HEALTHY AND SMOOTH SKIN- A CONSUMABLE GUIDE

Have you ever wondered why smooth and unblemished skin is a thing reserved only for celebrities and internet-figures? In other words : people with more money. That is because healthy skin is not something you are born with but strive to perfect it while you compete with adolescence and external factors as you grow. Money is just a catalyst. A very effective one. Combined with exorbitant skin-protection, enhancement creams and surgeries too expensive to pronounce, you probably have the shorter end of the stick. But here’s the recipe for clear  skin that extends far beyond a healthy exterior to benefit your entire body while cosmetic products can only do so little. 

In short, you are what you consume and the healthier you eat the more your body will thank you in the form of a fit mind and body. Carbohydrates (sugar)  and unhealthy fats age skin faster than your birthdays do. 

Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, encourage thick and supple skin. Omega-3 deficiencies themselves can impact your skin negatively by making them dry and prone to the sun. Salmon, mackerel, and herring are good examples of fish with high amounts of Omega-3. They aid in fighting the negative effects of UV rays from the sun. 

Walnuts, an old friend of this blog, makes fatty acids. These are unavailable in the body naturally. Proclaiming itself as the king of all nuts, it contains more omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids than any other nut. These prevent skin inflammations. 

Zinc also helps fight inflammation and bacteria cluttering your skin. Since they are known to help heal wounds, they reduce acne scarring significantly compared to someone who doesn’t have zinc in their diet. Foods rich in zinc include : walnuts, pumpkin seeds, cashews, lentils, fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, nuts and fatty fish. It is recommended that 40mg of zinc is to be consumed every day to treat acne. 

Carotenoids play the role of a natural sunblock and as fate may have it, sweet potatoes contain beta carotene. This prevents dry and wrinkly skin and sunburns. Paying tribute to its name, large amounts of beta carotene gives your skin a warm orange tone. Other items containing carotenoids include oranges, carrots and spinaches. 

Aside from edibles, washing you face with warm water and soap routinely before sleeping removes the accumulated dirt and oil from the day to promote clean and clear skin.

Other than consumable remedies, washing your face daily before bed is a great way to cleanse your skin from oils and dirt to encourage clear skin. Best results are with lukewarm water and soap

THE SALTY TRUTH ABOUT SODIUM

Sodium is a double edged sword. Too much of it can create fluid retention and high blood pressure and too little can disrupt nerves and the body’s meticulous fluid balance. Cardiologists heavily recommend a low sodium diet to compromised patients due to its sensitive relationship with stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. 

Cardiologists and health specialists highly suggest keeping your daily salt level to 2300 mg of sodium a day (equivalent to a teaspoon of salt).

Salt has become an omnipresent entity throughout culinary history. It's difficult to remove such an influential ingredient from our lifestyle due to its influential hold on the food market. However, taste is a repairable sense formed from habit. Decreasing sodium content from your daily life allows you to unlearn your tolerance for high salt levels. 

Involving more fresh fruits, vegetables and meat into your diet repairs your need for excess sodium. Preservatives contain a lot of sodium so any item that stays 'fresh' in the fridge for longer than a few days should be consumed minimally. The DASH diet is highly accredited among cardiologists. It's a systematic diet regimen that cuts off excess sodium, cholesterol and fats to decrease blood pressure. Check out our past articles for more detail!

There are plenty of substitutes for salt that work even better with certain types of food. Herbs, spices, lemon zest, lime and vinegar are tastier options than plain old boring salt. Since sodium is such an influential element in modern diets, It takes 6-8 weeks to fine-tune your taste. A slow withdrawal from the eleventh element of the periodic table is harsh at first but ultimately beneficial in the long run. Keep going!