Great skin comes from the inside out. Not only must you use ingredients on your face, but you must also take care of your insides in order to have radiant skin. So, eat healthy! This means less caffeine and alcohol and more water and antioxidants. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day will ensure your skin has enough moisture, also eating antioxidants will allow a neutralization of the free radicals that damage skin and cause aging. The following are antioxidants and other nutrients that are essential for beautiful healthy skin.
Vitamin A
Consume roughly 4,000 IU of vitamin A, a day. Vitamin A helps to reduce oil in the skin, or sebum, and rebuild skin tissue. You can find it in orange and yellow fruit and vegetables and dark leafy greens (like collards and spinach). Beta-carotene is the compound in the skin that creates vitamin A. So keep be sure to keep it working by eat those fruits and veggies! I love making snacks, one of my secrets is to have a banana and a bowel of spinach with some vinagarette instead of junk food like oily chips. Caution: 4,000 IU of vitamin A or more is dangerous to those who are pregnant or may become pregnant, for it creates an increased risk of birth defects.
Vitamin C
Consume roughly 250-500mg of vitamin C daily. This antioxidant and immune system booster also used to make collagen, one of the main components of the body’s connective tissue. Citrus fruits, red pepper, green peppers, and broccoli all contain vitamin C. My favorite way to get my vitamin C is organic orange juice in the morning and putting some peppers or broccoli mixed into my favorite foods.
Vitamin E
You should supplement your diet with 400 IU of vitamin E a day. It looks through your body for damaging free radicals. You can find it in nuts, seeds, avocados, and extra virgin oil. This is a power antioxidant, but is difficult to get enough for yourself with out taking a supplement, so it is advised to take organic pills. Mmm, avocados are so yummy. I like making guacamole with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil, and instead of tortilla chips use some vegetables!
Omega-3 fatty acids
Fatty? Most people hear the word “fat”in anything and think its bad for you. Well not these! Omega-3 fatty acids are fats that fight inflammation in the skin and allow resilience and lubrication of your body’s tissue. This can be found in cold-water fish or in flaxseeds. The easiest way to get this is to consume one tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily. One thing I found to be yummy is some salmon grilled with organic barbeque sauce. If you put so.e crushed flaxseeds or the flaxseed oil in the sauce it tastes delicious! Now you know the secret to beautiful skin from the inside! Use it to your advantage and allow your body to feel and look amazing. Also don’t forget to drink that water! Our bodies are made from mostly water, so don’t dehydrate your skin.
