The Best and Worst Foods For Skin Health
Keep your skin clear with these foods:
Leafy Greens – Whether you are dealing with skin eruptions or trying to avoid them, leafy greens are one important basic food group that will help keep skin clear, so you should include them as much as possible in your diet. Broccoli, spinach, chard and kale all help keep the liver detoxified, helping keep your skin blemish free.
Fruits/Vegetables –Apricots, mangoes, apples, pears, berries and figs are all rich in amino acids that are great for skin health. Tomatoes, peppers, squash and other veggies are nutritious and good for skin.
Good Quality Fats– Coconut oil, olive oil, wild caught salmon and avocado are good examples, they keep skin soft, supple and help heal any blemishes quickly.
Protein –Protein helps the body repair and heal. Turkey, salmon, grass fed beef, chicken and other high quality protein sources such as sugar-free yogurt are important for skin health.
Herbs and Spices – Many spices have antimicrobial properties that are beneficial in keeping skin clear, you should include turmeric, onion, oregano, garlic, curcumin and mint in your diet.
Increasing the raw foods in your diet, such as vegetables, leafy greens and fruits will go a long way in keeping your skin healthy and free of blemishes! In addition, these foods are healthy and nutritious without causing weight gain, a plus for everyone.
Eat these foods in moderation:
Sugars – Sugars are known to suppress the immune system and delay healing. You should avoid items like cake, cookies, ice cream, candy, chocolate, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and all other sweets as much as possible. Read labels because corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup are hidden in many common items such as ketchup and salad dressings. Try to use alternative natural sweeteners such as agave syrup or stevia.
Processed Foods –Foods containing white flour, bacon, packaged lunch meats, margarine, fast food and most frozen prepared foods.
Nuts and Seeds –Nuts and seeds such as pumpkin seeds, and products made from nuts such as peanut butter and nut butters.
Dried Beans– Peas, lentils, red beans, black beans, great northern beans and other varieties of dried beans.
Caffeine – Coffee, Energy drinks and other sources of caffeine should be used in moderation.
Artificial Sweeteners – Sorbitol, Sucralose (Splenda), Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet) and Saccharin (Sweet’N Low).
Alcohol – Moderate your intake of grain alcohol (beer, malt liquor, ale, vodka, whiskey and rum). If you drink beer, try to stick to Bud Light and Michelob Ultra, as these are brewed from rice grain.
Keep in mind you don’t have to avoid these foods all of the time, but if you are experiencing skin flareups or trying to avoid them, limit these foods in your diet.