Tips Of The Day

Dietician Sheela Sherawat

Diet For Healthy Skin

Our skin is the first line of defence against external harmful elements and microorganisms. Maintaining a healthy skin is important for the overall health of our body and it also improves our self-confidence and personality as it created a better impression on us.

Beautiful skin starts with proper nourishment and care. Eating a correct balance of foods, feeds our skin with all the vital nutrients to stay supple and soft. Our internal health has direct impact on the health of our skin and hence, it is impossible to be unhealthy inside and still have a healthy glowing skin. Along with healthy lifestyle, avoidance of harmful elements and maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet is the key to a great looking and healthy skin.

Many of us are not aware of the fact that how important diets are for a healthy skin. Noted here are some helpful and important dietary points and foods that leads towards a radiant, soft and young looking skin.

Fruits and vegetables: are rich in essential microelements and anti-oxidants. Constant exposure to the onslaught of pollutants and toxins externally, our skin needs foods that helps in combating the effects. Powerful antioxidants in fruits and vegetables protect skin from the cellular damage caused by free radicals. Beta-carotene, found in carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin, and lutein, found in kale, papaya and spinach are potent antioxidants, important for normal skin cell development and healthy skin tone.

Get food rich in vitamin C: vitamin C is considered as a super antioxidant, supports the immune system, promotes radiant skin and helps heal blemishes. Blackcurrants, blueberries, broccoli, guava, kiwi fruits, oranges, papaya, strawberries and sweet potatoes are rich sources of vitamin C. it is also needed to produce collagen that strengthens the capillaries that supply the skin.

Get enough selenium and vitamin E in your diet: apart from being a powerful antioxidant, selenium is essential to support the immune system. Selenium-rich diet can help to protect against skin cancer, sun damage and age spots. Bazilnuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, wheat germ, tomatoes and broccoli are good sources of selenium and vitamin E.

On the other hand vitamin E helps in protecting the skin from oxidative (cell) damage and supports healthy skin growth. Almonds, avocado, hazelnuts, pine nuts and sunflower and corn oils are foods rich in vitamin E.

Essential fatty acids: omega 3 and omega 6 are the top two fatty acids, abundantly found in fresh salmon, walnuts, canola oil and flax seed oil. It works like a barrier against many cell-damage and works along with cellular membrane, which is responsible for retaining water content in every cell. It also retain moisture on the skin cells and enhance moisture absorption.

Drink 6 o 8 glasses of water in a day: our skin needs moisture to stay flexible. Even the mildest of dehydration can cause our skin to look dull, dry and tired. All our fluid intakes contributes but water is the best. It is advisable to consume atleast 6 to 8 glasses of water during the day to keep hydrated. Herbal, green and caffeine free teas are also good. Some fruit and vegetables, such as watermelon, courgette and cucumber, also contribute fluids along with added benefit of minerals they contain.

A diet for healthy skin is also a diet for healthy organs. A balanced, nutritious and healthy diet will not only make you look beautiful from outside, but also keep you healthy and beautiful from inside. Make no mistake about it- diets for a healthy and beautiful skin is very important and it cannot be replaced with any kind of product. Natural skincare products as a complimentary source in addition to diets for healthy skin, they act as catalysts.