Eat Your Way to Fabulous Skin

There’s no denying that beautiful skin starts with nourishing it from within. Older skin cells are constantly being shed and replaced, which means a steady supply of nutrients is essential to support healthy skin turnover. Eat healthily and you'll feed your skin and help keep it soft, supple and glowing.

Here are 9 tips to help skin health:

1. Consume at least 5 servings of colorful vegetables and fruits every day. The more variety the better!

2. Include plenty of vitamin C – Your body needs vitamin C to support the immune system, promote radiant skin and help blemishes heal. It also helps your body produce collagen to keep your skin plump and supported. Great food sources include citrus fruits, blueberries, strawberries and sweet potatoes.

3. Eat enough vitamin E – Vitamin E plays a key role in protecting skin from oxidative damage from pollutants and aging caused by sun exposure. Foods high in vitamin E include almonds, hazelnuts, pine nuts and sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

4. Stock up on selenium - Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that works alongside vitamins C and E. Studies suggest that a selenium-rich diet may help protect against skin cancer, sun damage and age spots. Good food sources include Brazil nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, wheatgerm and broccoli.

5. Zero in on zinc - The mineral zinc helps keep skin supple by supporting the normal functioning of oil-producing glands in the skin. It’s also involved in the healing process and helps repair skin damage. Zinc-rich foods include fish, lean red meat, whole grains, poultry, nuts, seeds and shellfish.

6. Include healthy fats - certain fats act as a natural moisturizer for your skin, keeping it supple from the inside and improving elasticity. These healthy fats can be found in avocados, oily fish, nuts, and seeds. These fats usually come cleverly packaged with a healthy dose of valuable vitamin E.

7. Phyto-estrogens are natural compounds found in plants that also happen to nourish your skin and keep hormones in balance.  Foods rich in phyto-estrogens include soy products, flax seeds, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. My favorite food source is Shaklee Life Shake. (Which by the way is chock full of many of the other ingredients mentioned in this list!)

8. Provide enough protein – every part of your body requires protein to build and repair cells and your skin is no exception. Food sources include meat, poultry, seafood, beans, peas, lentils, eggs, nuts, seeds, and soy products. 

9. Drink plenty of water! Skin needs moisture to stay flexible. Even mild dehydration may leave your skin looking dry, tired and slightly off color. Aim for 8+ cups per day.

   
   

All of these suggestions for nourishing your skin are the same things that nourish your whole body.  Besides eating a wide variety of nutritious foods, your skin and complexion will benefit from the additional supply of healthy nutrients from smart supplementation.  Shaklee products I recommend include: Vitalizer (multivitamin, B+C, Omega, probiotic) Life Shake and Collagen 9.

Enjoy healthy skin at every age and stage 

One last topic… Does diet affect acne?

Acne is commonly linked to changes in hormone levels at puberty and peri-menopause. Fluctuating hormones can stimulate the oil-producing glands, which can trigger an inflammatory response and lead to signs of acne. Ugh!

In order to help minimize acne, follow these tips:

• Cut back on saturated and hydrogenated fats in margarines and processed foods.

• Eliminate junk food as well as foods high in sugar, such as cakes and cookies.

• Eat more raw vegetables, whole grains, fresh fruit and fish.

• Include foods rich in selenium, zinc, and vitamin C as described above.

• Consider a healthy cleanse to help rid the body of toxin build-up and reset your system on a healthier trajectory. Shaklee’s 7 Day Health Cleanse is a smart choice!

  
  

  

  Brianna's complexion improvement after 6 months of Shaklee nutrition and skin care

Some wrinkles and complexion changes over time are inevitable, but aging is also accelerated by overexposure to the sun, tanning beds, harsh soaps, chemicals, stress, and a poor diet.  Today is a great day to choose to nurture your skin and as you've just read, there is a lot you can do.  Your whole body will thank you!