
Diet is the hardest part for me.
The thing is, I'm pretty good about being active and eat several small meals a day (every three hours) so my metabolism is pretty fast.
Therefore, I know I can get away with stuff and don't follow the best diet. I try to eat high protein, green, brown and purple food. Try. I'm pretty good about getting my protein and veggies but I love starches like chips and mashed potatoes.
Anyways I turn to FitSugar for diet advice and good things to eat. Today they featured five foods that are good for your skin. Nom your way to a clear complexion!
WHAT
Flax seeds/omega-3s
Tomatoes
Whole grains
Citrus fruit
Green tea
WHY
Omega-3 fatty acids are an important dietary resource for fighting dry, itchy skin, common in Winter months. This essential fat moisturizes you from the inside out. Flax seeds and cold water fish, like salmon, are great sources of omega-3s.
(I take an omega-3 suppliment) Omega-3 fatty acids are also great for fighting inflammation that can lead to heart disease.
Tomatoes can help increase skin's natural defenses against UV rays
(in addition to sunscreen). The skin-beneficial antioxidant increases with cooking, like in the form of tomato paste, and when combined with olive oil the skin protection increases even more. Eating tomatoes also decreases your risk of pancreatic and breast cancer.
Whole grains, which are considerably lower on the glycemic index, can help reduce blemishes. Enjoy your next sandwich on whole grain bread or try quinoa
(I don't even know what that is, so good luck) for dinner. Whole grain products are high in fiber, which is great for fighting heart disease and many cancers.
Citrus fruit is high in vitamin C, and vitamin C fights wrinkles. The vitamin slows the wrinkling process,
but you must consume the vitamin from food sources to reap the benefits rather than take it as a supplement. Citrus fruits are in season during the Winter months so load up on vitamin C by eating oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit. Plus as we all know eating adequate amounts of vitamin C on a regular basis can shorten the duration of a cold.
Green Tea -- whether sipped or placed directly onto the skin -- is effective at warding off skin cancer. The antioxidants found in green tea kill tumorous skin cells. Topically, green tea can help heal blemishes, and relieve itching and swelling. Green tea also boosts your metabolism.