Skin Care from the Inside-Out: How what we eat affects our skin health

Skin Care from the Inside-Out: How what we eat affects our skin health

“Let food be our medicine, and medicine be our food”

~ Hippocrates

One my all time favorite medical words ( peristalsis and uvula are other top ones)  is angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels; a vital process for growth and development in the body. However,  these new blood vessels are also a vulnerable to tumor growth; where cancer cells may step in if they are given the chance. Although it’s very important to remember that the body does not want to be sick and will do its very best to make sure that doesn’t happen and with a little support from us – through positive, healthy lifestyle – we can really help our bodies prevent any type of illness.

Food and their antioxidants are the best place to start. The nutrients in food work together as a team, therefore, eating a variety of colorful fruits and veggies gives a powerful nutritional boost in your body.

Free radicals are by products of oxygen that cause damage to your DNA; in this case the UV light penetrates the skin, possibly causing free radicals to damage the DNA; potentially creating unwanted tumor growth in new blood vessels – angiogenesis. If the free radicals do damage DNA, skin cancer may occur. The good news, antioxidants have the ability to neutralize these free radicals. Below are a few ones I recommend:

1). Vitamin A  

A fat-soluble vitamin that will stop the further formation of free radicals. Vitamin A not only is a free radical scavenger but helps regulate the immune system and aiding in the development of white blood cells.

what foods to find it in: Almonds, sunflower seeds, spinach, avocados, police oil, broccoli

2) Vitamin E

A fat-soluble vitamin that will stop the further formation of free radicals.

what foods to find it in: orange foods: sweet potato, carrots, squash, mangos; dark leafy greens, whole eggs

3) Lycopene A powerful antioxidant with the main job of destroying free radicals. It gives foods a red color, therefore, foods that are red, tend to have lycopene in them. In addition, lycopene is very helpful in protecting the skin from UV light.

what foods to find it in: watermelon, tomatoes, pink grapefruit, sweet red peppers, red/purple cabbage

4)  Selenium

Selenium will do a little magic trick by partnering up with proteins and creating selenoproteins. These selenoproteins help prevent any cellular damage from free radicals.

what foods to find it in: Brazil nuts, chia & sunflower seeds, pinto beans, shiitake mushrooms

What foods do you notice help your skin glow?

About Dr. Heather Manley:

Dr. Heather Manley, who in 2001 received her medical degree  from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, is a practicing physician whose primary interest is preventative healthcare for families. She is the author of the award winning Human Body Detectives, her children’s educational series of story-telling books, curriculum, eBooks, and iPhone/iPad apps. She also promotes wellness and naturopathic healthcare on her website drheathernd.com.