THE GOOD SKIN DIET
We all know the importance of skincare being the foundation to your make-up. But eating a range of skin friendly foods will ensure your skin has that all important healthy glow.
GOOD DIGESTION
Good skin isn’t possible without a well running digestive system. Did you know that many skin issues actually start in the gut? One common cause of skin disorders is an overgrowth of candida, a yeast that lives naturally in your gut. So what causes this overgrowth and what are the symptoms?
Possible factors include, diet, excessive alcohol consumption, long term use of antibiotics, oral contraception and stress. Signs that you may be suffering from candidiasis include:
Fatigue
Strong sugar cravings
Digestive problems such as bloating
Skin issues like eczema and psoriasis
Weight gain
Candida overgrowth leads to poor digestion, which means your body is unable to absorb the nutrients in the food that you are eating. Panic not! There is plenty you can do to reclaim back your gut health. Firstly cut out refined sugar and alcohol. Make sure you are eating plenty of plant-based fibrous foods, this will help to keep things moving along. A roughage-rich diet will help your gut to function at its best, making it easier for the body to absorb all those nutrients to help restore your skins natural healthy glow.
Feeding your body with prebiotics and probiotics will help increase the healthy flora in the gut. While prebiotics and probiotics sound similar, they are very different and have different roles within the digestive system. A prebiotic non-digestible like bananas, onions and garlic, Jerusalem artichoke, the skin of apples, and beans. These prebiotics feed the good bacteria that you already have.
Probiotics are live bacteria that are naturally created by the process of fermentation in foods like ‘live’ yogurt, miso soup and sauerkraut. You can take probiotics in capsule or liquid form too. Just avoid the ‘probiotic’ drinks as these are full of sugar.
DETOXIFICATION
A healthy liver is crucial to the body’s detoxification process. If the liver is overworked it will be unable to eliminate toxic waste products, which often shows on the skin in the form of rashes and breakouts. Too much sugar, alcohol, fatty foods means the liver becomes sluggish and unable to filter our system to keep us healthy.
Signs that your liver may not be working at its best include;
Acne or rosacea
Bloating
Difficulty loosing weight
Acid reflux
Itchy and/or blotchy skin
There are numerous ways in which you can help support your liver so it can keep your skin healthy and your system happy. Eat lots of fresh vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, onions and brussel sprouts. Take a break from caffeine and alcohol. Opt for dandelion or milk thistle tea. Start each day with a glass of hot water and lemon.
QUITTING SUGAR
Did you know that if you consume too much sugar, it damages the collagen and elastin in your skin? Making it more prone to wrinkles and not to mention making the skin appear dull. The body stops producing collagen from the age of 25, after which it will naturally break down over time. This process is accelerated if too much sugar is consumed, so if you are serious about that healthy glow, its time to wean yourself off of the sugar! Natural sweeteners can help or maybe try some sugar alternatives like honey or dates.
AVOID STRESS
Stress is toxic for our immune systems and has an ageing effect. As we age the ability to recover from the effect of the stress hormone cortisol decreases. When you are stressed your body also produces adrenaline, too much adrenaline decreases the blood flow and diverts much needed oxygen and nutrients away from the skin. This then allows toxins to build up, leading to problematic breakouts and cellulite. So what can you do to reduce the build up of daily stresses?
Quiet the mind
Mindfulness apps are great for turning down the noise within your mind. They teach you to better cope with anxiety and connecting you to the present.
Run a bubble bath
My go to stress buster has always been a candle lit bubble bath. I like to add essential oils to boost relaxation and help create a calming atmosphere.
Tech Detox
Running my own business means I am constantly ‘available’. It can be really hard to switch off especially when my emails are being pushed into my inbox every 15 minutes! Making a conscious decision to switch off gives your brain a break from information-processing.
Listen to Music
Don’t you love it when you hear a great song, turn up the volume and your mood is instantly elevated? Music is a great mood changer. So whatever you are in the mood for turn up the volume and feel the beat!
Sleep
I am incredibly grumpy when I don’t get enough sleep. So I always aim for 7-8 hours a night. Having previously suffered with insomnia, I created a bedtime routine from all the tips above to help train my body to unwind in the evenings. Not only am I happier from a good nights sleep, my skin is too. Most people do not realise that certain areas of the brain are working hardest during sleep, your skin is best able to repair and regenerate itself at night.
