Food And Skin

What’s on your plate is the best indicator of how much you care about your skin

Skincare is healthcare

The skin ages with age because it suffers from numerous influences from the external environment. In addition, all the changes that happen inside the organism, such as hormonal ones, also affect her health. Diet, stress, and overall lifestyle also play a big role in this. The fight against skin problems never seems to stop. Just when we have beaten acne, wrinkles and other irregularities appear. In the search for a unique solution to all dermatological problems, many scientists have come to the conclusion that skincare needs to be approached from the inside.

Relationship between skincare and nutrition

Skincare is actually an internal affair because its appearance is a direct reflection of the health of internal organs, especially the liver and digestive system. Acne, then other skin conditions such as dryness, psoriasis and eczema indicate that the liver is overloaded, which is the result of excessive intake of toxins and various other harmful substances in the body.

Since the primary job of the liver is detoxification, it will work slowly in these conditions, because it can’t process all harmful substances. The body always works hard to eliminate toxins from the body, so if the liver is unable to do its job, the toxins are filtered through other organs such as the skin. When toxins are eliminated through the skin, they can cause rashes, pimples, dermatitis and other dermatological diseases.

How does food affect the skin?

All foods affect the skin in some way. Either they keep it hydrating and soft, or they cause its diseases. Fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants and numerous vitamins stimulate the production of collagen (a protein that makes the skin smooth and elastic), and help the liver to effectively prevent changes in the skin.

On the other hand, refined sugars, in the process of glycation, bind to collagen molecules and thus contribute to skin aging. They also damage the intestinal flora, which causes acne.

Refined carbohydrates

Refined carbohydrates are the worst food for the skin. In addition to being toxic to the body and causing various digestive problems, refined carbohydrates also have poor nutritional value. They only feed on bad bacteria in the intestines, which can lead to excessive digestion of Candida. An unbalanced amount of bad and good bacteria in the body causes acne, but also the production of a larger amount of oil in the body that closes the pores. When ingesting refined sugars, the body releases the hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels by transporting sugar to all cells in the body.

Because refined sugar is digested quickly the body must release large amounts of insulin to keep up with the transport of sugar to the cells. Research shows that in such cases, insulin can be a trigger for the production of sebum, oil that closes pores and forms pimples and blackheads. Processed sugars affect skin aging. Namely, during digestion, carbohydrate molecules bind to the protein collagen, in the process of glycation they create completely new molecules and thus the collagen that forms smooth youthful skin is lost forever.

The best replacement

These refined sugars include white bread, various other pastries, pasta, cakes and many other sweets. Natural sweeteners such as raw honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar and agave syrup, have a low glycemic index and don’t cause a sudden rise in blood sugar, so they are the best substitute for these foods.

Dairy products

Milk and other dairy products can worsen existing inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, rashes and eczema. In addition, they contain growth hormones and trace antibiotics that interfere with the body’s natural hormonal balance. Excess estrogen is known to cause cystic acne. Many people are intolerant to lactose, which is found in almost all dairy products. Foods that cause allergies can cause inflammatory processes throughout the body, which can also cause inflammation of the skin.

The best replacement

You can replace cow’s milk with oatmeal, coconut or almonds. These alternatives do not contain antibiotics, hormones and lactose, and have a much weaker effect on the digestive system and liver.

Wheat

Numerous studies have shown that the wheat we eat today isn’t the same wheat that our grandmothers ate. It’s suspected that this genetically engineered version of wheat contains much more gluten and phytic acid, which makes it much harder to digest. It’s a surprising fact that with the appearance of this type of wheat, gluten sensitivity in humans is becoming more and more common. Even most pastries are made from whole grains sprinkled with white flour, and it is the number one enemy of the skin.

The best replacement

You can replace wheat with whole-grain cereals such as rice, spelled, buckwheat, amaranth and quinoa, which are rich in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B, which helps the skin retain moisture.

Gluten

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, and traces of gluten can also be found in various sauces, spices and processed meats. Many people have a problem with gluten digestion, not just those who fear celiac disease. The way gluten affects the skin is largely related to how gluten affects the digestive system.

The digestive system produces the protein zonulin, whose task is to form strong connections between cells in the digestive tract in order to prevent the release of harmful substances from food into the bloodstream. While this is a good thing, too much gluten can cause too much zonulin which has the opposite effect. When harmful substances enter the bloodstream, the body activates the immune system, which can cause numerous inflammatory processes in the body, and thus inflammatory skin conditions.

The best replacement

Coconut and almond flour are excellent substitutes for wheat because they do not contain gluten. In addition, integral rice, quinoa, amaranth, millet also do not have this protein.

“Healthy skin is a reflection of overall wellness.” — Dr. Murad

Alcohol

Regardless of the fact that red wine contains numerous antioxidants, it’s important to note that all types of alcohol are very bad for the skin because they accelerate its aging and cause acne. Alcohol contains high levels of sugar, which causes a sudden rise in blood glucose, which destroys collagen molecules. It prevents the skin from retaining moisture, which can be one of the causes of dark circles around the eyes.

The best replacement

It’s best to avoid alcoholic beverages, but if you decide to have a drink from time to time, opt for vodka, gin or a glass of red wine.

Dried meat products

When you wake up with a swollen face and dehydrated skin, remember what you ate the day before and whether that food contained a lot of salt. Processed meats such as bacon and other cured meat products are loaded with sodium, which causes water retention and thus swelling and puffiness of the face. Many studies have confirmed that foods containing sodium nitrate, a preservative that is added to many industrially processed foods, can break down collagen molecules and thus cause foreign skin.

The best replacement

Instead of these foods, choose organic meat from animals that are fed exclusively natural plant foods. That way, you’ll be able to avoid sodium nitrate as well. In addition, this type of meat contains much more omega 3 fatty acids, while they don’t contain antibiotics and hormones.

Caffeine

Have you ever noticed a new pimple on your face after a stressful day? There is a fine line between stress and skin health, and here is what caffeine has to do with it. Studies have shown that regular consumption of caffeine can increase the level of the stress hormone, cortisol, which affects the skin by causing various inflammatory conditions.

The best replacement

Believe it or not, when it comes to skin, the best substitute for caffeine is the broth. It provides energy for the whole day, but also nutrients for the skin such as glycine, collagen and gelatin. You can also replace coffee with herbal teas such as nettle, folk mixture or dandelion, which accelerate the detoxification of the body.