Healthy Looking Skin Diet & What To Feed Skin

It's all been cleared up.

What you eat and what you apply to your skin can impact the look of your skin. Healthy looking skin is always served well by a combination of a good regime and, yes, by eating well. Put vitamin-rich foods on your menu, and drink plenty of water. That's the recipe for truly healthy looking skin.

BRING ON THE WATER - That 8 to 10 glasses a day rule applies, so drink up. Water carries nutrients throughout the body while flushing out toxins.

GET YOUR ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS ON - Don't be put off by the name. The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids hydrate skin, helping it stay firm and smooth. These fats are essential because they have to come from food - our bodies can't produce them. Sources include salmon, flaxseed oil, olive oil, seeds, and nuts.

BE PRO-ANTIOXIDANT - Antioxidants may counteract skin damage by helping to reduce some of the adverse effect of sun exposure and environmental pollution. Don’t leave home without them.

GET THE GOOD STUFF

Vitamin A: Helps keep cells intact and thriving. It may also reduce the production of sebum, which can clog pores and promote breakouts. It's found in yellow and orange squash, sweet potatoes, rock melon, papaya, carrots, spinach, kale, liver, and fish liver oil.

Vitamin C: May help the body produce and maintain healthy collagen - the glue that holds cells together. It's found in citrus fruits, acerola cherries, red and green peppers, broccoli, and bean sprouts.

Zinc: An essential mineral in the diet. Too little zinc can lead to skin problems. Zinc is found in pecans, pumpkin seeds, whole-wheat flour, rye flour, oat flour, oysters, and red meat.

Vitamin E: Helps the body retain moisture and may prevent sun damage. Vitamin E is often used topically to improve extremely dry skin patches. Dietary sources include many nuts and seeds.

Selenium: May reduce the risk of skin cancer due to sun overexposure. It's found in garlic, onions, wheat germ, and Brazil nuts.

B complex vitamins: Essential for healthy looking skin in too many ways to name. B complex vitamins help to improve dry skin. A vitamin B deficiency may result in all sorts of skin problems and even hair loss. These are found in whole-grain cereals, nuts, milk, eggs, meats, fish, fruits, and leafy green vegetables.

Remember, vitamin supplementation is only needed if dietary intake is not adequate. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.