Eat your way to healthy skin
The food that you eat has a lot to do with how your skin looks and feels. Follow these five skin-friendly diet habits to get healthy glowing skin, naturally.
Put a rainbow on your plate
Have you ever wondered why apples are red and oranges are, well, orange? Fruits and vegetables get their colours from chemicals called phytonutrients, which have powerful antioxidants that can protect the skin from damage. The different colours also indicate different nutritional benefits. For eg., red fruits and vegetables have lycopene and vitamin A. Green vegetables are rich in minerals and vitamins K and E. Yellow fruits and vegetables provide vitamin C. So, to get the most benefits, eat a mix of coloured fruits and veggies every day.
More water and less caffeine
"You have to drink eight glasses of water per day" is a myth. But drinking as much water as you need to stay hydrated is a must. Reduce your caffeine intake as it can dehydrate your skin and reduce its elasticity. Carry a bottle of water with you and take regular sips throughout the day to stay fresh and hydrated. If you crave a cup of coffee for the energy it provides, try swapping it with a fresh fruit juice for instant energy.
Say no to crash diets
Serial dieters beware; crash diets might be a quick fix for fat, but cause long-lasting health problems down the line. They tend to deprive your body of the vital nutrients you need to stay healthy. After a while, such diets start affecting your skin. Repeatedly losing and regaining weight through this method can also cause saggy skin, wrinkles, and stretch marks.
Say yes to Omega-3
There is bad fat, and then there is good fat. The good type of fat is Omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential elements of a healthy diet and help your body to function. It also contains moisturising and anti-inflammatory compounds that strengthen skin cells and help create a softer younger-looking skin. The best sources of omega-3 are oily fish like salmon, sardines and anchovies, and vegetarian sources like walnuts, canola oil, soybean oil and flaxseed.
Switch to a healthy cooking oil
Are you using the right cooking oil? Regular refined oils are heavily processed, and consequently low on nutrients. But certain cooking oils have healthy unsaturated fats which are good for your heart, health and skin as well. Switch to cold-pressed, expeller-processed or extra virgin oils due to their minimal processing; they retain all the nutrients and healthy fats that are good for the skin.
A problem-free skin begins from within, so start developing better eating habits. Bon apetit!