We all know what healthy skin looks like. It is free of blemishes and wrinkles, it looks clean, and there is a glow to it that makes one think "healthy". How many of us know how to keep our skin naturally healthy?
Genetics play a large part. If your parents have young healthy skin you are already ahead.
One of the most important things you can do for your skin is to drink a lot of water. Water provides the hydration for your internal organs. It also flushes impurities from your system. Those poisons probably cause more damage to your skin than anything else.
Keeping your skin clean is another important factor. Wash with plain soap and water. It will clean any dirt away. Then you can moisturize in your favorite way.
When you cook meat it turns brown. That is an unnatural state for meat. Tanning is basically cooking your skin. I know that a light tan can give a nice color to your skin and I think within limits is not overly harmful. However excessive tanning not only increases your chances of skin cancer but it causes your skin to dry out. Dry skin leads to wrinkles.
The foods we eat also make a difference in our outward appearance. As I always feel I must, I remind you to check with your doctor to make sure that the foods I mention here will not cause an allergic reaction or affect any medicines you have been prescribed. Always be smart about what you put into or onto your skin.
Omega 3 is a fatty acid that hydrates dry skin patches. Salmon is full of omega 3's.Omega 3 may help stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Both are necessary for soft skin with no flaky spots. It is also high in vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12. Salmon is a good source for iron and calcium.
Strawberries have more vitamin C than citrus fruits. Studies have shown that vitamin C helps fight aging of the skin. If you eat strawberries you will have fewer wrinkles and less aged-related dry skin.
Make a smoothie of 1 cup of strawberries, 1 cup of vanilla or plain yogurt, and 1 and a half tablespoons of honey. Blend them together with a mixer or in your blender. Save a bit out to coat your face then drink the rest. Smooth the rest over your face. It is a little bit sloppy so apply it over the sink but a thin coating is all you need. Used a couple of times each week it will help reduce those fine lines on your face.
Vitamin B3 is known as niacin. Niacin along with fatty oils and other B-complex vitamins are found in avocados. B3 is an anti-inflammatory and it helps sooth skin discoloration. Guacamole is easy to prepare and can be used as a dip, a sandwich spread, or as a topping for Mexican dishes.
Make a tea using 5 cups of boiling water, add half a teaspoon of whole cumin seeds, half a teaspoon of whole coriander seeds, and half a teaspoon of whole fennel seeds. Cover and boil for another five minutes. Strain out the seeds and pour into a thermos. Drink small amounts during the day. This will help eliminate the accumulation of undigested food in your stomach. The release of the toxins caused by undigested food will keep impurities from damaging skin cell DNA.
Whole wheat bread contains niacin. It reduces inflammation of acne and rosacea. That will allow your skin to heal a little faster.
Seeds and nuts are so good for your skin. They contain natural oils, fatty acids, and antioxidants. Antioxidants are needed to help your skin stay clear. They are also full of vitamins such as vitamin E and minerals. Zinc and selenium are plentiful. Zinc helps hair follicles divide properly and protects against damage caused by free redicals. If you do not get enough selenium your hair might fall out. It assists your body in the proper use of proteins. The essential fatty acids help make cells healthy. Healthy cells protect you skin from harmful waste products and help transport nutrients to skin.
Omega 3 is a fatty acid that helps cells maintain moisture. Moist skin looks full and smooth. Almonds, walnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts, flax seed are just a few of the seeds and nuts you can eat. They are good to snack on and relatively low in calories. They sprinkle nicely on top of meats, cooked vegetables, and salads.
If you work outdoors or just enjoy the feeling of being outside, remember that the sun burns off vitamin E which is a necessary antioxidant. Make sure to keep vitamin E replaced. You can find vitamins C and E in cosmetics but they do not absorb as well into the skin as nutrients from within your body. Plus they are unstable and at the mercy of oxygen and light.
I would never recommend partying to excess but if it happens your skin will look as bad as you feel in the morning. Almonds can help refresh your skin with the nutrients listed above.
Remember too much sun damages your skin and causes aging of the skin. Selenium makes skin cells more resistant to sunburn cells that produce faulty DNA and can lead to skin cancer. A good source of selenium is Brazil nuts.
Apricots can actually reverse wrinkles. Vitamin A is converted in our bodies to retinol which helps produce new cells. The new cells will be smoother looking. You could look years younger.
Green leafy vegetables are rich in iron as well as vitamins and minerals that feed skin cells. Spinach and seaweed are at the top of the list. Besides eating them soak them in cold water for a while. Then dry them most of the way. Lay them on you skin (they are safe for your face and eyes) to cool and refresh.
Olive oil is used for cooking, salad dressings, and skin softeners. It contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. You can simply rub it into your skin to keep it moist and supple. It will nourish from the outside. It works well as a lip gloss and skin soother. Another benefit of olive oil is that it inhibits the growth of facial hair. Nursing mothers can use olive oil on their nipples to prevent dry cracked skin and it will not harm baby. And remember to eat olive oil too. Beautiful skin begins from the inside.
Other oils can be used. The best ones for healthy skin will be labeled cold-pressed, expeller processed, or extra virgin. They do not have added solvents that lose nutrients.
Soy products are shown to significantly reduce wrinkles especially if you have a lot of wrinkles. In the study the women taking part took supplements containing soy. A more fun way to get the benefits of soy is to eat edamame another name for the seeds in the soy pod. They are a good snack to eat while reading a good book in the evening. They are used in cooking when making stir fry, soups, and casseroles. They are also good in salad.
If you wish to diminish scars, scratches, and dark spots eat hummus. Chickpeas are the main ingredient in hummus. They contain amino acids that are necessary for tissue growth and repair. Chickpeas do not have much flavor by themselves but they have an interesting texture if you would like to snack on them.
Eat eggs. They contain vitamins and selenium. They are good for your body and your skin as well as nourishing damaged hair. Much has been made of the cholesterol in eggs but not only are they revising opinions about the amount of eggs a person can safely eat but they are realizing that eggs are very good for you.
Green tea is one of those things we keep hearing about for benefits to overall health. Most of it is true. It has anti-inflammatories and protects cell membranes to keep the cells from breaking down. A recent study indicates that green tea may help prevent or reduce skin cancer. It can reduce the damage due to ultraviolet light (like sunburn). You can drink green tea either hot or iced. Add a bit of lemon or lime to your tea and it will remain in your body a bit longer so you can absorb more of the good things in it. It makes a cooling mask for the skin. Green tea bags or sterile cloth wet with cold green tea is a refreshing pack to place on your eyes. The tannins will help reduce puffiness.
The carotenoids that make pumpkins orange are plant pigments that fight wrinkles. Vitamins C, E, and A are in there with powerful enzymes that help cleanse skin. Now pumpkin seeds are a good snack full of fiber but the pulp is where the real benefits are.
Make a smoothie using 2 cups canned pumpkin, 4 tablespoons vanilla yogurt, 4 tablespoons honey, and 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice. Remember to save a bit for a facial. The facial will hydrate and soften your skin.
If you prefer pudding add to the above ingredients 2 tablespoons cream cheese and half a teaspoon vanilla extract.
The zinc in crabs and oysters will keep your skin free from pimples. Zinc helps reduce the inflammation so that pimples do not form. Remember to keep your skin free of the oils that clog the pores in the first place.
Most citrus fruits and fruits like mango, nectarines, and peaches contain the natural form of vitamin A called beta-carotene. It strengthens collagen which is skin's supportive structure. It lifts the sunken areas that create unhealthy looking shadows and gives a healthy glow to your skin.
Potatoes and sweet potatoes are starchy carbohydrates. We have been told they are bad for us. The thing is we need a certain amount of carbs to keep us at our top condition. These foods contain vitamins A and C. They are full of antioxidants, starches, oils, and acids that are necessary to good health. If you have ever seen a person who has completely cut all carbohydrates from their diets you noticed that their skin looked gray and their hair lost its luster. Some even lose their hair. Eating a proper amount of potatoes and sweet potatoes will improve those conditions within a week's time.
One of the fruits richest in antioxidants is the pomegranate, more than red wine or green tea. You can eat fresh pomegranate or make a scrub to fight aging. Cut off the crown of the pomegranate and score the rind into sections without cutting all the way through. Place in a bowl of water for 10 minutes. Break the rind away from the seeds. The seeds will sink and you can strain them out. In a blender put 2 tablespoons of seeds and 1 cup of uncooked oatmeal. Transfer it to a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of honey which is an antiseptic, and 2 tablespoons of buttermilk. Apply to your face and rinse it off after 10 minutes.
Mushrooms are full of zinc and selenium. They help keep your skin smooth and reduce discolorations of the skin.
You can eat your way to beautiful skin in no time at all. The benefits are that you will feel better on the inside too. After all that is where beauty begins.
I hope I get the max from all these
ReplyDeleteI am certain you do. I see the fresh food you talk about preparing. And any hiker knows enough to stay hydrated.
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