You know that flawless appearance you really want? What if I told you that the Oreo cookies you are eating while reading this definitely won’t help you get there? The food you consume can play a huge part in the health of your skin. If you have a decent skin-care routine, that is cool, but have you ever considered that the food you eat could dictate the quality of your skin? This article will help you understand the way food affects your skin and how it is important to consider what you eat when you are establishing how to take care of your skin.
What is Acne?
During puberty, you will experience a rougher skin texture, this is due to the overproduction of sebum, a substance meant to protect the skin from infection. The overproduction of sebum can cause the sebaceous glands on your face to swell and grow bacteria, this is called Acne. Even though it is mainly known to be experienced by teens, just about 95% of adults under the age of 25 report the continued experience of acne. This often has to do with a continued diet of processed high fat, low protein, nutrient lacking foods.
How the Right and Wrong Foods Can Do a Lot to Your Skin
Some foods that are commonly known to cause acne are dairy products (like cheese), processed foods, sugar-rich foods, and glycose. The best diet for your skin and overall health is a whole-food Mediterranean diet. This consists of fresh vegetables and high protein meats. That isn’t exactly the ideal diet for the average western teen and would be pretty difficult to maintain in the united states unless you had an extreme amount of will power or some sort of illness that demanded it. I would like to introduce to you the traditional Japanese diet. It is pretty far on the pescatarian side and is very nutrient-rich with high protein meats. A quick breakdown of the diet would look like steamed rice, cooked vegetables, some sort of fish, with a small portion of meat or egg. This is because of Japan’s proximity to the ocean versus it’s access to live-stock. The modern version of the traditional Japanese diet is very westernized and includes a lot more processed foods than the original traditional diet.
Quick tip: If you want your skin to glow like Ruby Rose’s, stick to as much natural, whole food as possible. The closer your food is to fresh, the better it is for your whole body, including your complexion. So, eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and leans meats that aren’t fried or processed … and skip the candy and junk food!
Your Diet’s Effect on Regeneration
Your diet can control the quality of your skin like it’s moisture, blemishes, and its ability to heal. If you aren’t consuming the right amount of nutrients, then your skin will have a harder time healing from damage. Hydration is key to hydrated skin, even though it is always good to have a handy moisturizer, staying hydrated can also help with that. Teenagers should consume an average of two to three quarts of water a day, according to the Institute of Medicine. Since blemishes can be caused by patches of blackheads and acne scars, it is safe to say that avoiding foods that are low in fat and rich in nutrients is beneficial for everything.
My best advice is to talk to always consult your dermatologist about a skin problem you are having and to listen to the advice that they give you.
