FOODS FOR A HEALTHY SKIN

Anatomy of the human skin

The skin is the soft outer covering over the human body. It is also the largest organ on the human being. The skin surface comes in various colours ranging from creamy to very dark brown. Underneath the outer layer are some other layers. Short hair grow from within the skin layers but on the head the hair is much longer.

What foods are good for your skin? What habits encourage a healthy skin? What are the foods to eat for maintaining a healthy skin?  What are the foods that prevent early ageing of the skin? What foods could be helpful in treating skin infection? There are some nutrients that actually support the skin, what are they? And what are the foods and habits that are harmful to the skin and should be avoided? I will deal with all this and more in this post.

Best foods for clear skin  Foods that would clear the skin from blemishes such as dark circles round the eye, freckles and sunburn.

• Thyme – contains a compound called phenol. This compound is excellent in treating skin blackheads and acne without side effects. (1) Grind dried thyme and add it to your face scrub (2) Cover 1 tablespoon of dried thyme with oil, shake it daily and place it in a cool dry place for 2 weeks. Sieve the thyme out of the oil and apply to the affected area every night.
• Cucumber – protects from sunburn, tones, fades dark eye circles, removes freckles over time and improves the skin complexion. Tips: (1) Place a slice of cucumber on each eye for 20-30 minutes to remove dark circles and puffy eyes. (2) Blend cucumber into a paste, mix it with some honey and lemon juice to remove sunburn, freckles and improve your complexion.

To heal damaged skin

• Guava – is a rich source of vitamins A, B and especially vitamin C. It contains detoxifiers and antioxidants which fights free radicals. The guava fruit and leaves have amazing ways of healing affected skin. It also keeps the skin firm and glowing. (1) Boil a few guava leaves in water, leave it to cool down and use this water on the affected area. (2) Include a guava in your daily diet.

 

How to reduce wrinkles around eyes 

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  Bell Pepper – They come in 4 colours Red, Orange, Yellow and Green. Bell pepper is rich in vitamin C, the red one has twice the vitamin C other colours have. Vitamin C produces collagen, this prevents premature skin ageing, reduces wrinkles around the eyes and holds the skin together. (1) Add bell pepper slices to your daily salad. (2) Blend red bell peppers with tomatoes to make a healthy sauce or dip. (3) Include Bell peppers in your stir fries.

 

 

 

 

Foods for healing in the skin

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• Beans (also known as Cowpeas) – Due to the high levels of fibre, protein, vitamins A and vitamin C in Beans (cowpeas), it has the ability to improve the health and appearance of the skin. You can incorporate it into your diet in the following various ways:

Cook beans into a stew

• Boil beans in your rice
• Mix cooked beans in your salad
• Blend beans and boil them into soup
• Blend beans bake them into a pudding
• Blend beans and fry them into pan cakes

 

 

Foods for younger skin

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  Oats – is used in soothing skin conditions (1) Pour oats into your bath water to soothe your skin (2) Mix ½ a lemon and 1 teaspoon of honey into a cup of cooked oats. Put this over the affected area and rinse it off after 30 minutes. Repeat the process twice a week.

 

• Walnuts – The walnut contains antioxidants and vitamin B. Compared to other nuts it has the highest amount of vitamin E. Hence the walnut prevents wrinkles and ageing signs. (1) Sprinkle crushed walnut on your salads and porridge.

 

 

 

Foods to avoid skin cancer

• Tomato – Tomato is rich in selenium, a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from various conditions such as sunburn and cancer.
• A tomato eaten raw a day keeps the doctor away.
• Include tomato in your daily salad.
• Add tomato to your smoothie
• Blend tomatoes with onions and peppers to make the healthiest sauce in the world.

• Oily Fish – Mackerel reduces inflammation (1) Avoid frying fish, eat it grilled or boiled in soup

 

Foods to avoid skin dryness

• Water – hydrates the skin keeping it from being dry and wrinkly (1) Drink 8 250 cl glasses of warm water every day. (2) Drink 2 500 cl glasses of water first thing in the morning.
• Avocado – is a food with healthy fat. It will keep your skin moist. Eat it raw for maximum benefits.

 

Foods and habits to avoid for healthy skin

• Processed sugar and foods high in sugar – Processed sugar sags the skin and causes wrinkles.
• Milk and cheese – Consuming milk can lead to acne and ageing of the skin.
• Avoid Fatty foods
• Crash diets – Junk food will do your skin no good.
• Eat less meat – Too much meat = wrinkles on the skin.
• Alcohol – alcohol dehydrates the skin making it look older.
• Reduce the time you expose you skin to harmful sunlight

 

Best food for healthy skin

These are the food nutrients and habits that support the skin and are best for maintaining a healthy skin. These foods they can be found in:

• Beta-carotene – This assists in developing healthy skin and can be found in: Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, papaya and pumpkins
• Lutein – Ugwu, Papaya, Spinach
• Zinc – Poultry, lean red meat
• Water – drinking enough water daily hydrates the skin keeping it healthy. Drink 8 250cl glasses of water daily
• Eat more nuts and seeds
• Exercise regularly, it will give you firm muscles and with time firm skin.
• Sleep for 6 – 7 hours every day. Sleep enhances the skin’s natural glow, elasticity and transparency. When sleep is not enough the skin (a) becomes dull and (b) ages prematurely

The look and health of the largest organ of our body, our skin speaks volumes about us. Three key words for our skin are: Nutrition – Exercise – Sleep. Taking good care of our skin, we will not be looking or feeling prematurely old.

I would like to know how this post has helped you or if you have any questions please leave a comment.