Food and Skin Health

What more can one want than perfect, glistening clear skin free from wrinkles and pesky acne marks? Our skin is considered the largest organ in our bodies, along side with our intestines, lungs and liver of course. Many people are self conscious about their skin and how it appears. It is very important to take care of your skin, as it serves as the first defense against germs and the environment and converts sunlight to vitamin D. Along with avoiding smoking, staying out of the sun for long periods of time and always wearing SPF sunscreen, there are some great nutritious foods that can help maintain skin health!

Try including these foods in your diet for better, healthier skin:

§  Antioxidants- Vitamin A, C and E have been shown to decrease the risk of sun and other environmental damage

Vitamin A foods: carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, mangoes, spinach, cantaloupe, greens and kale

Vitamin C foods: orange juice, grapefruit juice, papayas, strawberries, kiwis, red and green peppers, cantaloupe, broccoli, brussel sprouts and cauliflower

Vitamin E foods: vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, olives, spinach and asparagus

§  Smart Fats- Increase intake of foods high in omega-3 fatty acids to help greater skin. Omega-3s from fish may guard against sun damage, according to recent studies. Monounsaturated fats have also been found to help in skin pH

Omega-3 fatty acids: fish, ground flaxseed, walnuts and brands of eggs

Monounsaturated fats: olive oil, canola oil, almond oil, hazelnut oil, avocados, olives, almonds and hazelnuts

§  Whole Foods- A study shows that those who ate a diet rich in “whole foods” had less wrinkling and premature skin aging than those who ate a diet not rich in whole foods, such as whole milk, processed meats, butter, potatoes and sugar

Whole foods: vegetables, fruits, legumes, eggs, yogurt, nuts, oils rich in monounsaturated fats, multigrain bread, tea and water

Source: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/skin-foods?page=4