The skin texture and the diet
The old adage “one is what he eats” does not only apply to our overall health, but equally to the largest organ of the body that is present everywhere – the skin! It also affects how the skin appears and feels as well. Being the largest organ in the body, the skin gets same nourishment from the same foods that we consume to take care our heart, kidney and liver! In fact, new researches suggest that eating foods those are abandon in proteins and certain vitamins and minerals can provide valuable anti-aging actions.
If anyone wants healthy skin, it is essential to have all healthy and balanced diet, a diet that contains enough amount of vitamin, mineral and protein. Balanced diet is a key word since no single diet can building up or can maintain the healthy skin- so fad diets those over-emphasize one’s food in preference to others may actually strip one of essential nutrients and so might even hurt the body and skin as well.
Important things about diet and skin
In addition, there are a lot of controversies about the effects of certain foods on the skin. It is quite debatable, for example, that eating chocolates, sweets or sugary cakes get you any acnes or pimples. Another moot point is that eating greasy, fried items will get one an oily skin or makes the hair greasy.
Furthermore, if someone fills themselves with cucumber, grape, carrot juice or lettuce it is quite controversy that he or she would become beautiful, flawless and will have fair complexion. Some of the quacks even come out with extraordinary claims that suggest for instance, that salads within some days might dramatically change the appearance and can offer a perfect glowing skin. This could be true, but then it cannot happen overnight!
Taking vitamin and mineral supplements might be beneficial over the times. However, if the diet is grossly deficient in some elements, then the skin might develop problems. In people who take normal balanced diets this would not happen. But after severe illnesses, surgeries and in people who prefer crash diets, problems may occur.
Dark green leafy vegetables, fresh fruit juices and nutritious diet help improving the color of the skin over the times, if eaten regularly. On the other hand, spicy, oily and too much fatty foods might make metabolism slower and then finally can affect the skin over the years. Smoking certainly affects the skin color of the lips and has to be stopped. Smoker’s lips are undoubtedly darker than any other person. Some of the holistic healers favor taking fresh vegetable and fruit juice especially carrot, beetroot and tomatoes to get good complexion of the skin.
Vitamins, minerals and skin
Vitamin A is very essential for the health of the skin and eyes. The richest sources of this include cod-liver oil, livers, carrot, spinaches, milk and egg-yolks. If the diet lacks in this vitamin, the skin turns very dry and develops acne. Overdose of vitamin A causes dryness and roughness of the skin. Cracking and soreness of lips can also occur in vitamin B deficiencies. Livers, meats, milk, green vegetables, pulses and cereals are great source of vitamin B, Vitamin C, found in all citrus fruits, is also very beneficial in healing various skin diseases and it can nourish the skin. Vitamin D, E and K are also important in nourishing the dermal layers and keep skin healthy.
Apart from vitamins, the diet should also contain minerals. Iron would make the blood healthy-consequently it contributes a healthy pink glow to the skin. Iron can be found in several green vegetables, in fruits and in meats. Zinc is also very essential in skin nourishment. One can take zinc supplements for that.
Avoiding alcohol and some abusing drugs is very important in order to get healthy skin. They ruin up the skin texture and can drastically make skin drier and tend to crack and have creases before even age gets advanced. Carbonated water and some brain stimulating drinks such as teas and coffees are also to be restricted since tannins and caffeine are known to cause oxidants and can severely damage the skin over the years.
