Everyone has heard the saying, ‘you are what you eat,’ but many people still don’t connect the health of their skin with the foods and beverages they consume. When it comes to dermatology, Red Deer men and women visit our clinic with a wide array of skin care challenges they would like to overcome, and although there are often at least a couple of different factors at play, diet can help prevent, manage or even eliminate many common issues.
When everything from acne and wrinkles to hyper-pigmentation can be improved with a good diet, there’s great reason to take note of the tips in today’s post with foods to eat, and even more importantly, those to avoid.
Foods to Eat
- Lean proteins
- Lots of vegetables
- Berries, which are rich in anti-oxidants
- Good fats like coconut oil, avocado and oily fish
- Foods high in zinc, including eggs and oysters
Foods to Avoid
Sugar: Research suggests that diets low in sugar are beneficial if you want to look younger, longer. Avoiding foods with refined sugar and limiting your carbohydrate intake can help prevent skin from toughening and sagging, as sugar molecules bond to collagen.
Low-Fat Foods: Low-fat foods strip out the good fats that we need to protect skin cells and prevent dehydration.
Alcohol: If you have rosacea or broken capillaries, it’s a good idea to limit your consumption of alcohol, which can make them worse.
Foods High in Sodium: A lot of salt causes your body to retain water, which leaves skin looking puffy.
Eating a well balanced diet and avoiding sugar and other foods that can cause or aggravate skin conditions is a giant step toward achieving great looking skin – both now and in the future!
Ready to learn how you, too, can achieve healthy, younger looking skin? Have a particular skin condition that you would like to address? Call our clinic to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bakken, who has a special interest in medical and cosmetic dermatology.