When we eat well and exercise, the incentives are to enhance our overall wellbeing, health and looks. There’s nothing wrong with this, who doesn’t want to look their best anyway? The real question is; will a good diet and regular exercise be sufficient for happy skin?
Your SKIN is your body’s largest organ when your body is healthy, your skin is subsequently healthy. That being said, there are many factors that can change the way your skin looks; hormones, ageing, genetics, internal health and external conditions. Some of these, you can’t change however you can influence some of them.
HOW CAN A GOOD DIET KEEP MY SKIN HAPPY?
Improving your body from the inside, obviously, has a lot of benefits to your skin. A healthy, balanced diet could be the beginning of a clear and glowing complexion.
Certain foods have been recognised as having incredible benefits for your skin. These include:
- Mangos
- Tomatoes
- Green tea
- Olive oil
- Soy
- Kale
- White tea
- Cocoa flavanols
These foods are full of antioxidants, that can improve the structure, function and appearance of the skin. Alongside this, these foods can actually prevent photo ageing, increase collagen, prevent dryness and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
It’s not just about what you do eat, it’s about what you don’t eat. Cutting down on dairy, gluten, coffee, fried foods, sugar and salt will set you up for radiant skin as well.
HOW DOES EXERCISE HELP MY SKIN?
So, how about all the benefits of exercise? Well, it turns out that working out is just like a really effective facial. Working up a bit of a sweat dilates your pores and the sweat expels oils and dirt. You just have to make sure you wash your face straight after.
Exercise can also reduce inflammation in your skin. It can additionally help regulate hormones that have negative effects on your skin, as well as preventing free-radicals.
Basically, when you break a sweat, arteries in your skin open up. This allows more blood to reach your skin’s surface, delivering nutrients and repairing any damage that might have occurred from day-to-day life, like UV damage and pollution. Increasing the production of collagen and preventing wrinkles.
IS EXERCISING AND A HEALTHY DIET ENOUGH?
As great as regular exercise and a great diet is, you will have to obviously change other aspects of your lifestyle to have the best possible skin. It goes without saying, it doesn’t matter how many vegetables you consume or workouts you carry out, if you’re lacking in other aspects, your skin won’t be at its best. Incorporating a healthy lifestyle, from all fronts, will ensure that you have radiant looking skin.
STOP THE BAD HABITS
Smoking, excessive drinking and sleep deprivation have all been linked to premature ageing and other skin-related issues. Try to cut down and have good night’s sleep.
HOW HELPFUL IS SKINCARE?
Of course, combining skincare with a healthy lifestyle will make a big difference. In fact, it’s arguably just as important. Our skin is the largest barrier that we have – it protects us from infection and pollution, working tirelessly every day to help us. A skincare routine will ensure that your skin remains healthy and strong.
Sunscreen can nowadays be found in many moisturisers and is one of the most important ways that you can take care of your skin. Effective skincare involves a daily routine, of cleansing and moisturising properly. Look for skincare that will cater to your own skin (dry, oily, combination) and also extra serums, oils or medication that will help with any issues. Keep en eye out for one of our other blog posts on skincare regimes.
CAN MENTAL HEALTH AFFECT YOUR SKIN TOO?
Of course, in every single way mental health is just as important as physical health. Mental health affects every aspect of our lives, including our skin. Stress, anxiety and depression can all cause acne, premature ageing and inflammation problems such as rosacea.
Focusing on your mind, as well as your body will truly help your skin. Don’t forget to look after yourself from every possible aspect.
To summarise, as important as a healthy diet and exercise is for your skin, you must remember to never neglect other aspects of your life. A particular skincare routine, healthy habits and overall wellbeing will allow you to glow from the inside out.