Skin needs to be healthy in order to look its best. As a nurse, I knew this, but I never did much to take care of my skin. I knew I should drink more water to keep it hydrated and used lotion once in a while, but that was about it. Then in January 2009, I was diagnosed with skin cancer on my nose. There's nothing like having surgery to remove cancer from your face plus two reconstructive surgeries to get a person's attention! Last year, I developed a rash on my wrists and hands and found out that I am now allergic to anything with 'fragrance' in the ingredient list and latex. The rash gets better at times, but never goes away. Before now, I never had sensitive skin, so this has been an interesting (and itchy) experience for me.
Needless to say, I think about my skin, and what might be on it, quite often now. I've also learned that what we put into our bodies has a huge effect on the way our skin looks. Our faces and bodies are visible reminders of how we are aging. Even though aging is going to happen, the way we age, or how fast it happens, isn't predetermined. Most people, especially women, take care of their skin from the 'outside in' with daily cleansers and moisturizers, but never even consider that they should be taking care of their skin from the 'inside out'.
Do you want to change the look of your skin on your face and body? If your answer is yes, then change your diet. Diet is the quickest way to change your looks - even small changes can make a big difference. You can spend lots of money on expensive lotions, potions, and cosmetics, but if you're eating a diet high in fats, sugars, preservatives, refined ingredients, alcohol, and caffeine, you'll still find it hard to get good looking skin. (Remember when you were a teen and were warned about chocolate and French fries causing acne?)
For beautiful skin, eat a diet that is filled with fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products. Fruits and vegetables will give you the antioxidants that will help protect your skin from aging, environmental pollutants, and the damaging effects of the sun.
Some "Super Foods" for gorgeous skin are:
Berries
Citrus fruits
Dark-green leafy veggies
Plums and Prunes
Broccoli
Carrots
Tomatoes
Olive oil
Avocados
Herbs
Garlic
Organic eggs
Flaxseed
Brown rice and whole grains
Fish (especially deep-sea varieties)
Raw nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds)
Most of us don't realize the condition of our skin is a direct reflection of our diets and lifestyle. If you want your skin to look beautiful and healthy, take a look at what you're putting into your mouth and make changes as needed. I'm anxious to see what effect the diet and lifestyle changes I recently decided to make will have on my rash. In the meantime, let's start taking care of our skin from the inside out!
Jandi Theis is a Wellness Coordinator and Registered Nurse. She has a strong passion to help people understand that they have the power to control their health and happiness. She offers simple and convenient solutions, empowering people to live their lives filled with health, happiness, and love. To learn more about Jandi, whole-food based nutrition, or to get some simple encouragement for everyday living, visit http://www.everydayencouragement.com/.
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