As the seasons change, we often look for ways to optimize our skin routine to protect our skin from the elements. Although there's nothing we can do about a weather forecast, we can make simple lifestyle changes to improve our skin's health.
Here are a few simple steps you can take to protect your skin, prevent premature aging and improve your skin health all year round.
Healthy skin starts with the nutrients you feed your body, so eat plenty of fresh organic vegetables and fruits and healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids. The tips below can also help you attain skin that glows from the inside out.
Eat organic foods to avoid the toxins found in pesticides often used in conventionally grown foods. Pesticides can lead to many health ailments, including skin issues.
Research investigating the prevalence of toxic pesticides in produce has uncovered 15 fruits and vegetables, known as the Clean 15, that are reliably safe to eat. Additionally, 12 fruits and vegetables consistently rank the highest on the toxicity scale — high enough to earn them a spot on the "The Dirty Dozen" list. These include many common fruits and vegetables like strawberries, spinach and other leafy greens. By taking in these pesticides through foods we eat, we're making our bodies work harder to detoxify. To minimize your exposure to accumulated toxins, try and buy organic or favor options from the list of the cleanest 15.
When you think about eating more nutritiously, consider specific nutrients that are good for your skin. Nutrients like chlorella and vitamin C have shown to be highly beneficial for skin health. Chlorella is a green alga that's so nutritious it's considered a superfood. It contains omega-3, vitamin A, riboflavin, magnesium and zinc. Chlorella is also high in antioxidants, which are great at buffering free radical damage.
If you've been eating a balanced wholefood diet and are still having skin issues, there may be certain foods that are causing a heightened immune reaction. You may experience an immediate, more severe response from your immune system to a specific food, like peanuts, eggs or dairy. Any other reaction can also be from a food intolerance or sensitivity. The best way to determine if you have food sensitivity is through a simple at-home lab test.
Self-care can mean many things. But when talking about promoting skin health, self-care becomes specific actions you can take to make your skin as healthy as possible. Beyond drinking enough water, managing stress and getting at least seven to nine hours of restful sleep each night, there are other ways to support your skin health.
Healthy skin doesn't happen overnight, but with just a few simple changes, your skin can look (and feel) great through every season.
Interested to learn more about dry brushing and other ancient practices that promote staying healthy and feeling energized? Listen to this podcast.
