When it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle, having proper nutrition is essential. What we consume determines how the body functions as well as how we look and feel. Good nutrition will boost the immune system and supply the energy and protection needed to fight diseases, lower blood pressure, and simply improve our wellbeing. Yet, how does nutrition affect our skin? Like any organ, the skin depends on proper nutrition in order to function efficiently. Maintaining proper nutrition starts with the basics: good hydration and a balanced consumption of healthy foods.
Stay Hydrated
Water makes up almost 3/4 of the human body and is necessary to obtain healthy skin. Drinking plenty of water helps eliminate toxins in the body, which, in turn, can help rid skin of impurities. Sufficient hydration also oxygenates the skin and reduces dryness that can lead to fine lines and wrinkles.
Consume Foods with Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins are essential for keeping our skins healthy. Some, like vitamin D, play an important role in the regeneration of healthy skin cells. Others, like vitamins E and C, contain antioxidant properties that help heal and rejuvenate the skin. Most of our vitamin intake comes from the food we eat, therefore, it’s important to maintain a wholesome diet in order provide the body with all the necessary vitamins it needs.
Minerals also play a key role in skin maintenance; the human body depends on minerals to stay strong and perform various functions that work to keep our skin healthy. Copper, for instance, is responsible for helping the body produce collagen and elastin. Other minerals like zinc, potassium, magnesium, and calcium are also essential for maintaining healthy skin since they aid in keeping our pH levels balanced as well as stimulate new cell growth. Raw vegetables are among the foods that provide the most minerals.
Balance Proteins, Carbohydrates and Fats
Proteins are the building blocks that help form skin tissue. The body breaks down the proteins we consume into amino acids. In turn, this supply of amino acids is what helps the body make one of the the skin’s most important structural proteins—keratin. Proteins are typically found in meats, dairy products, seeds, and legumes.
Carbohydrates are essential nutrients that act as the body’s main source of fuel; it needs carbohydrates in order to function properly and produce healthy cells. They are derived primarily from plants and are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. When consumed in the right amounts, carbs help rid the body of detrimental toxins and fight against free radicals. Some healthy carbohydrates include fiber, fruit sugars, and starch found in potatoes and legumes.
Fats, similar to carbohydrates and proteins, are also essential macronutrients the body needs. Aside from being an important source of energy, fats help keep our skins flexible and moisturized. Likewise, fats regulate hormone production and help the body absorb vitamins more efficiently. Healthy fats are found in vegetables, seeds, nuts, and meats.
Overall, what we consume has a huge impact on our skins’ performance and appearance. Drinking plenty of water and regularly consuming an abundance of healthy foods plays a substantial role in regulating important bodily functions that help maintain our skins’ health. Keeping a balanced diet of proteins, carbs, and fats packed with vitamins and minerals will provide the nutrition needed to keep one’s skin looking radiant, healthy and beautiful.