Skin and Diet
by Katta MD
GLOW
The Dermatologist's Guide to a Whole Foods
Younger Skin Diet
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More Details
What are the keys to eating for healthier skin?
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1. Eat power. Specifically, eat more foods that provide power. Certain foods contain the types of powerful nutrients that promote healthier skin. These include nutrients such as dietary antioxidants, power fats, and power carbs.
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2. Stop sugar spikes. We know that elevated levels of blood sugar can damage the collagen in our skin, ultimately leading to a loss of elasticity and wrinkling, sagging skin.
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3. Stop skin sabotage. Limit added sugars in your diet, and replace processed refined carbohydrates with power carbs such as whole grains, beans, and lentils. Also avoid trans fats as well as deep-fried foods that contain collagen-damaging substances.
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1. EAT POWER
​What do I mean by "eat power"? This means eating foods that are rich in powerful nutrients.
I've highlighted 6 categories of foods that have been shown to help the skin.
1. Foods that are naturally high in antioxidants: this includes such foods as herbs and spices, fruits and vegetables, and green tea.
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2. Power carbs: food such as whole grains, beans, and lentils that contain carbohydrates wrapped up in a package with antioxidants, fiber, and protein.
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3. Power fats: this includes certain MUFAs (mono-unsaturated fatty acids) and PUFAs (poly-unsaturated fatty acids).
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4. Anti-glycation foods: certain herbs and spices have been shown to protect our collagen by fighting the process of glycation.
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5. Probiotic foods: Foods that contain live microorganisms. One example is yogurt that contains live, active cultures of "good" bacteria.
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6. Prebiotic foods: Foods that naturally promote the growth of good bacteria in our gut. The fiber found in certain vegetables can be a powerful prebiotic.
FOR MORE ON THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS BEHIND THESE POWERFUL FOODS, LINK HERE
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2. STOP SUGAR SPIKES
Dermatologists have long known that elevated levels of blood sugar have a harmful effect on our skin's collagen. In fact, studies have shown that higher levels of blood sugar can damage our collagen, ultimately leading to a loss of elasticity and wrinkling, sagging skin.
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That's why eating the right foods, in the right way, is so important for skin health. There's an epidemic of prediabetes in the United States. By thinking about how your food choices impact your blood sugar, you'll be helping to save your skin, and reducing your risk of prediabetes and diabetes.
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3. STOP SKIN SABOTAGE
Certain foods can harm our skin's health. These are the big 3:
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1. Limit foods high in added sugars.
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2. Limit fried foods.
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3. Completely avoid factory foods that contain trans fats.
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