Kitchenability

How to Use Food as a Dupe for Expensive Face Cream

Frequent guest contributor Lucy Wyndam

Leading celebrity dermatologist Dr. Neetu Nirdosh says up to 80 percent of skin health is due to lifestyle, not genetics. “Diet… can affect not only wrinkles and fine lines but also hyperpigmentation and acne,” she says.

Cleansing Your Skin From the Inside

While investing in skin creams might be your first thought, much of the healing and repair of your skin is an internal matter. Whether acne, eczema is your complaint, or wrinkles, eating healthy can reverse many common skin problems. To see full results of beautiful skin you need a long-term view of healthy diet choices. However, starting with a quick cleanse, even for only a couple of days, will help in various ways, such as:

· Eliminating excessive sugar and fried foods that wreak havoc on skin.

· Helping you choose healthier foods and recipes that repair the body, rather than harm it.

· Aid in cleaning out your gut, so you are better able to absorb those healing nutrients.

· If you include bone broth in your cleanse, it will increase your intake of natural collagen which is excellent for the skin.

Your focus for a cleanse should be mainly on pure, healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, delicious and healthy smoothies, bone broths, and very mild use of healthy oils. You can also assist your full-body cleanse with a natural supplement to speed things along and aid organs such as your liver and digestive tract in removing the junk food toxins. Then it’s onto retraining your kitchen skills to continue a healthy, skin-loving path.

Consume Dairy in Moderation, or Not at All

In several intensive studies, dairy has been connected to acne. It’s unclear exactly why, but one theory is the play hormones have in dairy products. When hormones fluctuate, acne can occur. So, if dairy is something you cannot do without, buying organic, hormone-free products is worth a try. Wherever you can manage to substitute a dairy product such as almond or rice milk, or coconut-based creamer, give it a shot.

Consider Sugar Your Enemy

Sugar, unfortunately, is well-linked with not only acne but also speeding the aging process of the skin. If you’re concerned with aging, sugars can damage skin elasticity. When you cook sugars via methods such as grilling, frying, and roasting, the damaging components increase. So, if you must have something sweet, a raw fruit salad or smoothie is a wise first choice. If you need your chocolate fix, try throwing in a bit of cocoa powder to your smoothie and allow the fruits to sweeten it naturally. Sometimes it’s enough to satisfy the craving. And you’ll be feeding your skin with healthy vitamins instead of harming it.

Foods to Include in Your Long-Term Healthy Skin Diet

Once you’ve eliminated most of the foods causing damage to your skin, it’s time to focus on meal plans and snacks that include foods that are especially helpful to your skin. These include carrots, apricots, green leafy vegetables, berries, beans, peas, nuts, salmon, and other fatty fish.

It only takes a little time to adjust your palate to healthier foods, and with endless recipes, you can make something you once thought unappealing and turn it into a new favorite dish. The feel you’ll get when you look in the mirror and see clearer, more glowing skin will be worth it!