Listen to Your Skin

What is your skin saying about you? As the largest organ in your body, its condition speaks volumes about the state of your health. For instance, if you aren’t getting enough sleep, aren’t eating well or are suffering from a vitamin deficiency or other health condition, your skin may be the first to alert you that something is wrong. Whether it’s extremely dry and flaky or completely broken out, its color, texture, and look can be indicative that something in your body has gotten off course.

The Skin-Health Connection

If you want to ensure your skin looks and feels well, the experts recommend giving your diet an overhaul. While many women wish for a magical pill they could take to get that young, glowing look, those in the know say that there’s no such easy fix. Rather, nutritionists say the secret to great skin is to eat a balanced diet with items from all of the major food groups and to avoid overindulging in highly-processed foods, refined sugar, and alcohol, since these things can really leave their mark.

Recreate the Colors of the Rainbow

Some of the best tips to help you eat well can be found in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This includes some wise advice such as eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, opting for whole grain foods, selecting lean proteins, eggs, and dairy products, and consuming polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats (such as salmon and nuts). You should also steer clear of foods that are high in cholesterol.

If plotting out your diet sounds like too much work to fit into your busy day, an easy but effective way to ensure you are getting all of the nutrients you need on a daily basis is to choose your foods by color. Those in deep, bright shades (such as beets and dark, leafy greens) are typically higher in vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

A Balanced Wellness Program

It’s also important to recognize that everyone’s nutritional needs are unique, according to Linda Arpino, MA, RD, CDN, author of Eat Fit, Be Fit: Health and Weight Management Solutions. She says that each person’s requirements can vary depending on personal stress levels and hormones. Therefore, rather than looking for a detailed menu for success that will fit everyone, she suggests women embrace a broader wellness program and tailor it to their specific lifestyles. Healthy choices include eating well, getting adequate rest, starting a regular exercise routine, and using relaxation techniques to help manage stress. Such a balanced approach is key to capturing that desirable inner glow.

Expert Advice

Also remember that if you have concerns about your diet and your skin, you don’t have to go it alone. You can want to talk to your doctor, dermatologist, or a nutritionist for some expert advice and guidance—so you can look and feel your best.