There is a famous quote: "Health is Wealth". So, it is always important to uphold the value of proper eating and living a healthy lifestyle to stay in shape and for optimum health.
In fact, aside from having an attractive body, being healthy can also mean having a healthy skin, as reflected in your complexion.
Most people known to appear healthy looking are so, because they eat healthily. Because their inner beauty radiates and exudes deep from within, even without make-up.
Nowadays, looking good is not just vanity but is already considered one way of staying healthy. This is because of the protective function of a healthy skin. Additionally, a healthy diet is acknowledged by the medical profession to be an important factor in a glowing complexion and looking good.
Unfortunately, many people thought that simply eating the right kind of food would make them healthier and live longer. They did not fully understand, in addition, what an essential factor healthy nutrition is in having a good complexion and healthy skin, and the importance of this.
Here we justify the importance of good nutrition to maintain a healthy skin.
The human body is not able to produce all vitamins and minerals, which is why healthy eating is vital as a supply. For example, when people are exposed to the sun, the skin's reservoir of vitamin C goes down, and unlike most animals, humans cannot make vitamin C. So it is important to replace it by eating foods rich in vitamin C with which your skin can combat the harmful effects of the damage caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays.
A youthful and healthy looking skin can also be maintained by eating foods rich in vitamin A. Daily intake of vitamin A is proven to be an effective way of reducing the appearance of acne, wrinkles, and other skin problems. If you could become pregnant, or already are so, be very cautious about foods rich in vitamin A, as high levels can be harmful. Serious consequences can occur from excess supplies of this vitamin.
Antioxidant rich foods will positively benefit your skin by fighting the oxidants, or free radicals, that are manufactured when bodily processes burn oxygen as they generate energy. Foods that are rich in antioxidants include fruit and vegetables, especially the "green, leafy vegetables" like spinach.
In foods that are rich sources of carotenoids, e.g. beta-carotene, antioxidants will be present. Carrots are a perfect specimen. Richly colored plant foods provide a good source of antioxidants, for example berries.
Antioxidants can also be present in dietary supplements or skin care products, from which they will still be absorbed.
The source of fiber, or roughage, is a plant's cell wall components. Check out these foods: whole grains, legumes, citrus fruits, nuts, and vegetables for good sources of dietary fiber.
In its simplest form, fiber is an example of complex carbohydrate, essential for absorbing important nutrients into the system. Without fiber, some nutrients will be wasted instead of being used by the body. Fiber is also important in promoting good levels of excretion, and toxins will bind to fiber and be "escorted" out of the body. By adding fiber to your diet, an improved complexion can be achieved.
Ensure you don't overlook proteins in your diet; they promote proper growth and production of new skin cells. Proteins are chains of amino acids responsible for the skin's cell growth and maintenance.
Check out these foods for protein: eggs, meat, grains, legumes and dairy products - such as milk and cheese. Complete proteins are those that contain all the essential amino acids necessary for building and maintaining bodily cells, including skin cells.
You can obtain all essential amino acids from animal proteins; with the absence from plant proteins of one or more. This should not create difficulties if all the essential amino acids are present in your diet. The products soy, quinoa, spirulina, hemp seed, amaranth and buckwheat, to name but a few, are a rich source of complete proteins in a vegetarian diet.
Finally, healthy eating will make a significant contribution to healthy skin, reflected in well maintained cells, as well as a good complexion. Those who are more aware of what they are eating will find that the care (or lack of care) they exercise will be reflected in their skin's appearance. Again: "You are what you eat".
Do not forget also, the skin can benefit from external application of beauty products containing the above mentioned ingredients.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “A healthy diet is important for improving raw materials for healthy skin," but they also note that greasy or sugary foods do not cause acne.1 Likewise, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concurred, “Diet plays no role in acne treatment in most patients…even large amounts of certain foods have not clinically exacerbated acne."1 Of course, that doesn’t mean you should make a habit of eating foods high in sugar or fat. The skin is the body’s largest organ, so what’s good for the rest of you will be good for your skin, too.
Acne Prevention & Diet - Nutrients for healthy skin. There are a number of nutrients found in everyday foods that are known to promote a healthy body �" and therefore healthy skin. Get wise to these substances, and you’ll increase your chances of conquering your acne.
Acne Prevention & Diet - Vitamin A. Naturally occurring Vitamin A, or retinol, is found in fish oils, liver and dairy products. The Vitamin A produced by plants is known as Beta-carotene, and is found in yellow/orange fruits and vegetable such as carrots, yams, apricots and cantaloupe, as well as green vegetables like parsley, kale and spinach. Extremely high doses of Vitamin A are toxic, so don't overdo it.
Acne Prevention & Diet - Vitamin B-2. Stress has been known to aggravate existing cases of acne, and Vitamin B-2 is often helpful alleviating stress. Foods with a high concentration of B-2 include whole grains, fish, milk, eggs, meat and leafy green vegetables.
Acne Prevention & Diet - Vitamin B-3. Found in peanuts, eggs, avocados, liver and lean meats, Vitamin B-3 improves circulation, promoting healthy skin. It also reduces the cholesterol level in the blood and helps you metabolize protein, sugar & fat �" increasing your energy through proper utilization of food.
Acne Prevention & Diet - Vitamin E. Vitamin E is found in almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, broccoli, wheat germ and vegetable oils. A powerful antioxidant, it protects your cells against the effects of free radicals, which are potentially damaging by-products of the body’s metabolism.
Acne Prevention & Diet - Zinc. Even in trace amounts, the antioxidant zinc is known to boost the immune system, improving overall health �" which of course is reflected in the skin. Zinc can be found in eggs, whole grains, nuts and mushrooms.
Acne Prevention & Diet - Know your own triggers. Since acne is different for everyone, there may be certain foods that cause flare-ups in your skin. Clearly, these foods should be avoided. You may also want to check your vitamin supplements for their iodine content; while normal amounts of iodine have not been shown to affect skin, amounts greater than the RDA of 150 mcg may aggravate your acne.
Overall, use your common sense. Drink lots of water and eat a healthy, balanced diet �" but don’t be afraid to indulge your cravings every now and then.
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