5 Strategies to CHANGE YOUR SKIN
Beauty, the saying goes, is only skin deep. But the importance of skin goes a lot deeper. Most of us think skin as just our body’s visible outer layer, but doctors consider skin an organ, meaning that it is very much alive and changed with many important duties.
When we think of skin-care, most of us default immediately to products, expensive products that we see on TV or in ads that assure us of their quality and ability to change our skin. When we think of the skin care we own we tend to think which ones are the most esteemed, most expensive, and most beautiful products on our bathroom shelves. Those factors definitely play a part in our overall sense of self-care, and some of that feel-good indulgence, of course. But the real catalyst for our outer beauty begins inside, and that’s the most important.
The real catalyst of our outer beauty begins inside, and that’s the most important.
We want to outline specific strategies for you that, when diligently practices, can lead to transformation. These techniques are truly the foundation of glowing health, so plenty of other benefits may follow.
Properly Hydrate
The easiest and most important first step you can do for healthy skin is to male sure you are properly hydrated. Your cells are nearly 70% water. Staying adequately hydrated helps to keep your cells plump and healthy, plus aid in circulation-all important for glowing skin. Chronic dehydration can cause a loss of elasticity from the skin and the appearance of premature aging. Its also helpful to add some liquid minerals to some of your daily water intake to make sure you are absorbing what you need.
Cut Sugar
Lower your sugar intake. Too much sugar in your diet produces advanced glycation end products, aptly referred to as AGEs. These AGEs break down the foundation of healthy skin and specifically attack collagen and elastin – both important for youthful and healthy skin. The first place to reduce sugar is in your beverages. The next step is to make sure the food you’re eating is plain or unsweetened versions of your favourite foods, like yogurt, oatmeal, etc. This isn’t to say you can’t eat fruit. Fruit is a fantastic way to sweetened up breakfasts without adding syrups, honey, or plain old sugar. Just be reasonable – everything in moderation.
Collagen Support
Here at Flourish Health we like to focus on the benefits of plant-based options for all ways of natural consumptions. For all our plant-based friends consuming foods like tempeh, tofu, black beans, kidneys, squash, chia, peanuts and cashews are all great plant-based options. Eating foods rich in vitamin C, like citrus fruits, broccoli, and red peppers, can help support your body’s natural production of collagen. People who aren’t plant-based can lean on bone broth or eating chicken on the bone in order to get a source of collagen. If those foods are hard for you to eat, supplementing with a collagen supplement that’s been proven effective is a great way to get healthy skin. You want to find supplements that have great bioavailability, because recent studies show that collagen can even help reduce the skins UVB-induced photoaging (the specific sun rays that wreck your skin.)
Manage Stress
We’re all living in stressful times lately, but even everyday stress can affect the quality of your skin. Taking time to relax and practice self-care can look different for many people. For some it can be meditating, long walks, or a call to a friend. If you need extra support, I recommend supplementing with a good-quality full spectrum CBD supplement. CBD can be very helpful with helping the body deal with stress, anxiety, and poor sleep, which can all negatively affect your skin.
Eat Fat
Low-fat diets belong in the ’90s. Healthy fats are the building blocks of healthy skin cells. Eating items like avocado, whole eggs, grass-fed beef, and wild salmon helps keep your skin cells hydrated, plumper, and youthful while also helping to reduce inflammation, which can cause puffiness, redness, and other skin issues. Even better, a diet rich in healthy fats can help balance blood sugar levels, helping to reduce those AGEs.
