Beauty Is As Beauty Eats

When you’re searching for radiant skin, your journey is likely to take you to the offices of a dermatologist. I’d like to remind you of another medical professional with plenty of insight to offer into beautiful skin: a nutritionist!

Nutritionists understand the connection between the food we eat and the condition of our skin. That’s why I have several nutritionists in my professional network. The insights they have about nourishing skin on a cellular level is invaluable. What’s more, it’s easy to eat your way to clearer, more beautiful skin.

Beautiful Skin Needs Nourishment

Have you ever thought about how hard your skin works to look good? It is constantly shedding dead cells to reveal a new generation of fresh, glowing new skin. This work isn’t easy. A daily supply of micronutrients is essential to support this rapid growth.

Fortunately, these micronutrients are in the food we eat. Simply put, the correct balance of the nutritionist-approved foods below and above your skin will have a steady, nutritious diet of everything it needs to stay soft, supple and blemish-free.

5 Foods that Nourish Your Skin

1. Colourful Vegetables for Healthy Skin – Eating a rainbow of colourful veggies – think brilliant oranges, red, purples, yellows, and greens – is a delicious way to feed your body with powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants protect skin from free radicals caused by smoking, pollution and sunlight.

2. Vitamin C-Rich Fruits for Healthy Skin – Vitamin C is a super antioxidant that helps blemishes heal properly. It helps produce collagen that strengthens the capillaries supplying the skin. Don’t limit yourself to oranges when searching for Vitamin C. Blackcurrants, blueberries, broccoli, guava, kiwi fruit, oranges, papaya, strawberries and sweet potatoes are also a good sources of skin-friendly vitamin C.

3. Vitamin E-Rich Nuts and Oils for Healthy Skin – Vitamin E supports healthy skin growth and protects the skin from oxidative (cell) damage. You’ll find vitamin E in healthy oil-rich foods including almonds, pine nuts, hazelnuts, avocados, sunflower and corn oils.

4. Phytoestrogens for Healthy Skin – Phytoestrogens are natural chemicals found in plant foods (“phyto” means plant). They are similar to the female sex hormone oestrogen and help keep our natural hormones in balance. Phytoestrogens are found in soya bean products, the fibre of whole grains, and flax seeds.

5. Lentils for Healthy Skin – Lentils, beans, porridge and other slow-releasing carbohydrates (low glycaemic index carbs) release sugar into the blood stream gradually. This gives your skin a steady stream of nourishing energy all day. Avoid high GI carbohydrates like biscuits and sugary drinks, as they lead to production of insulin, which may damage collagen and accelerate wrinkles.

Dr Marcells’ Radiant Skin Reality Check

Beautiful skin doesn’t happen overnight. It takes up to six weeks for new skin to emerge on the surface. As a result, visible benefits from dietary changes take about six weeks to show.

It’s well worth the wait. The healthy glow of skin that’s been fed from within is unmistakably youthful at any age.