We are used to being bombarded, Women’s magazines are full of advice about dieting and skin care. At every doctor’s visit, we’re told to wear sunscreen and drink lots of water, but we don’t often know what to eat to have the skin we want. The answer is simple: adopt the Mediterranean Diet.
Our bodies operate their best at a very specific pH of 7.4, which is marginally alkaline. When we’re young, our body does a good job of self-regulating pH, but after we reach the age of forty that skill starts to deteriorate. To help ourselves out, we should cut out carbonated drinks and high amounts of sugar, as well as decrease our coffee and alcohol intake while adding fiber, salmon, green leafy vegetables, quinoa, olive oil, and apples.
Other things to do include consumption of supplements – mainly vitamin D3, flaxseed oil, and probiotics– and eliminate tobacco use. Smoking promotes skin cancer by up to 60%, and also breaks down your collagen to create wrinkles.
There are many foods available that decrease the chances of developing skin cancer. Any food with large amounts of antioxidants will neutralize skin cells and prevent any alterations in your DNA, and as a result will stop skin cancer cells in their tracks. Some high antioxidant foods include citrus, dark leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli), herbs, fish, and wine.
Don’t forget the importance of staying hydrated and applying SPF daily. By drinking water, our skin’s moisture barrier is reinforced and keeps nutrients in while keeping allergens and bacteria out. Sunscreen acts as a blanket to cover our skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
