Healthy Skin and the Food You Eat

Having healthy skin is possible when you choose to have a healthy diet. In last months blog we discussed the first 6 foods that you should include in your diet for the best looking and best feeling skin. To quickly recap, these 6 foods are avocados, broccoli, dark chocolate, fatty fish, green tea, and red or yellow bell peppers. Read on to learn the other foods that you will want to add to your diet for healthy skin.

Red Wine

We’re not saying to finish a few bottles, but instead enjoy a glass or two from time to time! Red wine is known for containing resveratrol, a compound that comes from the skin of red grapes. Resveratrol has with a great range of health benefits. One of the most amazing of them is that is has components for reducing the effects of aging.

Our skin has very specific binding sites for resveratrol. There have been many studies of the affects of resveratrol on our skin. Several have proven that when it is in contact with our skin, this compound slows the skin’s aging. When consumed, it is also able to reduce the production of harmful free radicals. These harmful free radicals damage skin cells and cause the signs of aging.

It is not a good decision to start drinking red wine just because of its potential health benefits. But if you enjoy a glass of wine here and there, you might want to consider red wine as your drink of choice!

Soy

Soy contains isoflavones (or plant compounds) that can either mimic or block the estrogen that is in our bodies. It has several potential health benefits, including possible benefits for the skin. One study took place on a group of women in their thirties and forties. It became evident during this study that eating soy isoflavones every day for eight to twelve weeks improved fine wrinkles and the skins elasticity. Soy may also help improve skin dryness and increase collagen in postmenopausal women. Which in the end helps keep your skin smooth and strong. Here are some amazing soy recipes that you can try at home.

Sunflower Seeds

Most people are aware that nuts and seeds are a good source of nutrients. Grab a handful of nuts for your lunch or a quick snack. Then you know you are making a good choice of what to included in your heathy diet for healthy skin. Sunflower seeds are an excellent choice. Choosing to include nuts and seeds in your diet that contain vitamin E is the best option. It is a very simple way to make sure that you are getting enough of this important vitamin and antioxidant in your diet.

Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of linoleic acid, an essential omega 6 fat that helps to maintain your skins moisture levels as well as to stay flexible. Take care when choosing sunflower seeds which contain seasonings, as they include high levels of salt.

Sweet Potatoes

Beta-carotene is a nutrient in plants.  It can be converted into vitamin A in the body, and it is found in orange and dark-green vegetables such as carrots, spinach and sweet potatoes. Having a diet that includes beta-carotene will help keep your skin healthy by acting as a natural sunblock.

When it is consumed, beta-carotene is absorbed into your skin and  then provides protection to your skin cells from sun exposure. This can help prevent a damaging sunburn, skin cell death and the resulting effects of unwanted dry or wrinkled skin. Beta-carotene can also add a warm, orange colour to your skin, contributing to an overall healthier look. Why not switch out your regular potatoes with sweet potatoes – a simple way to have healthy skin!

Tomatoes

There are so many types of tomatoes in the supermarkets today – pick some up and try a few new recipes! Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C and contain all of the major carotenoids, including lycopene. Beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene have been shown to protect our skin against damage from the sun and may also help prevent wrinkling.

Because tomatoes contain all of the major carotenoids, they are an excellent food choice for maintaining healthy skin. Just remember that carotenoids need fat to be absorbed, so be sure to pair tomatoes with eating something like cheese or olive oil. Who doesn’t enjoy a few slices of tomatoes with some cheese, drizzled with balsamic vinegar, and a few fresh sprigs of basil!

Walnuts

Walnuts have many qualities that make them an excellent food choice for healthy skin. They are a good source of essential fats, zinc, vitamins E and C, seleniumand protein. These are all nutrients that our skin requires to stay healthy! Walnuts are a good source of essential fatty acids, which are fats that our bodies can not make by itself. Walnuts are more rich than most other nuts in both omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.

Be careful though, as a diet that is too high in omega 6 fats promotes inflammation. This can include inflammatory conditions of the skin like psoriasis. Omega 3 fats are known to help reduce inflammation in the body, including in our skin. Omega 6 fatty acids are very plentiful in the Western diet, but sources of omega 3 fatty acids are more rare. Walnuts contain a positive ratio of these two fatty acids. Walnuts also contain other nutrients that our skin needs to function properly and stay healthy. Simply add a handful of walnuts in your next salad and enjoy the benefits of having healthy skin!

If you have read both of our latest blogs, you are now aware of twelve more foods that can assist with maintaining healthy skin. Make sure you add these food choices to your next grocery list and have fun trying some new recipes that include these foods. It won’t take long until you see a difference in the elasticity and overall glow of your skin. We all have the choice of what foods we choose to eat – so why not choose what will keep us feeling great with amazing looking healthy skin!

Having a healthy diet for healthy skin is a choice! Your nutrition choices are very important to the look and feel of your skin overall. An unhealthy diet can also damage your metabolism, cause weight gain and affects your heart and liver. What you eat also affects the health of another organ — your skin!

Healthy Diet for Healthy Skin

The more information we gather on how our diets affect our bodies, the clearer it is to know that what we are eating is significantly affecting the health and the aging of our skin.

This article is part one, and will focus on some of the best foods to include in your diet.

Avocados

Avocados are high in healthy fats. Yes, there are fats that we can call healthy! You don’t have to remove all fats to have a healthy diet for healthy skin. Healthy fats benefit many functions in your body, including the health of your skin. Getting enough of these fats in your diet is an important factor in keeping your skin moisturized and flexible.

Studies have found that a high intake of total fat (specifically the types of healthy fats found in avocados) was associated with having more supple, springy skin. Preliminary evidence also shows that avocados contain compounds that may help to protect our skin against sun damage. UV damage to the skin can cause signs of aging, such as wrinkling. Avocados are also a very good source of vitamin E. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that helps protect the skin from oxidative stress.

Other studies have shown that vitamin E seems to be even more effective when it is combined with vitamin C. Vitamin C is also essential for maintaining healthy skin. Our skin needs vitamin C in order to create collagen. Collagen is the main structural protein that keeps your skin strong and healthy. A deficiency in vitamin C is very rare these days. Common symptoms would include dry, rough, scaly skin that can bruise very easily.

Vitamin C is also an anti-oxidant that protects your skin from oxidative damage. This can be caused by the sun and the environment, which can lead to signs of aging skin.

Broccoli

Broccoli makes the list because it is full of many vitamins and minerals important for skin health, including zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C. It also contains lutein, a carotenoid that works like beta-carotene. It protects the skin from oxidative damage, which can cause skin to become dry and wrinkled.

Broccoli florets also contain a special compound called sulforaphane, which seems to have some impressive health benefits. It may even have anti-cancer effects, including some forms of skin cancer. Sulforaphane is also a powerful protective agent against sun damage. It works in two ways: by neutralizing harmful free radicals and turning on other protective systems in the body. There is also evidence that it helps maintain collagen levels in the skin.

Dark Chocolate

Does anyone need a reason to eat chocolate? The effects of cocoa on your skin are pretty impressive! One study found that after 6 – 12 weeks of consuming a cocoa powder high in antioxidants, participants experienced a thicker, more hydrated skin. Their skin was also less rough and scaly, less sensitive to sunburn, and had better blood flow which brings more nutrients to the skin.
Several other studies have produced similar results, including improvements in the appearance of wrinkles.

Evidence shows that cocoa may be a powerful tool for keeping your skin young and protected from damage. Make sure to choose dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa in order to maximize the health benefits and keep added sugar to a minimum. Who said a healthy diet for healthy skin meant no chocolate!

Fatty Fish

Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel and herring) are an excellent choice to eat to maintain healthy skin. They are all rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, which are an important part of the diet when wanting to have a healthy diet for healthy skin. Omega 3 fatty acids are a necessary component to keep your skin thick, supple and moisturized. Having a deficiency in omega 3 fatty acids can also cause dry skin. The omega 3 fats found in fish are known to reduce inflammation, which can be the cause of redness and acne.

There has been some research done and studies have found that fish oil supplements may help fight inflammatory and auto-immune conditions affecting the skin, such as psoriasis and lupus. Fatty fish are also a good source of vitamin E, which is one of the most important antioxidants for the skin. Getting enough vitamin E is essential for protecting the skin against damage from free radicals as well as inflammation. Fatty fish are also a source of high-quality protein, which is necessary to grow the structural proteins that maintain the strength and integrity of our skin.

Fatty fish is also a source of zinc, a mineral that is important for regulating inflammation of the skin as well as the production of new skin cells and overall skin health. Having a deficiency in zinc can lead to skin inflammation, skin lesions and the delay in the healing of any wounds.

Green Tea

Drinking green tea also has the ability to protect your skin from damage and aging. The powerful compounds found in green tea are called catechins. They work to protect and improve the health of your skin in several ways. Like several other antioxidant-containing foods, regularly consuming green tea can help protect your skin against sun damage.

One 12 week study in 60 women found that drinking green tea daily could reduce redness from sun exposure by up to 25%. It also improved the moisture, roughness, thickness and elasticity of their skin. While green tea is a great choice for healthy skin, you may want to avoid drinking your tea with milk. There’s evidence that milk could reduce the beneficial effects of its antioxidants.

Red or Yellow Bell Peppers

Like sweet potatoes, bell peppers are an excellent source of beta-carotene. They are also one of the best sources of vitamin C, the antioxidant that’s necessary for creating the protein collagen, which keeps skin firm and strong. A large observational study in women found that eating plenty of vitamin C was associated with a lower chance of skin appearing wrinkled and becoming dry with age.

Being aware of what you are putting in your mouth has a huge effect on your skin is step one. Maintaining a healthy diet to ensure your healthy skin is step two.  You have the power to maintain a healthy diet for healthy skin! Watch for next months blog where we reveal the other food items that are great to have as part of your healthy diet for healthy skin.

Everyone loves to have the sun-kissed glow of the summer! Are you getting this look in the healthiest and safest way though? Should you use spray tans, or lay out in the sun? Laying out in the sun and tanning is definitely the most common method that we all use to achieve that wanted sun-kissed glow of the summer. The warmth of the sun on your skin can be very relaxing and comforting.

However, it can also be damaging to your skin more than you are aware of. The ultraviolet rays of the sun break down our skin and can therefore cause irreversible damage. This will actually make us look older with age spots, as well as the potential to cause cancer. The sun does provide us with the tools our skin needs to produce the essential nutrient vitamin D. Over exposure, however, can be dangerous and can lead to life-long health issues. Before you lay out in the sun, think of what you want your skin to look like next summer as well. One alternative to look into are spray tans.

Spray Tans

Safe

There is a solution that is much safer and healthier for your skin. Spray tans allow you to avoid exposing your skin to the sun and being burned in the process. Therefore no age spots will form when you apply a spray tan. Your skin will have the sun-kissed glow without the exposure to any of the hazards of the sun.

Customized Look

There is no way to customize the look you get while lying under the sun. With spray tans you can customize the exact look you want though. You can achieve the tan just as you like it with very little time or effort. You are able to achieve a darker look by simply re-applying as the summer goes by. This gives you the same look as repeatedly being in the sun, and getting a darker tan as the days and weeks of the summer go by.

No Need to Book a Flight

Spray tans give you a realistic looking tan. Not one of us ever wants that fake-looking tan that you and others know is not from the sun. We all want to look like we just came back from that month-long vacation where all we did was relax and rejuvenate our minds and bodies. You can achieve this look with spray tanning without having to book a flight or pack a suitcase! Your friends or co-workers won’t even be able to tell the difference, as spray tanning mimics a suntan perfectly. There is no worry of looking orange or too dark, since the spray tan formula is lightweight and comes with long-lasting results.

Healthy Skin

Spray tanning offers skin-friendly nutrients to keep your skin smooth and supple. The formulas are fortified with nourishing oils and nutrients which provide hydration for your skin. They can even contain multi-vitamins to repair your damaged skin. No one wants dull or itchy skin – so why not hydrate and promote healthy skin while getting that tanned look! While sun tanning does not hide blemishes, and it actually aggravates them – spray tans will help make imperfections less noticeable.

No Oops!

Have you applied lotion or had someone apply it for you and you were left with streaks of a sun burn or tan? Or worse yet, that hand-print of white skin where you forgot to rub the oil or lotion into your skin? Stop worrying about the streaks or burns as spray tans are expertly applied to achieve a streak-free even tan without any of the hassle of lotions, oils, application and extra expense. The spray tan application is a fine mist and therefore will not cause streaks or patches of darker colours to form on your skin. It’s simple, easy and is the healthiest way to obtain that glow of the summer.

Tanned all Year Long

Worried about losing your tan through the winter? You can schedule touch-ups even on a snowy, blustery day when you haven’t seen the sun in the sky for days! The entire spray tanning process takes approximately 15 to30 minutes to complete. Your skin will be healthy looking and glowing with just one simple trip. No sun required.

Preparing for a Spray Tan

Are you planning on getting a spray tan but don’t know where to start? Here are some tips to help you achieve the best results.

Shave and Exfoliate Your Skin

In order for an even and smooth application, always make sure to shave and exfoliate your skin the day before or the day of your spray tan.

Remove Body Applications

Make sure to remove anything that you have applied to your skin – make-up, perfumes, lotions, creams, and deodorant. These can all create a barrier between your skin and the spray tan application. If your skin is clear from other applications it will allow for an even reaction. This will also result in a lovely and even tanned look.

Dress Appropriately

Remember dark and looser fitting clothing to wear after your spray tan application.

Avoid the Water or Physical Activity

You should avoid taking a shower or a bath in the first 12 hours after your spray tan application. You also should refrain from doing activities that would cause you to sweat within the first 12 hours after your tan.

Moisturize Your Skin

Completely moisturize your skin as this is one of the most important elements in having a great spray tan as well as keeping your skin youthful and free from wrinkles. Using a proper moisturizer increases the longevity of your tan. It helps retain the elasticity and youthful look of your skin. There are many types of moisturizers that you can use. Make sure to take the time to find out what your skin requires. It is a good idea to try a few different ones in order to get the moisturizer that is the best match for your particular skin type.

Other Treatments

If you are planning on getting a manicure, a pedicure, some sugaring or even a facial, it is best to have these treatments prior to receiving or booking your spray tan. This will avoid any chance of blotchy patches forming or the unwanted removal of the spray tan.

Whether you have had a spray tan several times before, or you are planning on booking your very first spray tan – know that you are choosing the safest way of achieving a sun-kissed glow for your skin as well as providing good care for your skin for the long term.