Effect of diet on skin
Most people in today’s world worry much about their skin issues. But did you know that the simplest cure to most of your health issues is the diet you consume? Just by modifying your food habits and lifestyle, you can evade lifestyle as well as fatal and life-threatening diseases like cancer. Remember, “You are what you eat”. This is why experts advise improving your diet for healthy living.
Your skin isn’t just about appearing beautiful. Anatomically, it is the largest organ in your body, providing a layer of defence and preventing your body from being hampered by external adverse pollutants, microbes and even radiation. Without the skin, we would end up being more prone to diseases. Likewise, your skin also acts as an alarm. When your internal systems are abnormal, your skin or integumentary system acts as an indicator. In such cases, your skin acts like a mirror, reflecting the problems faced by your body internally. An individual who takes precautions and maintains their body would have problem-free skin.
Here are a few skin problems that most teenagers, young adults and mid-40s face, that can simply be elevated by modifying the diet pattern.
Acne
If you look at the science behind acne, it is simply the blockage of your sebum glands, an oil secreting organ on your skin, by hair follicles or dust. Sometimes bacterial growth in these glands might lead to more complex problems causing bad breakouts. Consuming a lot of high sugar-containing food like soda or excessive consumption of deep-fried foods can cause your acne issues to worsen. This is because, these cards greatly disrupt the hormonal balance in your body, resulting in excessive oil production, resulting in a visible symptom called acne.Ageing and wrinkles
We all secretly wish to stay young and attractive. The key to looking young is to maintain healthy skin. Ageing occurs mainly as a result of ions and free radicals that are produced during the regular metabolic processes. These ions damage the skin and gradually damage it resulting in ageing. But consuming antioxidant-rich food can neutralise the effect of these radicals, preventing your skin from ageing. Coloured fruits and vegetables like carrots and papaya contain very high levels of antioxidants. Including these foods as a part of your routine can reduce the effect of ageing on your skin.
Things to add to your diet
Fatty fish
Fats are essential to keep your skin smooth, supple and moisturised. But it is important to pay attention to the type of fat that you consume. Consuming fatty fish like salmon can elevate the levels of Omega 3 fatty acid, the vital element that maintains your skin’s texture. The deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids can result in dry and flaky skin texture. This compound also has other advantages. It reduces the inflammation caused during can breakouts, reduces the effect of UV rays and supplies protein that can strengthen your skin’s integrity preventing it from wrinkling. Fishes also contain Vitamin E which is an effective antioxidantFruits and vegetables
Just like other coloured vegetable tomatoes are rich in carotenoids that can protect your skin from ageing and the effect of harmful radiation. Compounds like lutein and lycopene in tomatoes are the chemicals to maintain wrinkle-free skin. The skin of berries and red grapes contains resveratrol in excess. This is also an important antioxidant that can protect your skin from wrinkling. It also has evidence of preventing a few types of cancer including skin cancer that is caused due to UV radiation. Broccoli is one of a kind vegetable rich in various vitamins and minerals including zinc. Sulforaphane, a compound present in broccoli can protect your skin by triggering your body’s immune system against the sun’s damage and also elevates the level of collagen in your skin. Collagen is also present in Vitamin C containing fruits and vegetables that belong to the citrus family.Nuts
Teenagers and young adults love munching on crispy deep-fried food rich in carbs. The best way to overcome this habit is to replace fried food with nuts and seeds. Try replacing fries with flax seeds and notice changes in your skin’s texture within months. Nuts like almonds and walnuts and seeds like chia and flax have been known to greatly improve the skin’s texture. Sunflower seeds are also an amazing source of various vitamins and antioxidants essential for glowing problem-free skin.Green tea
Green tea in general is a rich source of antioxidants like catechin. These compounds reduce the inflammation that your skin experiences upon exposure to the sun. It can protect your skin against UV rays and improves the elasticity and moisture retaining capacity of your skin. In general, it is preferable to take any kind of tea without milk added, as milk was found to aggravate skin problems like acne breakouts.It is also important to drink sufficient water and stay hydrated, as more than 75% of our body is filled with fluid. Drinking water circulated the fluid system in the body smoothly and makes sure that the nutrients that you consume are taken up by the body efficiently. It also cools our internal systems and in turn, helps your skin stay young and plumpy.
Our body is constantly in the process of replenishing the dead cells with new ones. Just as your read, there are several thousand cells in your body being eliminated and replaced with newer ones. The process of cell development is complex and requires a balanced diet to ensure the new cells are healthy. This is why we recommend you take the necessary steps to take up a healthy diet.
Along with diet, a regular check-up with your dermatologist and following a proper skincare routine can help maintain healthy skin. Skin problems are genetically inherited or may sometimes be triggered by environmental and lifestyle factors. Taking precautions to maintain a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce skin care issues.
Visit your dermatologist today to know what your skin wants!