Achieve Naturally Glowing Skin
How to Maintain Beautiful Skin with Nutrition and Self-Care
Mar 4, 2008
Although skin is the largest, and most significant organ, on our body, many don't pay any attention to it until it's too late. Poor nutrition, sun tanning, smoking, dehydration and lack of sleep all take their toll on the skin. While genetics play a key role in the maintenance of youthful skin, extrinsic factors come into play too. Changing daily habits will improve the appearance and health of one's skin for life.
Skin and Nutrition
If one lives on junk food, one's skin will show it. By the time one is in one's thirties, skin may be dull, still pimply, yet lined from dehydration and vitamin depletion. Skin, like the rest of the body, thrives on healthy food. The main vitamins skin requires are A, C and E. If one eats a wide range of vegetables, especially green and leafy ones, as well as citrus fruits, these vitamins will be easily obtained. Some can also be found in milk products, nuts and liver.
Additionally, skin requires biotin, from such foods as rice, bananas and eggs, selenium from grains, garlic and seafood and zinc, primarily found in lean meats and chicken. These nutrients repair tissue, plump up skin cells and protect the skin from sun damage with their anti-oxident properties. Try to eat them organically. Always drink eight glasses plus of water a day. Only drink pop, alcohol and caffeine in moderation.
Skin and Self Care
Along with nutrition, other lifestyle habits can help one keep healthy, vibrant skin for life. Much skin damage is caused early on, in adolescence or one's twenties, by damaging behaviors. The signs of this skin neglect only show up later, in one's thirties or forties. Even then, if one changes former habits, skin condition will be improved without resorting to surgery.
Staying out of the sun
is paramount. Especially now with the thinning ozone layer, skin damage happens earlier at a deeper level. Always wear a moisturizing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Don a hat and long sleeved shirt. Stay away from the sun between 11 am and 4 pm. Don't use tanning beds. Prevent skin cancer along with the age spots and wrinkles associated with tanning.
Stop smoking
if you've started. Smoking depletes the skin and deprives it of vitamins. By one's thirties, smokers will often present with mouth lines and eye creases. Even second hand smoke can damage the surface of one's skin and diminish its healthy glow.
Exercise regularly.
When one increases the blood flow to one's skin with aerobics, cycling, swimming or any other impact activity, the appearance of skin improves. Cells plump up, the production of natural skin oils rises, and one develops that healthy flush of youth.
Get enough sleep.
Without proper rest, bags appear under the eyes, skin takes on a grey or yellowish cast and lines deepen. Try for eight to nine hours a night. Use a humidifier if you live in a dry climate. Not only will it create white noise, which may help sleep deepen, but it will rehydrate skin while you sleep.
Take good care of the body's largest organ to enjoy gorgeous, glowing skin at any age!
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