BEAUTY DIET DOS & DON’TS!

Did you know you can eat your way to better and healthier skin? At GMA, we believe good skin requires an outside-in, inside-out approach to achieve the best results! When you make what you eat a part of the skincare equation, you’ll notice a direct impact on your skin’s health.

We out together a simple beauty diet guide which breaks down the science behind why adding certain foods, and cutting some others can help you score the clear skin of your dreams.

1. Get to Know Omega-3s
Omega-3 fats, found in wild salmon, walnuts, and flaxseed oil nourish and hydrate the skin, as well as reducing signs of aging. Omega-3 fatty acids are helpful at calming inflammation, which can be behind some of your most problematic skin issues, like cystic acne and all-over blotchiness.

2. Cut Down on Dairy
If you struggle with acne, you might want to consider ditching it altogether. Consuming milk and other diary products have been shown to disrupt bowel function that creates toxicity, which eventually shows up on your skin.

3. Watch Your Caffeine Intake
Those mid-day coffee breaks could be drying you out. If you need caffeine, we recommend drinking green tea because it contains polyphenols, which help destroy free radicals.

4. Don’t Forget Your Vitamin D
Oral vitamin D (4000 to 5000 units per day) can also help improve the skin. In a 2018 study published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology showed that a lack of vitamin D can lead to certain skin conditions, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (aka eczema). Note: please do not try to absorb vitamin d under the sun with a bare face without sunscreen.

5. Drink Plenty of Water
Aside from sunscreen, water should be your skin’s BFF. It’s essential for optimal skin health, it is hydrating and also help flush toxins out of the body more efficiently. Note: for hydrated skin, in addition to sufficient water intake we also need to use proper skincare containing essential ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to support moisture retention.

6. Cut Back on Sugar
Want super smooth skin? You’ll have to keep your sweet tooth in check. Sugar is pro-inflammatory which can lead to signs of premature aging. It also disrupts hormonal balance which can aggravate acne.

7. Look for Lycopene & All the Natural Antioxidants
Lycopene is a nutrient known to its anti-aging properties and can be found in tomatoes. Some other natural fruits and vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, peppers, Swiss chard, blackberries, blueberries, grapes, and strawberries can also help boost your body’s free-radical defense.

8. Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol itself creates byproducts in the body that are toxic, it also dehydrates the skin. However, a few glasses of red wine a week is actually beneficial to the skin, just remember don’t overdo it!

9. Cut Back on Red Meat
Red meat and the sauces and spices we cook with it are loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol and can cause a decrease in collagen production

10. Watch Your Sodium Intake
Sodium affects fluid balance in the body, over consuming sodium causes dehydration in the body and in the skin. Sodium is often found hiding in processed food and condiments like tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, soy sauce etc., make sure not to eat these foods only moderately!

xoxo, GMA Team