Food for skin health

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Diet strongly affects the condition of the skin and its appendages: nails and hair. Therefore, today we will talk about nutrition for this organ of our body.

Skin has three physical characteristics:

1. She is extremely sensitive to nutritional deficiencies.… Skin cells are constantly renewed. Consequently, the skin needs a constant supply of nutrients to produce new cells. This makes the skin extremely sensitive to their deficiency, especially when it comes to proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins A and C, iron and zinc.

2. The skin is an excretory organ. The skin is also called the "third kidney" because it is actively involved in the process of cleansing the body. A certain amount of toxins circulating in the blood is excreted through the skin. But the skin may not cope if there is an increased concentration of toxins in the body due to:

   • disorders of the kidneys or liver;
   • constipation;
   • excess content in the diet of meat products, especially sausages, molluscs and crustaceans. Under these conditions, the skin suffers from internal poisoning, which is manifested by various pathological processes such as eczema, dermatosis and various rashes.
3. Many food allergic reactions occur on the skin.

Acne

Inflammation of the sebaceous glands of the skin. These glands produce sebum, an oil that protects the skin. When the follicles of the glands become blocked, which can happen for various reasons, sebum accumulates inside the follicles and the glands swell. Because the sebum cannot drain properly, the glands become infected and inflamed, forming the pustular rashes typical of acne.

This disease manifests itself most often during adolescence. Acne causes:

• Genetic predisposition.
• The action of hormones, especially androgens, which are responsible for masculinization.
• Emotional stress.
• A diet low in fruits, nuts, grains, legumes, vegetables and rich in refined foods, animal fats, and nutritional supplements. Eating hamburgers, french fries, ice cream, and sweets all contribute to acne breakouts.

Increase	Reduce or eliminate
Fruits	Refined sugars
Vegetables	Refined flour baked goods
Whole Grain Products	Saturated fat
Soy	Milk
Vitamin E	Chocolate
	Salt

»

Dry skin

Due to the age factor, excess fat accumulation and the influence of rough chemical elements, skin cells lose fluid. Dehydration makes the skin rough, cracked, and unattractive.

Certain foods listed below protect skin cells and prevent dehydration and premature aging.

Increase

Beans

Carrot

Peanut

Mango

Cucumber

Sunflower seeds

»

Breakage of hair

Healthy hair requires good nutrition. Deficiency of vitamins and minerals can affect the beauty and strength of hair.

Hair loss occurs naturally under the influence of hormonal factors. However, a healthy diet that provides the body with all the vitamins, minerals and trace elements it needs can help strengthen the remaining hair.

Increase

Beans

Molasses

Coconut

Cucumber

Vitamin A

B vitamins

»

Cellulite

The term "cellulite" is used to describe two different disorders:

1. Infectious inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue … The disorder is serious and usually results from wounds or injuries to the skin. Oral infections cause cellulite on the skin of the face and neck.
2. Deformation of uninfected subcutaneous tissue, especially often observed in obese women. The skin loses its smoothness and looks like an orange peel.

The second type of cellulite itself is not dangerous. This disadvantage is predominantly aesthetic in nature. However, it is highly indicative, being a sign of poor health.

Obesity and hormonal imbalances, overheating of the skin (resulting in dryness and loss of skin elasticity), as well as fluid and toxin retention contribute to the development of cellulite.

A healthy diet works from the inside out and gives better results than cosmetic treatments for the skin.

Increase

Diuretic products

Artichoke

Celery

Eggplant

Borage

Cauliflower

Asparagus

Green beans

Apples, peaches, lokvu, pears, grapes

Melons, watermelons

»

Allergy

An allergy is the body's rejection of a chemical known as an allergen or antigen. The reaction is triggered by the smallest amount of allergen, which in itself may seem harmless.

Any chemical that enters the body with food, through the respiratory tract or in any other way can provoke an allergic reaction.

The foods listed below often cause allergic reactions. Their use can also provoke new allergic reactions. For example, in sensitive people, milk can precipitate allergies to other foods and substances.

In case of allergies, the causes of which are not clear enough, an anti-allergenic diet is recommended, which excludes foods that cause allergies. Gradually and under close supervision, the excluded foods are added one at a time to the diet until symptoms reappear.

Avoiding the foods listed below will help relieve any type of food allergy.

Allergies most often affect the skin, respiratory tract and digestive system, regardless of how the allergen entered the body. Many cases of eczema, rhinitis, asthma, migraine and colitis are manifestations of an allergic reaction and can be triggered or exacerbated by eating one or more of these foods.

Reduce or eliminate

Milk

Fish

Shellfish

Eggs

Meat

Hard cheeses

Nutritional supplements

Alcohol

Spices

Chocolate

Honey

Gluten

Nuts

Vegetables

Fruits

»

Dermatitis and eczema

The meanings of these terms are practically the same. They both denote a skin condition characterized by irritation and inflammation, redness, itching, blistering, and scaling.

Factors influencing the most on the appearance of dermatitis:

1. Food allergies, especially to one or more of the foods listed in the Allergy section. Their use provokes or aggravates dermatitis.
2. Contact with allergens.
3. Lack of one or more nutrients: niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin A, polyunsaturated fatty acids and trace elements.

Atopic dermatitis (atopy, atopic eczema) is a type of dermatitis seen in infants and children of allergic parents. Is accompanied by asthma or other allergic manifestations. Dietary treatment is most effective and consists mainly of eliminating cow's milk and other allergenic foods from the diet.

Adults achieve the best results in treating allergies by following an antiallergenic diet based on raw vegetables and eliminating allergenic foods.

Hives - a type of dermatitis characterized by itching and redness of the skin. Its cause is the release of histamine, a substance that causes a large number of allergic reactions.

Increase	Reduce or eliminate
Niacin	Foods contraindicated for allergies
Soy milk	Milk
Vegetables	Salt
Artichoke
Sunflower seeds
Oil additives
Molasses
Oxidizing serum
Vitamin B6
Vitamin A

»

A diet rich in raw foods is good for the skin

Many skin conditions, especially those associated with allergies, resolve with a diet based on raw fruits and vegetables for a few days. Fruits and vegetables are best consumed in their natural form, without culinary or industrial processing. Salads can be seasoned with vegetable oil and lemon.

Thereafter, bread, cereals, legumes, and dairy products are slowly added to the diet until a product or foods that cause skin allergies are identified. In many cases, additives and spices are the cause of allergies. In addition to avoiding foods that cause skin diseases, people with sensitive skin can improve their condition by following a diet rich in unprocessed, raw, plant-based foods.

Based on materials from the book "".