There are fascinating connections between our digestion and our overall health, both in terms of energy level, gut health, and yes, even the look of your skin. If you want to go beyond the surface and think holistically about your skin health, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jessica Krant can help you get the glowing, clear skin you’re looking for with a nutritious, plant-based diet.
While other diet trends for better skin health have come and gone, the core principle of eating plenty of fruits and vegetables has remained. Here’s what parts of your diet could be causing your skin concerns, and the best way to address them from the inside out.
The Best Diet for Acne
We have significant evidence that there is a link between dairy and the severity or stubbornness of acne breakouts, especially in teenagers. Dairy products contain three compounds that directly trigger acne: inflammatory molecules, hormones, and sugars. Reducing dairy product intake by avoiding cheese, milk, yogurt, milk powders, and whey protein may help reduce the appearance of breakouts by bringing down the inflammatory response to acne infection and helping to regulate hormone fluctuations that cause breakouts.
Address Oily Skin Through Your Diet
If you struggle with oily skin that can lead to breakouts, there are certain foods to include in your diet that help your body better regulate oil production. One key player is flaxseed, which has a unique composition of fatty acids and lignans to help your skin glow without shining. And ensuring you’re getting enough whole grain in your diet can help ensure your skin doesn’t over-produce sebum.
Foods for Fine Lines and Wrinkles
We know the only issue standing in the way of you and smooth, clear skin isn’t just acne breakouts, but also fine lines that can appear sooner than you may think. An anti-wrinkle diet, as we’ve mentioned in what to eat to look younger, is an anti-inflammatory diet. Moreover, ensuring you’re eating foods that have plenty of antioxidants is also key, as these ingredients fight aging by neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are atoms that readily bond with your skin cells’ DNA, causing damage and decay that can lead to the formation of wrinkles.
Foods like leafy greens, fruits like oranges and grapefruit, and nuts all contain way more antioxidants than a non-vegan diet of dairy, meat, fish, and eggs. It’s also worth mentioning that studies have shown that antioxidant supplements aren’t as effective at boosting antioxidant levels as including natural, unprocessed plants in your diet, since whole foods contain more beneficial micronutrients than we realize, which are lost in processed supplements.
Consultation with a Board-Certified NYC Dermatologist
Dr. Jessica Krant is not only a medical dermatologist, but also a Lifestyle Medicine-certified physician and life coach who focuses on teaching people how to achieve beautiful, healthy skin from the inside out. She is beloved by her patients for her patient-first approach, taking the time to truly understand the issues affecting your skin health and goals with a “whole body and mind” approach. To learn more about how your skin can change for the better with practical advice from a New York City expert, don’t hesitate to call the office or contact us online today.
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