Our Skin and Our Health

Our food choices provide our bodies with the nutrients needed to remain healthy. Choosing fruits and vegetables over processed foods help support major organs including the heart and liver. But we often don’t associate the health of our skin with our diet. Our skin is the largest organ in our body. Beyond supporting our cosmetic appearance, our skin is the first line of defense against exposure to bacteria and viruses. When we treat our skin kindly, we optimize our overall health. Eating a balanced diet will help support skin health. Nutrients that are beneficial for skin include beta carotene, vitamins C and E, zinc and selenium.

We can also support our skin health by eating a minimum of five servings of fruit and vegetables every day. Fruit and vegetables contain antioxidants that work to help protect skin from cellular damage caused by free radicals. Ensuring our diet includes vitamin E also helps skin cell integrity. Vitamin E works to protect skin cells from oxidative or cellular damage and supports healthy skin cell growth.

Staying hydrated is also important to helping support healthy skin. While drinking water isn’t enough to offset dry skin, adequate amounts of water ensure that all cells within our body are able to function at their peak. Our diet should also include healthy fats. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats provide essential fatty acids help maintain our skin’s natural elasticity. Finally include zinc. Zinc is a mineral that helps support the sebaceous glands in the skin. These glands produce the natural oils that our skin needs to repair skin damage.

 Click here for a list of the top foods to support your skin health https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-foods-for-healthy-skin#section1