It’s been said that the skin is the ultimate indicator of your body’s health. Considering it’s the single organ that covers 99% of your body, it’s one of the *only* external visible indicators of your health. If your skin is looking less than healthy, it may be an indication that your body as a whole could be in need of some dietary changes.
As we age, the appearance of our skin typically becomes more and more important to us. More specifically, we’re concerned with slowing the appearance of aging by eliminating sagging skin and reducing wrinkles. By simply changing some of the foods that we eat, we can greatly effect the perceived age of our skin and, as a result, look many years younger.
Causes of Aging Skin
To determine which foods we need to look younger, we first have to look at what causes the appearances of aging in our skin. First, the skin is an organ and like any organ in the human body it will inevitably incur wear over time. However, scientists have discovered the specific chemical processes that occur in the skin to make it lose it’s elasticity and cause it to wrinkle up and sag:
Oxidation: Oxidation is the chemical result of your skin’s exposure to oxygen. The oxidation process is made worse by excessive exposure to sun or wind. In fact, a sunburn is an example of extreme oxidation on your skin. Now obviously we can’t get rid of oxygen or we’ll have much more serious problems, but there are certain vitamins known as antioxidants that can reduce needless oxidation by your skin.
Dehydration: Dry skin becomes stiff and inflexible. You should always try to keep your well hydrated. One important way to do this is, quite naturally, to drink water. Another way to prevent dehydration is by supplying your skin with a nice layer of healthy fat beneath the skin to protect your natural internal moisture. This does not mean you should go out and pack on 20 more pounds. The *healthy* fats, such as Omega 3s, are not externally visible, so you must choose your foods wisely.
Top Three Foods for Healthy Skin
As a general rule, look for foods that are rich in vitamins A, C and E – these are the major antioxidants. In addition, look for foods that are rich in beta carotene, as the body is able to convert it into antioxidants as well.
3. Carrots are rich in vitamin A and beta carotene.
They do wonders for regenerating skin cells and are also full of other very healthy vitamins such as C, B6 and potassium.
2. Salmon is rich in the Omega 3 essential fatty acids your skin needs to protect its own internal moisture, preventing dehydration. Salmon is also rich in protein, B12, and potassium.
1. Water is the most obvious, but also the most overlooked. Your body is made up of mostly water, so you can always use more.&