In case you were lucky enough not to have your entire newsfeed spammed with numerous amounts of health advice, it’s National Fitness month! It’s no secret that your diet affects your skin. But, if you’re human, you’ll still notice your skin’s imperfections. Fortunately, you’re not alone! While your diet does impact your skin, it’s not the only ingredient to getting the glowing skin you deserve.
Here are a few do’s and don’ts to get your skin healthy and glowing this summer:
Do: Drink plenty – but really, plenty – of water.
You have probably heard it million of times before, but its true. Water is essential for healthy looking skin as it flushes out toxins while keeping your complexion hydrated. Drinking eight glasses a day is of essence to a healthy skin. For a change, try water with cucumber, water with lemon, water with strawberries, or mint to spice up your water. Trust me, your future self will thank you one day!
Don’t: Drink too much coffee.
While a cup or two a day (minus the whipped cream, extra sugar etc) may be beneficial too much coffee can actually dehydrate your skin. For a change, and if you aren’t obsessed with matcha yet, try a matcha tea or latte. Which brings me to my next point..
Do: Drink Matcha!
In case you’re not yet in a committed relationship with matcha, here’s a reason why this green tea powder is one of the secret ingredients of a healthy and glowing skin. The powerful drink contains more antioxidants than goji berries, dark chocolate, pomegranate, and acai berries together! As a result, it can tremendously improve the appearance of your skin, making it look healthier, give you more of a glow, and look simply flawless. Oh, and did I mention it slows down the aging process?
Don’t: Use too many unnecessary skin care products.
Using the wrong skin care products can actually damage your skin in the long-run. Try skin friendly products this summer that carry no preservatives or fragrances. Companies such as Liz Earle are dedicated to only using natural ingredients such as avocado oil, Echinacea, and vitamin E.
Do: Eat Essential fatty acids.
They’re called essential fatty acids (EFA) for a reason – your body needs them!
According to WebMD, everyone’s personal doctor, essential fatty acids like omega-3s and omega-6s are the building blocks of healthy cell membranes. These polyunsaturated fats also help produce the skin’s natural oil barrier. If you’re not getting enough EFAs in your diet, your skin may be dry, inflamed, and prone to whiteheads and blackheads. Consequently, EFAs can be real skin care powerhouses. Research suggests that they may not only reduce sun sensitivity but they may also diminish the inflammation associated with acne. Foods such as salmon, mackerel, walnuts and grains are great EFA to incorporate more in your diet.
Don’t: Expose your skin to too much sun.
I’m not trying to be stereotypical, but there’s a reason why you tend to see more Chinese and Japanese women under an umbrella during the summer. Ever wonder why their skin looks so damn beautiful? Too much sun exposure will eventually make your skin dryer, eventually causing redness. Solution? Use a high factor sunscreen, and try to avoid as much of the sun between noon and 2 pm, as your chances of getting sunburned is highest during these hours.
Unfortunately, unless you include Photoshop and our much needed Instagram filter, there’s no magic ingredient to perfect skin.
Simply remember that your diet not only affects your health, but essentially your skin as well.
Relax, get plenty of sleep, eat right, and get ready to become matcha obsessed!
Featured image via Lara Santos on Pexels
