Diet for healthy skin

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zhcochinwala | Nov 11, 2009 |

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Tips to keep skin healthy, young and glowing A flawless complexion and ageless skin is everyone's dream. The foods we eat explain how youthful our skin look and feel. We feel delighted when people tell us that we appear younger to our age. Such a compliment accredit partly to our genes and partly to our lifestyle that we lead, including our dietary habits. For the glowing skin, balanced healthy diet that contains proteins, fluids, vitamins and minerals is essential. Common myths relating food to skin: â€¢ Eating cucumber daily makes the complexion clear â€¢ Chocolates and nuts cause pimples â€¢ Juices flush out toxins from the skin â€¢ Nutrition supplements are the best way to maintain skin health Skin is the largest organ in the body and foods that harm the rest of the body harm skin too. Here are some tips for good skin health: Avoid crash diets Drastic weight loss causes skin to sag and gives grown-up look. Fad diets do not provide the required nutrients to keep skin healthy. Quit smoking Smoking generates great amounts of free radicals in the body, which destroy skin health along with the health of the body. Avoid high fat food Excessive intake of fried foods, sweets and high fat foods make feel full and leave no room for healthy food items in the diet, thereby depriving our skin of the essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Avoid alcohol It dehydrates the skin and deprives the body of B vitamins, which are a necessity for good skin. Prevent constipation Avoid low- fibre diets and refined foods. Fibre enriched diet regularize the elimination cycle to maintain glowing skin. Keep stress away Avoid excessive stress and sun exposure to protect the skin Nutrients-rich food for the skin: Proteins: Required for skin cell maintenance. Food sources are Meats, pulses, dairy products and nuts. Omega-3 fats: Essential for healthy cell membrane and as anti-inflammatory agents. Food sources are fatty fish, flaxseed and walnuts. Vitamins A & E: These are very good antioxidants, reduce free radical damage to the skin. Food sources are leafy greens, orange and yellow coloured fruits and vegetables, dairy foods, eggs, nuts and fish. B Vitamins: They are required to prevent eczema, scaling and pigmentation on the skin. Food sources are green leafy vegetables, dairy foods and whole grains. Vitamin C: It makes collagen in the skin. Food sources are citrus fruits mainly gooseberry, blackcurrant, guava and kiwifruit, coloured peppers, broccoli and leafy greens. Selenium: It prevents oxidative damage to the skin. Food sources are fish, meat, egg, vegetables, wheat germ and garlic. Antioxidants: Prevent skin damage. Food sources are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, spices and green and black tea. Hydration: It keeps the skin moist, young and healthy. Food sources are water, buttermilk, coconut water, thin fruit juice, clear soups and thin spicy soup made out of pulse.