Foods for fab skinAs the old adage states, "You are what you eat" and this cannot be more true when it comes to creating the optimum conditions for the health and well being of our skin.

In this article we will discuss some of the latest research that supports how and why some foods can dramatically contribute to the health of our body's largest organ, our skin. We will also tell you how you can use these foods in your every day life to harness the power of their regenerative properties.

Vitamin When it comes to eating our way to fabulous skin, we need to look at the building blocks of nutrition. We need to make sure that we are eating the correct foods that provide the right vitamins which contribute to healthy skin. Two Vitamins that are particularly important in the maintenance and regeneration of our skin are; Vitamin C & E.

Vitamin E is used in skin to protect from oxidative cellular damage, it also is needed as a building block for healthy skin growth. It can be found in many different foods but is especially loaded in sunflower seeds and avocados.

Vitamin C is a great antioxidant (see below) and contributes to the health of the body's blood capillary system that provides blood to the skin. Just about everybody knows that oranges and citrus fruits provide a great deal of Vitamin C, but even vegetables such a broccoli also contain a substantial amount of Vitamin C. So if you're not a fan of fruit, you can still get your high doses of Vitamin C from some green vegetables like broccoli.

Antioxidants Cellular oxidative damage is the main cause of skin damage and skin degradation. By eating foods that are high in antioxidants we can lower the oxidisation effect of cellular damage and therefore maintain living and healthier skin cells. This is why foods that hold a lot of antioxidants are good for all the cells in our body, including our skin cells.

Berries are a family of foods that are scientifically proven to contain a high level of antioxidants, blue berries hold the highest level of antioxidants in the berry family. Another type of food high in antioxidants is dark chocolate. Not to be confused high sugar containing milk chocolate, which though has some antioxidants does not contain as many flavinoids as dark chocolate.

Fatty Acids Our diets should not be devoid of oils and fat, in today's world the words fat and oils can bring about many negative connotations that make us believe we need to avoid them. Yet in actuality there are good fats and oils which not only benefit our skin but is vital for the health of our skin. Omega-3 fatty acids (found in foods such as walnuts, fish and eggs) help with the elasticity of our skin. The key is to find foods that contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, these types of fats are responsible for the natural production of oils in our skin and released by our pores. These oils naturally moisturise our skin and protect it from environmental damage, such as harsh winds, drying and even UV rays. In fact these natural oils are the primary factor when it comes to maintaining healthy and fabulous skin. Yet even if we eat the right amount of good fats and oils to maintain healthy skin, if we do not remove chemicals from our environment that strip away these oils (such as Chlorine from our shower water) then we may be undoing the good work our healthy diet is achieving. So we should not only look at the internal factors when seeking healthy and fabulous looking skin, but we should also look at the external environmental factors as well.

Cut Down on Alcohol There is no doubt that alcohol is an enjoyable part of life, but it has extremely drying effects on cells in the body and this includes skin cells. When we consume too much alcohol the moisture in our skin cells dehydrate and therefore we loose the plump and healthy looking glow from skin. A moderate amount of alcohol is OK, but don't over do it!

Selenium Yet another type of antioxidant is Selenium. This type of antioxidant actually works in conjunction with the above Vitamins to boost the immune system, providing a larger amount of white blood cells which combat infections and contribute to a healthier overall body system. Some scientific studies have actually proven that a diet high in selenium can help fight against the ravages of UV damage and even sun spots. One food that is jam packed full of Selenium is Brazil nuts, in fact only 4 large Brazil nuts will give you your recommended daily intake of Selenium.

Not only is our skin the largest organ of our body, but it also is our first defence when it comes to protecting ourselves from the dangers that our body faces every day. Even if we do not prioritise the aesthetic values of healthy skin, we need to still maintain good skin from a health perspective. Healthy skin makes sure we do not get ill through bacterial or viral infections, makes sure we are protected from the radiation bombarded upon us from the sun and also acts as a defence against environmental contaminants. By eating the above foods and maintaining a diet rich in antioxidants we can achieve not only fabulous looking skin, but also maintain the skin shield which keeps us healthy and happy.

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