Beautiful Skin from the Inside Out
I’m convinced that 80% of having beautiful skin regardless of your actual condition comes from the inside. That statement involves three aspects:
1. What you put in your mouth (includes solids, liquids and supplements)
2. What you believe
3. Exercise
I will talk extensively about each one of these points. For now, we are going to focus on the first point in terms of basic nutrients for the skin.
Healthy, glowing, beautiful skin begins with diet and water intake. We all have heard that “we are what we eat,” and I can’t agree more. Let me explain.
All bodily functions are directly related to nutrition. Foods are broken down into basic molecules that are delivered to every cell in our body. They are used to form new cells, repair damage, and conduct all biochemical reactions in our systems.
Skin is nourished by blood, through capillaries and arteries.
Good food choices are the crucial building blocks of life. They help to hydrate our skin cells, as well as regulate oil production and overall function of the cells.
The Nutrients:
Vitamins
Vitamins are needed for the many processes that are carried out by the cells and for the production of many biochemicals necessary for life. Without vitamins, the body cannot operate and will eventually die. There are two categories of vitamins: fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E and K; water-soluble vitamins include vitamins B complex and C.
They are crucial for the skin’s health, and help in softening the skin, fighting diseases, and healing.
Taking vitamins orally is the best way to support the skin’s health, but some vitamins applied topically are excellent aids in many ways.
Proteins
Proteins are chains of amino acids that are used by all the cells to make other usable proteins. Proteins are crucial in the duplication of DNA. They are needed to make blood, tissues, keratin and enzymes, and they also protect the body from bacteria. Collagen is made from protein.
Some dietary sources of protein are meat, eggs, dairy products and beans. Almost all veggies contain protein but in small proportions.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates break down the basic chemical sugars that supply the body energy.
The three basic types of carbohydrates are as follows:
Simple Sugars: table sugar, fruit sugars (fructose) and milk sugars (lactose).
Starches: many veggies and grains.
Fiber: as we all know, fiber is necessary for proper digestion. High fiber foods include beans, whole grain breads, apples, potatoes, carrots and corn.
Lipids
Some fat is required for our bodies to function properly. Lipids help the sebaceous glands to lubricate the skin. They are used by the body to make hormones, create cell membranes, retain heat and assist in the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.
The body does not produce essential fatty acids; therefore, we must add it to our diet. Some examples of fatty acids are flaxseed, sunflower oil and soybean oil.
