Beauty doesn’t just come from makeup, face washes, or creams—it also comes from the inside out! What we put in our bodies gets digested and eventually comes out our skin cells. I had the chance to interview Angela Wright, who has over seven years of experience as a Holistic Nutritional Consultant and currently provides complimentary nutrition consulting two days a week for Langley Nature’s Fare customers. We talked about eating the right foods to give you that natural glow and clear skin. I asked Angela two simple questions: what should you eat and what should you not eat when it comes to healthy skin? Here are five things you should do to help your skin, plus we will talk about what foods to avoid.
Five Components for Great Summer Skin
- Hydration is key! Drink a lot of water each day to help your skin hydrate and prevent wrinkles from developing. If you’re in need of a little electrolyte rebalancing, try coconut water with a pinch of unrefined sea salt. If you are craving some flavour besides water or coconut water, at home spa waters are becoming very popular. Fill a container with water and add some cucumber and mint; or if you would like something a bit sweeter, strawberry and kiwi is a great option. Don’t forget a pinch of sea salt.
- Fresh fruits and veggies are a great snack for hot months! Raw leafy greens and berries help cleanse and detoxify our system, preventing toxins from building up in our skin or liver. Some that are particularly great for you are baby spinach, sprouts, kales, and dandelion greens. Strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries are full of antioxidants, which prevent free radicals that damage skin cells.
- We all need good fats! Good fats are crucial because they keep moisture in the skin. Some great examples are free range eggs, cold water white fish or salmon, chia seeds, flax seeds, coconut oil, and olive oil.
- We also need good bacteria which help the digestive tract; our external skin is a reflection of our internal skin. If you suffer from eczema, dry skin/irritations, or acne, some fermented foods to include in your diet are unpasteurized sauerkraut, kambucha, fermented salsa, kimchi, organic plain yogurt, and raw apple cider (try with warm water in the morning or it’s great for salad dressings). If you suffer from acne you will want to take a look at your liver; toxins try to get out through the skin when the liver is overworked and under functioning.
- Time in the sun is actually a good thing! You will want to be in the sun with no sunblock gradually for just a few minutes a day. Sunscreen and sunblock prevent vitamin D from entering your skin. A gradual tan is protective to your skin and will build a layer to keep itself safe. This is not saying be in the sun only without sunscreen, but a few minutes a day is good for your bone and mental health. When wearing sunscreen, choose a natural one that is not full of chemicals and toxins but still protects against the harsh rays.
There are a few foods that can cause damage to your skin: avoid dried fats such as deep fried anything, chips, commercial baked goods, oils that are sensitive to heat, and refined carbohydrates such as white sugar, pasta, bread, and flour. As far as beverages you should drink in moderation or stay away from this summer, avoid caffeine such as coffee and pop, alcoholic beverages, and those with a lot of sugar. These dehydrate the cells, which is the main cause of wrinkles. If you are craving sweets this season, you are in luck because I have a couple of quick and easy suggestions! Try homemade popsicles by whirling up some watermelon, strawberries, and water. Add a bit of honey or maple syrup, pop it in the freezer, and let set! Or if you’re a chocolate lover, mash up a banana, avocado, and some cocoa powder, pop in the freezer, and when it’s finished you’ll have chocolate banana goodness!
There you have it, a few beauty tips on how to how stay healthy from the inside out all summer. Changing the way you eat will not only help with how you feel, it will help with how your skin looks, and ultimately will make your insides healthier as well!
Stesha Jordan Puckett is a lover of style, beauty, and all things photography. She started her blog, Classic & Bubbly, in June of 2011, where she uses her love and talents of photography and writing to explore topics like personal style, beauty tips and tricks, and her family life.
Article was published in The Good Life magazine.
