We all want to look our best during the holidays, what with all of the parties and family photos. In order to do this, our skin needs to look radiant and glowing, but the hustle and bustle of the season can make this difficult to achieve. We often eat and drink more than we usually would, we are up half the night and most of us forget about exercising altogether; of all these spell a recipe for disaster when it comes to our skin.
Your skin is your body’s biggest organ, covering almost 18 square feet and weighing about seven pounds. Treat it right with some of these healthy foods, some of which might surprise you. Besides recommending the usual restful night’s sleep and daily exercise, here are a few tips for preventing and eliminating skin irritation which can often lead to other skincare concerns.
For Breakouts
What to eat
Bright red and orange fruits and vegetables have beta carotene which your body converts to oil reducing Vitamin A. Green leafy vegetables contain Vitamin B6 which minimizes swelling, so pimples are reduced.
What to avoid
Iodine rich salt, shrimp and seaweed stimulate oil glands, inducing irritation of pores.
For Stress-Induced Wrinkles
What to eat
Fruits rich in color (such as berries) have Vitamin C which help to promote anti-aging, skin firming collagen and antioxidants. Orange seafood like salmon and lobster contain Astaxanthin, another potent antioxidant stronger than Vitamin C and E.
What to avoid
Excess sugar! We must balance sugar intake because too much sugar can affect the skin, binding to collagen and elastin fibers, breaking down elasticity, resulting in sagging skin.
Dry Skin
What to eat
Drink lots of water and eats foods with good fats (which will help to keep cell walls strong and prevent water loss) like avocado and olive oil as well as citrus and kiwi (the potassium they contain regulates the body’s water levels). Cabbage has sulfur which can help to prevent dry, irritated skin.
What to avoid
Drinks like coffee and black tea dehydrate your internal tissues and skin. Most fried foods contain trans fats and hydrogenated oils which can often deplete levels of good fats and can lead to dry skin.
Rosacea
What to eat
A symptom of inflammation in the body, chronic rosacea often controlled by topical medication can also be managed by eating calming foods such as fish, cucumbers and licorice. Turmeric seasoning, which gives curried dishes their marigold hue, is high in Curcumin, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
What to avoid
Hot foods (in temperature and spiciness) and alcohol and caffeine make blood vessels swell so skin appears redder. Niacin rich peanuts can also increase flushing.
