It is amazing how diet plays such an important roll in our physical health, but also in how you look. If you have a tendency to eat the typical Standard American Diet (SAD) full of processed foods, too many sweets, and too many fats, it will show up in the way your complexion looks. Changing your diet to include fresh and raw foods with specific vitamins and minerals can greatly improve the condition of your skin.
Nutrient-Dense Foods to Help Improve Your Complexion: (Note: if on a medical weight loss or diet program, speak to your health practitioner before making any changes to your diet plan):
1. Red and purple fruits and vegetables (cherries, blueberries, blood oranges, red cabbage, etc.) contain anthocyanins, an important antioxidant. Anthocyanins are necessary to maintain healthy blood flow to the skin and protect it against ultraviolet (UV) damage.
2. Whole grain foods balance insulin and blood sugar. These foods (whole wheat, brown rice, etc.) are important because clinical studies indicate too much sugar in your system can increase acne and also cause collagen not to form properly. Collagen works along with keratin to increase the skin's strength, flexibility, and resilience, which means it keeps your skin youthful and healthy.
3. Tomatoes are another food you'll want to add to your diet. Eating them fresh is best because of their nutrients, but you can get some benefit eating them cooked. The nutrient that's important in tomatoes is lycopene. This is another antioxidant and having enough in your system will help reduce the hormones, which lead to acne. They have also been found to lead to smoother skin in some studies.
4. Green tea has many healthful properties. One is it can lower the production of the hormone DHT, which causes acne.
5. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are believed to reduce the chemicals, which produce sebum in oily skin.
6. Vitamin C-rich fruits such as lemon and kiwi are both higher in vitamin C than oranges and are believed to help reduce wrinkles. These fruits also help detoxify the system, which can lead to a clearer complexion.
7. Water may not seem like it's important to healthy skin, but it is. In fact, if you are not staying hydrated your skin can look dull and listless.
If you're hoping to improve your skin, try eating your way to a better complexion. Starting with a detox diet such as The Cleanse 21 Therapeutic Detox by Body Focus International, this can help remove trapped toxins, reduce fat, and restore nutritional balance using nothing more than real foods and nutritional supplements.
A high-fiber diet is important for adults with acne. You'll also want to include lean meat, whole grains, seafood and fish. All of these can help improve acne. You may also notice an improvement in your complexion if you avoid high-sugar foods and beverages.
