Nutrient boost your diet
Your skin like all your cells in your body need a supply of both macro and micro nutrients to function properly. A nourishing diet may not be something on your radar or you could be obsessed with only eating clean food. Let us share with you easy tips you can do to improve your diet to boost the nutrients and antioxidant protection that is crucial for healthy glowing skin.
Up your vegetables – yep they are full of skin benefiting nutrients and potent plant antioxidants. Don’t think of them as something you just eat with dinner find ways to eat them all day long. Avocado and greens can be added to smoothies or on toast for breakfast. Carrots, pumpkin, beetroot, spinach or courgettes can be added to healthy baking for snacks. Salads of fresh raw or cooked vegetables make great lunches and add more vegetables to your dinner. Another option is to invest in a juicer to up your vegetable intake.
The carotenes found in vegetables can actually protect your skin from radiation as well as give your skin a slightly more tanned look.
Fruit the ultimate fast food – want snacks on the run fruit is so easy. Antioxidant rich fruit includes apples, citrus, berries, plums, kiwifruit and pomegranate. The antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C which is abundant in fruit helps to protect the skin from free radical damage and ageing.
Omega 3 fats – I hope fish is a regular guest on your plate. It is the best source of the essential fatty acid omega 3, which you guessed it is crucial for healthy skin. Fish is also a rich source of protein, and our skin is made up of 70% protein. Best fish to eat in New Zealand for omega 3 and sustainability is kawhai, trevally, mackerel, mussels or salmon.
Collagen – boost your intake of collagen (the structural and hydrating secrets of healthy skin) you can buy easy to take powder or eat bone broth. Collagen reduction is a key fundamental cause of skin ageing. You can help reduce this by ingesting its nourishing amino acids and boost the hydration and integrity of your skin.
Ditch the processed food – unfortunately when food is manufactured in large factories, many health benefits of the food are lost. Processed ingredients devoid of many of their nutrients, these are then mixed with sugar, salt and oxidized fats and then combined with many non-food or even toxic items such as emulsifiers, flavours, colours or preservatives. These “food” items do not lend themselves to healthy glowing skin and are linked to chronic disease and inflammation. Additionally, they burden our liver as we have to detoxify them for elimination.
Skin healthy snacks – great snacks or boosters to meals are organic raw activated nuts and seeds. These nutritional bombs are rich in good fats, vitamin E and protein as well as being low in sugar. A wonderful boost for glowing skin.
Try a gluten or grain or dairy free lifestyle – grains and dairy can play havoc with our skin if we are sensitive to their inflammatory effects. Eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, vitiligo or acne can be made worse by these foods. If these conditions are impacting your life try going without for a month to get some relief.
Nourish your gut – healthy digestive function is crucial for health and radiant skin. Regularly consume fermented foods such sauerkraut, yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, etc. to boost bacterial health in your gut. Do regular liver and bowel cleansing for optimal digestion and nutrient absorption.