EAT YOUR WAY TO A BEAUTIFUL COMPLEXION

    According to Ruth Harper, M.D., “When the body is out of balance, one of the first places it reveals itself is the skin.”  Dr. Harper is a board certified internist in Austin, Texas.  “If you are not getting the right nutrients, the skin gets cheated out of what it needs for optimum health and beauty.”  The skin-stomach connection with the following five foods gives you a healthy, glowing complexion while warding off a host of dry skin problems.  When the stomach’s natural flora is unbalanced, skin problems such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, dullness and wrinkles develop.

    “When the gut’s bacteria is not balanced, it leaks through microscopic holes in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and travels throughout the body, including your skin, causing inflammation that prevents the skin from functioning properly,” says Frank Lipman, M.D., an integrative physician and director of Eleven Wellness Center in new York City.  To prevent problems, keep your digestive tract populated with good bacteria, which “coat the lining of your gut and help seal it so unwanted substances can no longer leak out and cause irritation,” says Whitney Bowe, M.D., assistant medical director of cosmetic and laser services at Advanced Dermatology in Ossining, N.Y.  The best way to get the good bacteria is to take a probiotic supplement (available at most health food stores) or consume fermented foods such as Kefir, yogurt, buttermilk, miso, kimchi and sauerkraut. You should also eat foods that contain prebiotics which are undigestable nutrients that stimulate the growth of good bacteria in the gut.  Other sources include whole grains, bananas, onions and garlic.

     “The healthy fats known as omega-3s are like manna from Heaven for dry skin so it stays soft and supple and lines are less noticeable.  Research shows that eating more omega 3s may even protect against sun damage and skin cancer.  Salmon, sardines and mackerel are also powerhouses for protection against sun damage.  If you do not care to eat fish, flaxseeds and chia seeds offer a great alternative.  Just one tablespoon of these seeds ground up has six times the recommended amount required for daily use,” Dr. Harper adds. When skin is exposed to UV rays or environmental pollutants, such as carbon monoxide or cigarette smoke it sets off a chain reaction including cellular structures in the skin.  Purple is the power color for produce, so include blueberries, purple potatoes and cabbage, and all leafy greens.  I asked a local health store what to do for dry skin.  They offered Boreal Green Beaver.  For $15.00, it’s likely worth the try.