Adequate hydration and an antioxidant-rich diet go a long way to ensure healthy skin.Among the other eliminatory organs in the body, skin plays a vital role because of its sweat pores. When the waste byproducts and toxins in our bodies are not excreted totally through the kidney – mostly due to lack of hydration, the skin bears the brunt of it. Adequate water and other hydrating liquids is one of the key secrets to healthy skin. Coconut water, buttermilk, fruit and vegetable juices, milkshakes, smoothies and soups all count as hydrating fluids. Tea, coffee, aerated beverages and alcohol do not. Well-hydrated skin is inherently protected from wrinkles, pigmentation, flaking, peeling and dryness.
FOODS FOR BETTER SKIN: To ensure your daily dose of epidermal enhancing vitamins, have a tall glass of freshly-prepared vegetable juice. Include carrots (rich in vi amin A), tomatoes (rich in ly copene and vitamin C), avocados (contains essential fatty acids (EFA) and vitamin E), parsley or spinach (chlorophyll, vitamin B12, folic acid) andor any other vegetable available to you in your refrigerator on any given day – they all come with great nutritional benefits. This glassful of nature’s boun ty ensures your daily needs of vitamins and antioxidants from the plate, which is better than any pill or supplements. To procure this in its most natural form, consume fatty fish like salmon, mackerel or tuna. Other foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acid are almonds, soya, olive oil and rice bran oil. They are also rich in phytoestrogens, which have a synergistic effect along with Omega-3, to give you youthful skin.
Green tea is another skin-friendly food; it is rich in flavonoids, which help protect the skin against acne, pigmentation or wrinkles.
Probiotic curds is very important for healthy skin, as it improves your immune system and kills bacteria that cause acne and other skin problems like psorasis.
THINGS TO AVOID
Sugar: Excess sugar intake throws the insulin levels off balance, which can lead to inflammation both inside the body and on your face. Cut back on sugar-laden desserts, breakfast cereals, snack bars, sodas and other goodies.
Deep-fried foods: Fried foods have compounds called `advanced glycation end products’ very aptly termed AGES that are linked to oxidative damage, and result in inflammation that can make your skin look ruddy, dull and wrinkled.
Excess salt: Most fried foods create a double whammy of trouble, as they are also high in sodium, which causes water retention. It’s most noticeable in the under-eye areas, as the skin there is very thin, and it doesn’t take much to cause a swelling.