How to Boost Natural Beauty Through Nutrition

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*This is a very informative post about natural beauty through nutrition. I was not paid for this post.

You follow a strict skincare routine. It probably includes expensive products, from cleansers to serum. You do not go out without applying an ample coat of sunblock. And you make it a habit to visit your dermatologist at least as frequently as you do your dentist. The result of all your self-improvement efforts makes you happy. Your skin looks younger and more glowing. You have fewer fine lines and your wrinkles are less pronounced. Dark spots have lightened, and your skin appears more even in color. It feels soft to the touch, too.

Yes, you’re doing the whole skincare regimen right. You know all the skincare terms and ingredients like the back of your hand. However, sometimes you wonder if there’s an easier way.

Natural Beauty Through Nutrition

That’s where proper nutrition comes in. If you’ve grown tired of following the much-touted 12-step skincare routine that takes so much effort, it’s time to start taking care of your skin from the inside out. Remember that what you eat affects how you look. Proper nutrition is the most convenient way to stay pretty and pretty healthy.

Food to avoid

First things first. Before we move on to what your body needs, let’s first discuss what your body, or your skin specifically, can do without.

Sugar claims the top spot in our list of notorious culprits for bad skin. For example, if you eat a candy bar, you’re basically ingesting a block of sugar. Your bloodstream will quickly absorb it, resulting in increased insulin levels. This can trigger the onset of rashes, acne, and wrinkles.

Dairy is another contested food product when it comes to skin health. Some experts associate dairy consumption with increased breakouts. The hypothesis derives from milk’s most common source: pregnant cows. These animals release milk packed with androgens and hormonal substances. These substances exacerbate sebum overproduction, which is the main cause of acne.

Other skincare red flags include alcohol and grease. So, avoid chasing down oily pizza with a cold beer.

Hydrate

Speaking of beer, the main reason it’s bad for your skin is its diuretic properties. It makes your trips to the comfort room more frequent than usual. And if you’re not drinking enough water while flushing out excessive urine, you face the risk of dehydration. That, in turn, results in dry and dull skin that’s prone to congested pores.

Sufficient hydration should factor into your routine beyond Friday nights where you do your social drinking. For adults, the mandatory daily water intake is three liters. This optimizes your body’s ability to flush out harmful toxins. It will also boost your natural beauty.

Sure, drinking water can get a little boring eventually. If you get a thirst for something with more color and flavor, skip the soda. Instead, reach for a fresh fruit juice or whip up a detox juice with greens galore.

Fruits and vegetables are your friends

All skincare experts will tell you to eat fruits and vegetables to stay young and beautiful. It’s often repeated to the point of sounding cliché. It’s a cliché because it works.

Think mangoes. They contain a great deal of vitamins A, E, C, and K and boast minerals, including phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. These vitamins and minerals allow your skin to rejuvenate and delay the aging process.

Another fruit rich in antioxidants is ripe papaya. A slice of this tropical wonder gives you vitamins A, C, and B, plus magnesium, copper, and potassium. It also contains papain which makes the skin brighter and clearer.

And then you have apples. Consider them your one-stop-shop for vitamin C, B6, potassium, riboflavin, manganese, magnesium, copper, and flavonoids. It’s also a source of pectin, which stimulates blood circulation crucial for healthy-looking skin.

Other must-include names in your diet: kale, broccoli, cantaloupe, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and bell peppers.

Vitamins and minerals

You need a sufficient supply of vitamin C to boost collagen production. That’s what makes your skin elastic, preventing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant. It shares that distinction with vitamins A, E, and beta carotene.

Antioxidants fight free radicals, which attack your organs on the cellular level. With antioxidants, you strengthen and protect your cells from possible damage from free radicals.

Vitamin A, commonly found in leafy vegetables and yellow fruits, protects against photodamage that happens after prolonged exposure to harmful UV rays, primarily from the sun. Vitamin A promotes collagen growth and suppresses excessive oil or sebum production.

Vitamin B complex, including biotin and niacin, among others, prevents the onset of dermatitis. It aids in hydration, making skin look glowing. Meanwhile, vitamin E zeroes in on the protection of the skin’s fat component.

As for minerals, you may want to look for food sources that have selenium, zinc, and copper. These minerals enhance skin elasticity.

Healthy lifestyle

Photo by Lucas Pezeta from Pexels

Following a healthy diet should be complemented by a healthy lifestyle to gain natural beauty through nutrition. On top of your priorities is stress reduction. Get restful sleep every night. Sleep is your body’s chance to recalibrate and heal itself.

Quit smoking. And if you can reduce alcohol consumption, the better. These vices hasten skin aging.

Exercise consistently. If you can’t commit to a strict gym schedule, at least make it a habit to walk a few miles a day. Keep your heart pumping and sweat out toxins from your body.

Natural beauty through nutrition

Eating healthy should be your go-to skincare secret. If you avoid food that doesn’t do your skin any favor, hydrate as much as your body needs, eat all the fruits and vegetables you can get your hands on, and ensure that you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals your body requires to function at its best, your natural beauty’s bound to shine through. Pair that with a healthy lifestyle, and no doubt you’ll look and feel young.

However, this is not to recommend that you do away with your usual skincare routine. Continue doing what works for you. Eating an apple a day is not an excuse to neglect to apply sunscreen. Consider the beauty products and regimen at your disposal as the finishing touches to achieving holistic health and beauty.