THE LINK BETWEEN NUTRITION & SKIN HEALTH

One of the first signs of poor nutrition is unhealthy skin. The saying “You are what you eat” is cliché, but true when it comes to African American skin care. The skin is a reflection of the body’s overall health so it makes sense

that your diet will affect the appearance of your skin. We’ve

included some foods and why they are good for your skin!

FATS

Good fats are essential for healthy and beautiful skin. Because our bodies don’t naturally produce these fats, we need to make sure good fats are

incorporated into our regular diets. Healthy skin is able to retain water and, as a result, appears bright and youthful. Good fats strengthen the

skin cells’ membrane to keep water and nutrients in and allowing any waste to filter out.

FATS

Strong skin cell membranes also keep the skin firm and lessen the chances of getting

wrinkles. Good fats also increase blood flow to the skin, which increases the

amount of nutrient going into the skin. Since we know that more nutrients in the skin give the skin a healthy glow, make

sure to incorporate good fat into your diet. They can be found in avocados, olive oil,

nuts, and fatty fish.

PROTEIN

Getting enough protein in your diet is essential to having healthy skin. Protein

contains certain amino acids that increase the body’s collagen production. This is

excellent for African American skin care as it helps to keep the skin looking younger for longer. Not only does protein help the health of your skin, it helps hair and nail also! Eat poultry, meat, eggs, beans, and seafood to get your daily dose of protein!

FIBER

Fibrous foods also play a role in healthy skin. These are foods like corn, beans,

whole wheat bread, broccoli, apples, nuts, and berries. Fiber works by getting rid of toxins that affect the entire body. Toxins can cause acne and break outs on the

skin. Incorporating more fiber into your meal plan can improve your entire health, and show huge improvements to be seen

on the face.

BALANCED DIET

The not-so secret to attaining overall health is to maintain a well balanced

diet. Getting the right amounts of the right food will automatically

increase the health of Black skin. Daily vitamins also work to give the

skin a boost of health.