Eating right for healthy looking skin

Jet, Jan 17, 2005

An occasional facial from a trendy spa may be the route that some take for a flawless face, but it's not the only way to a glowing complexion. Beauty starts from within, so if beautiful skin is what you desire, then what you really need is a regular diet that's well balanced and loaded with lots of nutrients.

How much water are you drinking every day? What about the num bet of fresh fruits and vegetables you're consuming? Are you really getting enough in your current diet? If you find your answers to be alarming then it's time you change your way of eating.

Begin a new regimen for healthier looking skin by cutting out caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea and sodas. Not only are they more likely to make your skin look tired, but the caffeine in the drinks prevents the body from making good use of the vitamins and minerals taken in from the foods you eat. So you say that you can't live without your caffeine? Then try reducing the consumption of these drinks to no more than a couple a day.

Re-hydrate your skin by drinking more than the recommended eight glasses of water a day. Set a goal for yourself to drink two or three liters of water daily to help remove unwanted toxins from your system.

For a well-balanced diet experts recommend that you try to eat at least five portions of fresh fruits and veggies every day. This can easily be achieved if you have a dark leafy salad or vegetable dish with two meals plus three pieces of fruit as a snack or for dessert.

New research also shows that fish can be beneficial to the skin due to the essential fatty acids (EFAs) it contains like omega-3 and omega-6.

The EFAs are said to reduce inflammation in the body, which is believed to lead to wrinkles and trigger cells to clog pores causing acne.

The skin friendly fish that contain the most EFAs are salmon, albacore tuna and mackerel. If you aren't fond of fish make a handful of almonds, also high in EFAs, an enjoyable afternoon snack.

A glowing complexion is as simple as supplying your body with the moisture and nutrients your skin requires to look its best.