Virily Editor
Tips for the most common problems
Healthy skin means slightly different things for all of us depending on our skin types, age, and individual problems that appear at different times of life. Some of us struggle from acne or oily skin, or you might be one of those who want to have a more hydrated, fuller, younger look and soften the appearing wrinkles. It often happens that skin problems pop up at the same time which makes it even harder to treat them from the outside.
Whatever your goal is, you have to combine facial routines with a smart diet, and of course, remaining self-aware. If you think of the fact that skin is our biggest organ, no surprise that the food we eat and the way we live will show an effect almost immediately. Many people who overcame acne can tell that their final solution was not the expensive creams and marketing promises. But a clean diet, rich in vitamins and nutrients combined with only a few facial products and a consistent routine accompanied by drinking a lot of water.
If your problems are severe, reach out to a nutritionist or doctor who can help you build your diet, based on the results of your blood test. This way of thinking requires you to look at your body as a respectful work relationship. Your body works very hard for you to be able to function and provide the energy you need for your work, family life, and hobbies. You have to take your part as the boss and provide the right tools for the hard work your body does for you. Try not to blame or hurt yourself for the condition of your skin, thinking ‘Why can’t it do its job?’ Actually, wrinkles, dryness, pimples, and acne are all part of the job. They are very visible warnings of the things that are happening inside of you. Take these red flags as a reminder and look at the whole picture to be able to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.
Acne-prone skin
In case you suffer from acne, whiteheads, and blackheads, the first thing to find in your diet is the kind of foods that raise your blood sugar quickly. Uneven, sudden changes in blood sugar lead to also uneven production of insulin, and this hormone can trigger your oil glands to produce more oil. More oil means a higher risk for clogged pores and as a result all the problems you might be suffering from.
What kind of ingredients starts the cycle?
Pasta, white rice, white bread, and sugar, just to name a few. Consuming trans-fats and saturated fats will also risk your chances of acne. This means you should follow a healthy diet plan, and exclude processed food, fast food, and sugar-based processed sweets from your diet and try to find the same pleasure in meals that provide enough healthy support for your body and so your skin.
So then what can you eat?
You don’t have to quit any food group to enjoy the benefits of healthy skin. Keep carb-rich meals but look for complex carbohydrates as your fuel such as whole grains and legumes.
You should not give up on oil either, as it is just as important for glowing, healthy skin as the right amount of water consumption. But you have to choose oils with a high Omega 3 ratio. Like extra virgin olive oil, macadamia nut oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil among many others. Experiment with them, and find your favorite option for cooking, baking, and salad dressing. Omega 6 is also important for your skin and body, but you have to keep a balance between these two. The recommended Omega 6-3 ratios are between 1:1 to 3:1 while the western diet looks more like 15:1. Some vegetables also contain these highly beneficial oils, like avocado.
Choose a diet plan to support your dedication. Go with the Rainbow diet and eat the members of the orange and yellow lanes such as carrots, apricots, and sweet potatoes. Choose spinach and other leafy vegetables from the green lane. Opt for blueberries, beetroot, and tomato to add another pop of color to your palette.
When choosing meat, go for lean meat, seafood, salmon, or mackerel and prepare them in the oven instead of frying them in oil.
Preparing these meals will also add a new kind of creativity to your days. If you feel like you are too busy to prepare all kinds of meals, then have a weekly planner for 3 main courses and 2 snacks per day. You can also prepare for the next couple of days by storing portions of each meal ahead. Sometimes raw vegetables or healthy cookies can also substitute a meal. And it is not a shame to eat the same meal for 2 or even 3 days. Be aware of your calorie intake, don’t eat too little a day. And raise the daily calorie intake as you start working out or do more physical exercise.
How much does the diet cost?
When you hear the collection of these fruits, vegetables all at once, not to mention the expensive seafood, you might think that you don’t have the budget for it. But look more closely. You don’t have to pack your fridge with all of these at once. Some of these recipes are not only healthy but can be very cheap too. Buy seasonal veggies of the more affordable types like beetroot, carrot, and tomato. It is enough to eat meat 2 or 3 times a week, so you can save up for those meals and create something special. You will be surprised how soon you will start enjoying playing around with new recipes, exploring new ingredients while you can also enjoy the benefits of your new diet.
If you already have a healthy diet, and your problems are still present, instead of buying hundreds of beauty products, you really need to talk to a trustworthy nutritionist or doctor. You might figure out that you are suffering from acne because of an unrevealed allergy or because you are lacking certain vitamins. So often the lack of zinc and vitamins A and E can be found as the main triggers. Don’t start testing all the vitamins on yourself though. Let someone help you and offer solutions that you might have never thought of.
