A natural skin care regime involves more than just using organic skincare products. The role of diet, nutrition and other factors are essential in ensuring your skin stays healthy and supple. Adopting a natural skin care regime works as a beneficial anti ageing solution and also supports the skin’s natural regenerative process.
A holistic approach to natural skin care
The skin is the largest organ in the human body. Changes in the appearance of our skin such as texture, moisture, elasticity or the appearance of conditions such as acne or eczema are indicative of internal imbalances in the body. Many of these are caused by poor nutritional choices. Certain foods are beneficial to supporting natural skin care, while others are detrimental.
Good food for the skin
Long-term dehydration of cells has been recognised as a contributor to the formation of wrinkles. Drinking plenty of water hydrates the skin and cells and also acts as a powerful anti-ageing force.
Antioxidant-rich foods have the ability to clear excessive free radicals on the skin which lead to inflammation, leaky capillaries and pigmentation. A diet rich in antioxidants including fruit, vegetables, berries, nuts and seeds will also produce benefits for your skin. There are also numerous herbal remedies known for their antioxidant action, such as grape seed, pine bark and bilberry.
A diet high in fish, nuts and seeds, berries and leafy green vegetables is an effective way to minimise the ageing effects of inflammation and free radicals. All the cells in your body require protein to stay healthy so having some fish, eggs or dairy foods at every meal is beneficial in a natural skin care regime.
What to avoid
Avoid excessive amounts of coffee and alcohol in your diet which are common causes of skin inflammation. An excess of sugar in your diet also increases the levels of advanced glycation end products which age the skin by damaging collagen and producing dry and brittle skin. Excess polyunsaturated vegetable oils also produce large amounts of free radicals on the skin.
The skin is also involved in assisting the body clean itself. If waste material isn’t being correctly eliminated, the skin help by sending more waste material out through the skin’s surface. Over-consumption of refined and processed foods does not allow the body adequate opportunity to cleanse and eliminate properly. It is therefore important to avoid oily or processed foods and stick to fresh vegetables and fruit as part of your natural skin care regime.
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Natural therapies for skin care
Hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol, released as a result of stress, switch off your skin’s ability to heal. This means adopting other natural therapies such as meditation and yoga for stress relief, used in conjunction with a nutritious and healthy diet, can produce beneficial effects for the skin.
Exercise in general works to improve the quality of skin by increasing circulation and should be part of a natural skin care regime. Yoga however, also works to keep the skin hydrated. Many inverted yoga postures such as the headstand or shoulder stand increase circulation of rich oxygenated blood to the head, brain and face, helping to remove wrinkles caused by toxins.
