Have you ever thought about the fact that taking care of the way we look on the outside starts with what we put into our bodies?
When we think about improving our skin health, we think automatically of fancy skin care products, going to the salon or getting a facial. But have you ever thought about the fact that taking care of the way we look on the outside, starts with what we put into our bodies? We are what we eat right? 😉 Besides we want that glowing skin, it’s also the biggest organ we have and the skin protects us against infections and UV-radiation. We gathered some tips on how food can contribute to healthy skin. These are just a few examples of foods that can benefit tremendously to give you an idea about what food can do for you, however there are many more ways to incorporate food in your diet to help get that glowy skin! ✨😊
Brazil nuts for glowing skin
Selenium is an essential micronutrient which speeds up the cell turnover process, providing a natural glow to the skin. Brazil nuts are one of the best sources of selenium: by consuming a few brazil nuts a day you will get the daily amount you need. Did you know a selenium deficiency can lead to potential hair loss?
Make sure to not overeat on brazil nuts (maximum of 6 a day), because too much selenium is powerful and too much isn’t good for the body.
Walnuts for overall skin health
There are many reasons why walnuts are good for skin health:
- Moisture Retention: They’re an excellent source of essential Omega-3 fatty acids. Those are vital to the integrity of skin cell membranes, which in turn, are vital to retaining cell hydration. The fatty acids can even help skin cells attract moisture from the air.
- Slow aging: Antioxidants are free radical fighters. The antioxidants vitamin B and E in walnuts neutralize the free-roaming electrons that affect skin-firming structures, like collagen and elastin. Eating walnuts results in your body fighting better against the free radicals that create texture, lines and wrinkles.
- Stabilize hormones: Walnuts help regulate your blood glucose level, which is a key factor in maintaining overall endocrine balance. Hormones—and how they affect your skin and overall health are complicated— however spikes in glucose levels are known for causing acne.
All nuts in general
Nuts are incredibly important due to their high amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids. This strengthens the membrane of the skin.
Next to this, nuts have the ability to give your body heavy amounts of Vitamin E. This vitamin is called food for skin as it feeds your skin, and keeps your skin smooth and bright.
By bringing Vitamin E, your blood vessels are able to keep your skin hydrated, helping you avoid skin conditions such as dark spots and acne, among others.
Many people use skin lotions and products to make sure that their face doesn’t break out with wrinkles and lines. It actually turns out that nuts carry properties to help in a similar way! They supply your body with large portions of Vitamins E, A and C, all of which help reduce the chance of your skin getting wrinkles.
Another benefit of nuts is that they help give your body flavanoids alongside antioxidants. By using these two materials at once, your body can make way for new cells. A quick cell turnover means less wrinkles!
Goji Berries: all round skin booster
Many skin care products contain goji berry oil and extract, and for good reason.
Goji berries are immune boosters, potent antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, barrier boosting, protect skin from the sun and help with skin tone! What’s not to love about them?! A total antioxidant powerhouse, goji berries are a significant source of vitamin C, minerals, amino acids, carotenoids, and polysaccharides—all of which have incredible benefits for the skin.
Cutting out dairy products
Instead of adding powerfoods to your diet, cutting out some foods can help improve the skin tremendously. Dairy products are a great example for this. Whey and casein (the proteins in milk) stimulate growth and hormones in calves. When we consume these proteins, they also release hormones which are known to trigger breakouts on the skin. This is because the hormones in the milk can interact with the hormones in our body and confuse it’s endocrine system. Lactose (the natural sugar present in milk) becomes more difficult to digest for humans after infancy. Your acne-related breakout could be a reaction to this.
There are great dairy free alternatives to milk and cheese, for example nut milks or vegan cheeses made by Chivasuka. Try out our recipe for delicious creamy pasta sauce made from cashews as an alternative for alfredo sauce!
Disclaimer
A varied and balanced diet is the biggest priority when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. For example, if you eat fast food every day and then eat some brazil nuts, you can’t expect a smooth skin. Of course this is an extreme example and we understand it can be challenging to keep up with a healthy diet. Everybody is different and will need a different approach to handle any issues you may have.
Please consult a holistic nutritionist or a detox specialist to find out what would work for you based on your specific body type and constitution. If you don’t know where to start we can recommend you to contact Shalini from Herbology, she is an Holistic Health and Wellness specialist focused on food therapy for optimizing digestion. Or turn to Karin from Chivasuka, she is a Holistic Health Practitioner and Detoxification Specialist.