7 Fantastic Ways To Cure Dry Skin With Diet
A dry and flaky skin often leads to itching and scratching and is very uncomfortable especially during winter months. In some cases, one experiences cracked lips and dry, sensitive hands. There are foods that can help skin glow from inside out and treat dry skin naturally by relieving the discomfort of inflammation .Our skin needs certain nutrients to help heal and repair itself. Deficiency in certain micro nutrients such as vitamin E and zinc is the root cause of dryness, breakouts and other skin problems.
The most important and easy way to keep the skin radiant is by keeping the water intake high. It is necessary to keep the body and the skin hydrated at all times. Our skin is the largest cleansing organ and needs ongoing hydration. It needs to remove toxins from the skin all day.Foods rich in water content are highly beneficial like apples, oranges, cucumbers, watermelons and so on.
To cure dry skin, a little change in the diet goes in long way. There are fruits and vegetables that naturally improve dry skin. Instead of lathering on all the expensive creams and lotions, one should take a natural route by eating foods that help to moisturize the skin. Healthy foods work on a cellular level to keep the skin smooth and supple.
1. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are abundant in Vitamin A which is one of the most important nutrient for preventing dry skin and aids in skin repair. Sweet potatoes are beta carotene rich root vegetables that have antioxidants that helps repair tissue damage and prevent premature aging. The beta carotene strengthens the skin’s protective barrier, thereby, helping to moisturize and plump up skin cells. One needs to eat the skin also to get a double dose of skin protecting nutrients.
All orange and yellow vegetables are rich in beta carotene, which converts to Vitamin A in our bodies and help repair damaged skin. These include carrots, pumpkins, and squash and can be prepared in a soup for maximum benefits.
2. Avocados
Avocados are rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, healthy fats (monosaturated fats) and oleic acid. The intake of avocados help in reducing inflammation and keeps the skin moist, fights the free radicals and prevents premature aging of the skin. The omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids in avocados assists in regenerating the damaged skin cells and thus helps in improving irritation and redness of the skin. The omega 3 fatty acids found in high amounts in avocados are important to help the skin cells maintain our lipid membrane, which ensures our skin retains its moisture and smoothness.
Avocados are the key ingredients in lots of natural face masks. It is good for hair and nails too. One can have them in the form of guacamole.
A layer of mashed or pureed avocado can be applied as a mask and rinsed within few minutes.
3. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. They help in treating inflamed skin. The silica in the peel of cucumbers is known to nourish, hydrate and firm the skin. It is very important to add cucumbers in the salads or drink it with an ice cold glass of water.
4. Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are packed with fiber, Vitamin E and omega 3 fatty acids, all the necessary nutrients for a healthy, glowing skin. One needs to consume nuts like walnuts, almonds and seeds like flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds on a daily basis to help protect the skin from sun damage and inflammation and to overcome dry skin. One may opt for flaxseed oil to keep the skin moisturized and smooth.
Brazil nuts contain selenium, which is a powerful antioxidant and helps boost immunity.
5. Fish
Salmon, trout, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and tuna are high in omega 3 fatty acids, which help in reducing inflammation caused by UV radiations and help the skin hold moisture and are one of the best solutions to dry skin. It should be a part of the diet in order to get healthier, hydrated skin. Intake of fish helps in reducing the risk of inflammatory skin problems like psoriasis, dermatitis and skin dryness.
6. Asparagus
Asparagus is rich in Vitamin E which helps protect and guard the skin against damage from the sun. Asparagus helps in improving skin texture and prevent wrinkles. They can be eaten as is or grilled.
Fruits like mangoes, papayas, berries and tangerines are amazing at keeping the skin hydrated and youthful. The berries are rich in antioxidants and fight free radicals, while mangos and papayas are rich in vitamins that help in nourishing the skin. Tangerines and other citrus fruits help the skin in producing collagen and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Tangerines are packed with Vitamin A and C along with beta carotene which helps maintain skin’s moisture.
Eating these delicious and healthy foods on a regular basis will help one to have silky smooth skin throughout the year.
Foods high in salt content and preservatives make your skin puffy and dry. One needs to minimize those from the diet.
Certain foods can be applied directly onto the affected areas to overcome dryness.
7. Whole Milk
Whole Milk is a natural option to help with dry and irritated skin. Whole milk is rich in fats and proteins, so one can even apply it directly onto the problem area and rinse it within minutes. This can help retain moisture throughout the day. Yogurt also acts in the same way as a moisturizer and helps in shedding dead skin cells along with hydrating the new ones.
The same way one can use egg whites to restore moisture and aid with skin’s elasticity. Coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil are good moisturizers .They recondition the skin naturally. Coconut oil may be consumed directly or used in as a cooking substitute for butter or vegetable oils. One can also eat olives for healthy looking skin.
