish, Flax Seeds and Walnuts: Omega3, found in tuna, salmon, sardines and shellfish, is the “good fat” that wards off inflammation, which is bad for the skin. If you don’t like fish to obtain those essential fatty acids that your body needs (and that improve your skin), an alternative option is to eat flax seeds and to cook with flax seed oil. Finally, walnuts have more Omega3 in them than either of the aforementioned.
Whole Wheat: contains selenium, a mineral superb for your skin, which improves it at a cellular level and keeps you looking young and beautiful.
Berries, Plums, Tomatoes, Sweet Potatoes and Cantaloupe: are rich in antioxidants, which increases your ability to absorb free radicals, which in turn reduces skin problems.
Adding these foods to your diet can go a long way towards improving skin health. However, it’s just as important to cut out those bad foods that can harm your skin.
David Novak is a international syndicated newspaper columnist, appearing in newspapers, magazines, radio and TV around the world. His byline has appeared in GQ, National Geographic, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest, USA Today, among others, and he has appeared on The Today Show, the CBS Morning Show and Paul Harvey Radio. David is a specialist at consumer technology, health and fitness, and he also owns a PR firm and a consulting company where he and his staff focus on these industries. He is a regular contributing editor for Healthline. For more information, visit http://www.healthline.com/.
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