4 Tips for Naturally Healthy Skin

Whether you struggle with acne, dry, oily, or aging skin, the one thing that we do know is that radiant, clear healthy skin comes from the inside out.  There is no faking it.  Your skin is a reflection of what is happening on the inside. Your skin is a reflection of your overall health and nutrition.  Here are 4 secrets that are recommended for glowing, healthy skin.

1. Diet Matters

Since beauty comes from the inside out.  What you put into your body affects every cell, tissue, organ, and system.  This includes your skin.  Eating good quality, clean foods is essential for healthy skin.  Toxins is genetically modified (GMO) foods, foods sprayed with pesticides and herbicides, and processed foods leave toxic build up in your body.  This build up can lead to many health issues including rashes, blemishes, eczema, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, dry skin, and wrinkles.

Eating a diet rich in unprocessed, whole foods will guarantee that your body gets all the nutrients and minerals necessary for beautiful skin.  Concentrating on seasonal, fresh fruits and vegetables as well as clean, good quality meats and eggs from grass fed and pastured sources is key.  Let’s take a look at how specific nutrients affect the skin:

Vitamin C plays a vital role in the synthesis of collagen, which makes up 70% of skin.  Collagen is the protein responsible for making your skin supple. Foods high in Vitamin C are citrus fruits, broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, brussel sprouts and cucumber.

Vitamin A helps to rebuild tissue and to smooth out rough skin.  Good sources of Vitamin A are eggs, leafy greens, carrots, pumpkins, liver, and fermented cod liver oil.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which helps to reduce free radicals in your body.  Free radicals are the primary cause of aging in skin.  Foods high in Vitamin E are olives, sunflower seeds, , almonds,  and leafy greens.

Zinc has been shown in studies to significantly improve acne and wound healing.  The best, most absorbable sources of zinc are organs such as kidney and liver, red meat such as beef and lamb, and seafood such as oysters, scallops, and other shellfish.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body,  to reduce the occurrence of acne and psoriasis, and to promote smoother, younger-looking skin.  Good sources of Omega-3′s are cold water fatty fish (such as sardines, salmon, mackerel, tuna, anchovies, and black cod), grass fed beef, chia seeds, walnuts, broccoli, and spinach.)

2. Exfoliate

Exfoliating is a process where you gently scrub your skin to remove dead skin cells to reveal healthy, glowing skin. It’s the dead skin cells  that give skin that dull lifeless appearance.  It is recommended to exfoliate one to three times a week.  Please remember to be gentle.  Being rough can goes more harm than good.  You can also make all natural exfoliants at home without spending tons of money. 

3. Manage your stress

You have all heard the saying that “her worries showed up on her face.”  It’s true.  Stress will affect the look of your skin.  It affect everything about you.  So, what are you doing to manage your stress?  Here are a few simple tips:

• Take a look at your life and eliminate any unnecessary stresses.  Make the lifestyle changes that you need to be happy.  Only you can do this.  You have one life, so make it a happy one.
• Get enough sleep.  Did you know that you will die from lack of sleep before you die from starvation?  Lack of proper sleep will not only make you grumpy, it will affect your metabolism as well.  Having a depleted metabolism can lead to digestive issues, weight gain, sleep issues, mood swings, blood sugar crashes, and dull skin.  
• Move your body.  Regular, moderate exercise does wonders for you.  It lowers blood pressure, helps with weight loss, balances blood sugars,  improves your mood, reduces stress, and just plain makes you feel better about yourself!

4. Elimination

Having a healthy digestion and elimination cycle is critical to good skin.  Like I said before, your skin is a reflection of what is going on inside of your body.  If we are not properly eliminating waste from our body, there will be a build up inside.  Your poop is the main avenue for detox in your body.  It’s the bacteria and toxins left after you have absorbed what you need from your food.  Being backed up will cause these toxins and wastes to be reabsorbed.  Who wants this CRAP circulating in their body?

General rule:  Make sure that you are pooping at least once a day.  And this means a good, solid poop.  No rabbit droppings here.  (sorry, gotta be real here!) This ensures that your digestive and elimination systems are functioning properly.  Undigested foods and toxic build up will show up on your skin.  Rashes, acne, psoriasis, eczema and rosacea have all been linked to improper digestion and elimination.