Summer is upon us
and, for most, this means baring a lot more skin! As well as booking in to your local day spa
for a facial, body scrub or massage it is important to look after your skin
from the inside as well.
The skin is the
largest organ of the body and mirrors what is going on inside your body and any
nutritional deficiencies will be reflected on your skin. Stress, poor nutrition, dehydration and lack
of sleep will also affect how the skin looks and feels. A healthy diet
forms the foundation for improving your skin condition and helps to provide the
body with nutrients essential to healthy skin formation and support. Healthy food
choices for skin wellbeing include:
·
Fresh vegetables – eat a
variety of fresh vegetables including green leafy ones. Green, yellow and red vegetables are high in
antioxidants, which will help to protect against cellular aging and
damage. ·
Fresh fruit – fruit contains
anti-oxidants to protect your skin from free-radical damage and is rich in
vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed for
tissue growth and repair and is required for the formation of collagen, an
important protein for skin elasticity.
·
High fibre foods – such as
whole grains, legumes, apples and pears to assist with improving digestive
function to allow for effective toxin elimination.
·
Protein rich foods – good
quality protein such as oily fish, lean meat, chicken, dairy, eggs and complete
vegetable protein are important as the amino acids contribute to skin firmness
and elasticity.
·
Essential fatty acids – eating
oily fish, avocado, nuts and seeds will help to keep your skin moisturized,
smooth and healthy.
·
Stay hydrated – your body
consists of around 75% water and the skin is about 70%, so dehydration will
have a definite impact on how your skin looks and feels. Working in air-conditioning is very
dehydrating so get in the habit of having a jug of water on your desk and
drinking regularly. For those who
complain that water is boring then add in some slices of lemon or lime, mint
leaves or even cucumber slices – not only will it taste great but you can close
your eyes and pretend you are at a health retreat. Aim to drink 30ml per kilo of body weight and
no, any coffee, tea and carbonated drinks do not count in this allowance! We are coming up to the silly season but
remember that alcohol is a diuretic and, as such, promotes the removal of
fluids from your body, so drink in moderation and remember to add in some
glasses of water between your drink of choice. Thanks for reading! Lisa |
 |
|||||
 
CategoriesCold and FluComplete Protein Detox Hay Fever Healthy Skin Naturopath Naturopathy Brisbane Stress The Naturopath's Blog Vegetarian Protein |
|
 |
|||
    |
|||||
