A radiant, blemish free complexion is coveted by just about everyone under the sun. Feeling self conscious about acne is something I was (and continue to be) well acquainted with. Anyone who suffers from acne or other skin conditions have probably tried all the creams, pills, and tonics on the market…only to find these treatments are short term fixes with harsh side effects. Did you know you can clear your complexion with food?
If it holds true that we are what we eat than wouldn’t the food choices we make effect our skin? Absolutely! According to Eastern holistic medicine by eliminating certain foods and adding others to our diets we can create gorgeous, clear skin for life. Two of the oldest holistic traditions in the East, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, both believe that all foods have properties that effect the body in certain ways.
For example, some foods have a more inflammatory nature, while others cleanse and detox. Both medicine’s agree that acne and blemishes are caused by too much heat and dampness in the body. So the idea is to cool, dry and cleanse the skin from the inside out by consuming foods with such properties.
With that said, here’s your guide to eating right for clear skin!
Add: Beta-carotene/provitamin A foods which have an anti-inflammatory nature. Yellow and green beta-carotene foods to emphasize include carrots, winter squash, pumpkin, leafy greens such as dandelion greens, beet greens, spinach, kale, chard and water cress. All greens are rich in chlorophyll, which purifies the blood of the toxins that cause skin eruptions. So be sure to eat your greens.
The deep blue-green micro algae such as spirulina and wild blue-green are also beneficial. And as I have talked about before, seaweeds have a cooling, detoxifying nature, making them ideal for clearing your complexion!
Drink: Plenty of water to flush out toxins. A common Ayurvedic remedy is to drink half a cup of aloe vera juice.
Eliminate: Spicy, fatty, or greasy foods. Sweets, citrus fruits, and certain fish (oysters, herring, and shrimp) are no-no’s as well. All of these foods create heat, dampness, and inflammation in the body, which leads to the breakouts on the skin. In terms of dairy, goat’s milk products are better choices during breakouts. Instead of reaching for processed, saturated fats, look for foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which actually nourish the skin.
Other Factors To Consider: As any woman can attest, emotional stress, menstrual related hormonal changes, and exposure to chemicals or too much sun are other known factors and causes of breakouts. So, while we can’t control our hormonal changes we can learn to relax, de-stress, and protect our skin from too much sun.
By coupling the proper clear-skin nutrition plan with relaxation and sunscreen you’ll be sure to walk out the door every morning with confidence and radiant skin you can actually feel!
Resources: The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, by Vasant Lad. Healing with Whole Foods, by Paul Pitchford.
