The bottom line: Looking healthy is about being healthy — there’s just no getting around it. Following, are some suggestions for a healthy body and, consequently, glowing skin.
Drink Eight Glasses of Water Daily The best way to moisturize skin is from the inside out. Our bodies are 70 percent water, and cells require water to function properly. Water is also essential for cells to absorb nutrients and eliminate waste, which could otherwise manifest as skin conditions, like acne and eczema. By drinking eight glasses of water a day, we give our skin what it needs to stay healthy.
Eat a Complexion-Conscious Diet Foods rich in beta-carotene — such as spinach, apricots, peaches, sweet potatoes, and carrots — provide the raw materials for the body to produce vitamin A, essential for cell growth. Citrus, tomatoes, and berries contain vitamin C needed for collagen production, and protein-rich foods such as lean red meat, chicken, and fish are also necessary for healthy collagen. Avocados, nuts, and whole grains contain high concentrations of vitamin E, which has been shown to protect the skin against pollutants.
A balanced diet of whole grains, protein, and fresh vegetables and fruits provides the body with what it needs to grow strong, clear skin.
Maintain a Regular Exercise Routine Exercise promotes circulation as well as healthy perspiration. Skin cells need adequate circulation to reproduce, and perspiring helps the skin eliminate waste and flushes the skin and body of toxins. Of course, regular exercise is an important part of a general health routine, and our skin reaps the benefits. The American Heart Association recommends 30-60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling several times a week.
Avoid Cigarette Smoke Smoking causes premature aging by robbing the cells of life-giving oxygen. Smoking triples the risk of squamous cell skin cancer, and being around smokers can produce the same effects. Also, the habitual act of drawing on a cigarette puckers the lips, producing wrinkles around the mouth. There’s no getting around it: Smoking hastens aging for the face and body.
Drink Tea We’ve heard about the battle between bad free radicals, which damage cells, and good antioxidants, which neutralize them. Green tea has long been known as a potent source of antioxidants. While black tea also contains antioxidants, an even better choice is red tea or rooibos. A caffeine-free herb from South Africa, rooibos contains an even heftier dose of antioxidants than green tea. Possessing a rich, brewed flavor, red tea also has been shown to balance blood-sugar levels and nourish the liver — both essential for healthy skin.
