How Will My New Year's Diet Affect My Skin's Health?

Eating more balanced foods has many health benefits, and luckily for all of us focused on skincare, eating well can also contribute to clear and glowing skin!

As we age, our skin cells regenerate at a slower pace, making it extra important to nourish our cells with the right nutrients. While we can't reverse the inevitable wrinkles and sagging skin (without the help of a cosmetic doctor of course) we can help our skin age gracefully by taking good care of our health. 

Skincare Products & Diet

Using healthy skin care products that are dermatologist recommended, like Oxygenetix, plays a vital role in the overall appearance of your skin, but can only do so much. For example, if you use Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation as a healthy alternative to other foundations, but continue to smoke, drink alcohol frequently and eat a lot of processed foods, your skin will still age prematurely. 

The effects of smoking on the skin are perhaps the most obvious to see, think wrinkles around the mouth and sunken features. But did you know that a diet high in processed or refined sugars and unhealthy fats also promotes skin aging?

Don't Crash Diet

Before starting your next crash diet, think about the effects it can have on your skin. Losing and regaining weight over and over can take its toll on your skin health, causing stretch marks, wrinkles, and sagging. Often crash diets are void of essential vitamins and minerals and this depletion of nutrients can reflect on your skin.

Take into account the health risks associated with fad diets and detoxes before you get into one that can have adverse effects for your skin. The best diets are the ones that promote long-lasting change and habits that you can follow. 

So what are the best foods to eat if you want to improve your skin? What are the foods you should avoid? 

The Best Foods for Your Skin

Stock up on vitamins and minerals for strong, supple skin. Here are some of the best ones to incorporate in your diet. 

Vitamin C is a super antioxidant. Used topically to help diminish the appearance of sunspots and pigmentation, Vitamin C also promotes radiant skin when eaten. It is used to produce collagen, support the immune system, and strengthens the capillaries that supply the skin. Eat things like blueberries, broccoli, kiwis, oranges, strawberries, and sweet potatoes.

Selenium is also a powerful antioxidant. Studies suggest that eating selenium can help protect against skin cancer, sun damage, and age spots. It works alongside vitamins E and C and is important for the immune system. Brazil nuts are a great source of selenium. Eat 4 a day for best results!

Vitamin E protects skin from oxidative stress (cell damage) and supports healthy skin growth. Almonds, avocados, pine nuts, hazelnuts, and sunflower oil are high in vitamin E and make great additions to salads or light snacking.

Healthy Fats act as a natural moisturizer for your skin. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats keep skin supple while improving elasticity. These fats are in oily fish, nuts and seeds, and avocados.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fats can help inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Omega-3s are found in oily fish and plant sources such as linseed, rapeseed oil, chia seeds, and walnuts. 

Low GI Carbs. Try to eat foods which a low glycemic index (GI) that release sugar into the bloodstream gradually. Beans, lentils, bran cereals, and oatmeal are some examples of low GI foods that can help you stay full longer and avoid snacking. Avoid high-GI foods such as sugary drinks, white rice, potatoes, sugary cereals, and fruit yogurts to name a few. High-GI foods may damage collagen and accelerate wrinkles. 

Overall, it's important to have balance by eating a lot of vegetables and whole grains, avoiding processed, sugary, and high glycemic foods. 

The Foods that Can Contribute to Acne

Recent research has shown that diet is a contributing factor to acne in some cases. There is strong support suggesting that the Western diet, full of high glycemic foods and dairy products is the main culprit. 

Rajani Katta, MD states, "Foods with a high glycemic index, such as sugar, white bread, and white rice, are rapidly absorbed, leading to higher serum glucose levels and corresponding elevated levels of insulin. Insulin and IGF-1 have been shown to augment sebum production, stimulate adrenal androgen synthesis, and increase androgen bioavailability, all of which play a role in the pathogenesis of acne."

Here in the United States, our dairy products are full of growth hormones to increase milk supply in cows. These hormones have been linked to many health effects including acne breakouts in some studies. 

In Conclusion

Whatever your New Year's resolution is for your health, make sure to incorporate more balanced and nutritious foods so your skin can look and feel it's best! Use only clean products on your skin and allow your skin to breathe with Oxygenetix for the best results. There's nothing like a glowing complexion to boost your confidence and make you feel ready for whatever the year throws at you.