Happy New Year! I’m not sure if its just me but it seems as if we’ve been bombarded by diet commercials ever since the clock struck midnight on New Years Eve. I guess its understandable that many want to adhere to their resolution of dropping a few of the excess lbs. picked up over the holidays, but it occurred to me that losing that extra weight shouldn’t be the only benefit to changing your diet in the new year.

I could sit here and tell you that you can eat and drink whatever you want and as long as you use G.B. Proudfoot’s Natural Body Care Products your skin will still be youthful and beautiful. While our products do amazing things for the skin, you can really give your skin a helping hand by maintaining a healthy diet. Just like our bodies absorb whatever we put on our skin, the opposite is also true. What we put in our mouths affects the health and integrity of our skin and hair. As the adage goes, you truly are what you eat!

Here are a few of the foods and drinks that are not only good for the body but great for the skin as well:

Water

Proper hydration is key for good skin health. When the drier, colder winter air comes this is even more important as our skin fights the weather and we tend to drink less water in the cooler months. Six 8oz. glasses of water a day is a good start but don’t forget to add some extra if you are active or spending a lot of time outdoors. Our skin cells are full of water and we can help alleviate some of that dry skin by maintaining proper hydration from within.

Eat Your Fruits & Veggies

If you’re increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in your new year’s diet, you are definitely on the right track. Fruits and vegetables that contain Vitamin C are great because you get the antioxidants that help repair damaged and aging skin. Vitamin C is also one of the building blocks of collagen production and if you aren’t in the know, collagen production is very necessary  for fighting wrinkles and maintaining smooth skin. Citrus fruits, broccoli, and peppers are all great sources of Vitamin C.

Make sure you’re also looking out for veggies that contain beta-carotene like carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach. Beta-carotene converts to Vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is key in the formation of new skin cells and new cells are a very good thing, particularly when it comes to maintaining smooth skin as we age.

Don’t Skip the Protein

Lean meats, fish and shellfish and nuts are one of the best sources of zinc, iron and other skin friendly minerals and vitamins. These minerals help once again with cell generation but also in the formation of red blood cells which help courier oxygen to the skin. The fats these sources provide are also beneficial to the skin and hair as they help maintain healthy hormone levels which are responsible for so many vital operations in the skin and body. Omega-3 fatty acids that are found in many cold water fishes and nuts are anti-inflammatory agents our bodies can naturally digest and use. Nuts also have the added benefit of containing high levels of Vitamin E which acts as one of the best antioxidants for the body and skin.

Treat Yourself a Little

The key word here is “a little”. Simple sugars and foods with a high glycemic index will not only be a ruin to your weight loss goals, they also don’t do your skin any favors either. High sugar foods cause a spike in the body’s insulin levels and start the glycation process which in turn creates molecules that build up on the skin. These molecules weaken the collagen making your skin inflexible and more susceptible to wrinkling. Everyone has this but cutting back on your sugar intake will certainly slow the process. The good news, your new year’s diet doesn’t have to be all gloom and doom, foods like red wine and dark chocolate are fantastic treats for the body and skin when consumed in moderation. These indulgences contain polyphenols and flavanols, powerful anti-oxidants which scour skin damaging free radicals from the body.

Hopefully the added benefit of healthy and beautiful skin is one more motivator in your quest to eat healthier in the new year. You also don’t need to be a dermatologist to know what foods are going to benefit the skin. Chances are, if it is regarded as having health benefits for the body it will have a positive effect on the skin’s health as well.

Happy New Year once again and Healthy and Happy Dieting!