Let’s first look at the reason we have skin. Quite obviously, it covers and protects everything within our body, keeps bacteria and disease out, maintains hydration, regulates our body temperature, provides us with sensation and many other functions. Shouldn’t an organ this important be nurtured?
To ensure our skin is at peak performance to properly function, we must eat the right foods, drink plenty of water, get enough exercise, and protect your skin. If you’re not too sure about this statement, give this experiment a try at your own risk…
Eat nothing but fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water, and exercise three times a week for one week. Your skin will become noticeably clearer and healthier.
Obviously, most of us can’t abide by such a strict regiment for the sole purpose of gaining healthier skin. So what can the average person do to improve their skin?
Incorporate a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Fruits and veggies are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Antioxidants combats free radicals which wreak havoc on your body including your skin. Some meats contain a healthy dose of Selenium. Selenium is an antioxidant. Chicken, red meat, shellfish and fish are rich in Selenium.
As stated in our recent article, drinking an adequate amount of water will ensure that the vitamins and antioxidants from the nutritious foods you’ve ingested will be carried to your skin.
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise! Exercise increases circulation throughout the body which results in nutrients being effectively carried to the skin. The many benefits of working out (other than making you overall healthier) are reducing acne breakouts and fighting the signs of aging. Acne prone skin improves dramatically with exercise because testosterone-related hormones such as DHEA and DHT are released. And exercise is a great stress reliever! Consult your physician for the amount and length of exercise necessary for you.
The sun can be your skin’s worst enemy. Overexposure to the sun can result in sun burns, skin cancer, pre-mature aging, and wrinkles. Everyone, no matter your skin color, should wear sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends an SPF level of at least 30. Be sure to wear sunscreen everyday!
These suggestions are not hard to incorporate into your daily life. Start with adding one more serving of fruit, drinking two more glasses of water or walking for 20 minutes every other day, buy an SPF 30 sunscreen. Your skin will thank you for it!
