Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Just about every woman desires to have glowing, flawless skin and would go to any length to achieve a clear complexion. However, there are a number of factors such as the scorching sun, stress (both emotional and physiological), your hormones and even everyday pollution that prevent your skin from achieving the desired levels of skin perfection. You could try a million different means and ways to get soft and supple skin, especially one with that naturally brilliant shine, but none of them is going to help unless and until you start eating healthy. The way to glowing skin, quite like the way to a person’s heart, is truly through the stomach!
Your dietary habits impact your overall health and your skin is equally affected, perhaps the most affected by what you eat. Having a healthy stomach, bowel movement, gut and liver are imperative to having clear, unblemished skin, amongst a host of other health benefits. For which you need to include certain foods in your diet. Basically, you need to follow a diet for glowing skin.
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is one plant that you’ll find in just about every home. This succulent plant is known to remedy almost all skin problems out there, especially in the case of any skin inflammations. On account of such anti-inflammatory properties of the hormones present in it, aloe vera can provide your skin with relief from a number of ailments (including UV damage and acne problems); whether the gel is applied externally on the skin or its extract is consumed in the form of juice (do not consume the gel directly).
2. Fruits
Right from the citrus fruits like oranges, limes and grapefruits, to the penny plain papayas and the tropical avocados, fruits are absolutely indispensable to the cause of unblemished skin. There’s a host of different fruits out there with a multitude of different uses for your skin. Mangoes help your skin retain and improve its elasticity while eating bananas can help prevent a premature occurrence of wrinkles. Not only does the vitamin-C present in citrus fruits help in collagen synthesis, but it also protects your skin and even repairs any damage that might be caused by the unforgiving sun. Papayas, alternatively, are excellent skin cleansing agents and help your skin in shedding old dead cells. The super fruit of today, ‘the avocado’, is rich in healthy fats and vitamin-E, and can help remedy a number of issues such as skin damage, acne, premature wrinkles, moisture retention and having dreary-looking skin. Cherries, berries, apples and kiwis; if it’s a clear complexion you’re looking for, you’ve got to have them all!
3. Water
When more than three-fifths of your body is made up of just one ingredient, there is no way that you could not pay attention to its consumption in pursuit of your skin’s health. No matter your skin type, your skin needs water in order to remain fresh, supple and glowing. The water retention capacity of your skin decreases with age and hence, it is even more essential that you consume adequate amounts of water on a daily basis. Not only does a water flush out all the toxins from your skin, but it also provides your skin with that natural glow and even keeps wrinkles away. It is highly recommended that you keep a bottle of water with you at all times and keep sipping on it at regular intervals. If plain old water isn’t good enough for your palate, you can always add cucumbers, some mint and a hint of lemon to it so as to make yourself a pitcher of flavourful skin detox water.
4. Yoghurt
Yoghurt is easily the best food for glowing skin. Most of the skin ailments that we have are caused on account of having an unhealthy stomach, bowels and gut. Yoghurt is known to contain probiotics that aid in the process of digestion, thereby ensuring that problems such as breakouts and skin dryness do not bother your radiant flawless complexion. Consume as much yoghurt as you like, after every meal and with smoothies and fruits salads. As the Turks would say, yoghurt is the cure for absolutely everything!
5. Green Leafy Vegetables
Nothing says good skin like a bowl of fresh, green leafy vegetables. Whether it is spinach, coriander, parsley, or broccoli, these viridescent leaves are full of antioxidants and various other essential nutrients and vitamins that help your skin retain its brightness and youth. And there are just so many things that you can do with these garden-fresh ingredients. You could make soups, salads, or sandwiches, and if you’re more of a fan of traditional Indian cuisine, the good ol’ ‘Sarson ka Saag’ or ‘Palak Paneer’ are just about as beneficial for your skin, and arguably, much more delicious. The road to glowing skin might not really tantalize your taste buds, but as they say, it is vital that you ‘eat your greens’.
6. Turmeric
When the question—what to eat for glowing skin, arises turmeric is easily the most age old answer. There are probably a hundred recipes your grandmother must have told you of that have turmeric in them. Antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, ‘anti-all bad things’ superhero of an ingredient is one you can add to everything right from your soups to your smoothies. The curcumin present in turmeric helps fight any bacterial infection both inside and outside your body, whether the turmeric is ingested or applied externally. In your quest to attain the perfect glowing complexion, it certainly does make sense being buddies with some freshly peeled raw turmeric.
7. Green Tea
The first thing that comes to your mind when you think of detox most probably is green tea. This food (especially of the Matcha kind), being full of natural antioxidants, is rich in the phytonutrient known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and is extremely efficient in protecting your skin from the harmful free radicals that are majorly responsible for skin problems such as dark spots, premature ageing and even spots. Since green tea also helps lower levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for your acne issues, it is also extremely efficient in keeping your skin clear and free from any blemishes.