Recipes for a Healthy Skin

                                

We all want the “glow” don’t we? I mean, you walk into a room, all heads turn.  Your skin is flawless, everyone is asking what skin products you use huh?

It is obvious that a good number of women pay attention to their skin because of their “Appearance.” It is also no news, that you would rather buy a very expensive body cream to keep up that glow, than buy a cleansing soap. (I mean, who cares anyways).

 The truth is, skin appearance is important, but we ignore the importance of a healthy skin. (Let me enlighten you).  The Skin is your body's largest organ. It serves as a protective barrier between your insides and the rest of the world, helps regulate body temperature and acts as a filter.

Skin exists in a constant state of growth, with old cells dying as new cells are forming. 

It's affected by every aspect of your life, from what you eat to where you live. Healthy skin is better able to fight signs of aging, heals much faster and staves off potential disease better than unhealthy skin.

Unlike other crucial body systems, your skin is exposed to the outside environment, including things like germs, oils, heat and other potentially harmful substances. The skin is also incredibly complex, with multiple layers of tissue, collagen and glands. 

Because of this, your lifestyle is the biggest factor that can influence healthy skin care. (Way too much drama if you ask me) But it’s worth it because a healthy skin will give you that “glow” while an unhealthy one will look sallow and dull. (We don’t want that now, do we?) So, how does it look like? Keep reading!

WHAT DOES A HEALTHY SKIN LOOK LIKE?

Appearance

Proper skin care is vital if you're concerned about your physical appearance. Unhealthy skin tends to appear sallow and dull, whereas healthy skin appears full and vibrant. Wrinkles develop with more ease and sink deeper if your skin is dehydrated and unhealthy, and it can result in uneven patches that have a mottled color. When skin is unhealthy it loses elasticity, which can make it sag and appear thin (You would look 40 when you are 25!)

Even Color

Consistent color is a sign of youthful, healthy skin. Studies have shown that consistent, even skin tone is a key element of attractiveness. As a matter of fact, the consistency of skin color is considered more attractive than having a certain skin color. Unfortunately, even skin tone starts to fade with age, as accumulated sun damage starts to take hold and create age spots and other signs of unevenness. To help prevent this from occurring, wear sunscreen on exposed body parts every day. Examples of uneven skin tone include: Blotchiness, Spots that are dark, light, or red, and dark under-eye circles (this is reason enough!)

Smooth Texture

Healthy skin looks and feels smooth. If you look at healthy skin up close, the surface appears to be regularly irregular. This means that the skin is not completely smooth like glass, but has tiny peaks around hair follicles and pores, and tiny valleys in between the peaks. These peaks and valleys are consistent throughout the skin, giving it a uniform appearance. Unhealthy skin, however, does not have a uniform texture. Examples of texture-related skin problems include: Bumps, Acne, Blackheads and whiteheads, Wrinkles, Scars.

Normal Sensations

If your skin is healthy, it shouldn't feel like it's there. You shouldn't notice it unless you're looking into a mirror. You shouldn't feel any unusual or uncomfortable sensations. For example, has your face ever felt dry and tight after washing it? Dryness and tightness are unusual sensations, and in that case, those sensations were triggered by a cleansing product that is too harsh for your skin. (Weird means Unhealthy!)

If you are in any of these categories, below are so cool recipes to help you keep your skin healthy and of course flawless!

RECIPES FOR A HEALTHY SKIN

Hydration

Healthy skin is hydrated skin. You've probably heard that you should drink eight glasses of water a day.

Drinking water is vital for good health, but you definitely don't need to be drinking eight glasses of the stuff a day. A good rule of thumb to follow is to drink half of your body weight in fluid ounces. For example, if you weigh 130 pounds, you should try to drink at least 65 fluid ounces of water a day. This will help keep your entire body—not just your skin—in great condition.

Dead skin cells are constantly shedding away, but it's not noticeable to the naked eye. However, when the skin is dehydrated and too many skin cells shed at the same time, skin appears visibly dry. It creates problems like: Flaking skin or Scaly skin. (You would not look like a fish, but it’d be close)

Proper Care

Proper skin care means cleansing it properly. Skin needs moisture to survive, so avoid using hot water when you wash your face, as the heat sucks moisture from your skin. Try using warm or cool water instead. Also, avoid harsh or chemical-heavy soaps, as they strip moisture from your skin while polluting it. Keep your skin moisturized by applying lotion within a few minutes of bathing. If you have a problem with dry skin, use an oil-based lotion on the problem area several times a day. (This is really necessary!)

Sunlight

So this is both good and bad for your health, therefore balance is key. (Tricky because we live in Nigeria, huh) Sunlight stimulates the skin to produce vitamin D, an essential nutrient that helps your body absorb calcium and may help protect against heart disease and other chronic conditions. Certain skin conditions, such as psoriasis, may improve with sun exposure. However, too much sun exposure can increase your chances of developing skin cancer, so again balance is key. Avoid over exposure to the sun or use sunblock (which is not very common) but allow exposure every once in a while.

Avocados

Avocados are famously great for skin; high in poly- and monounsaturated fatty acids (like omega 9’s), they keep skin looking firm and dewy, help regenerate damaged skin cells, and reduce redness and irritation. The omega 9’s, in particular, keep your epidural layer (the top layer of skin) moisturized, which gives you noticeably hydrated and healthy-looking skin. Avocados are also full of antioxidant carotenoids that not only fight free radicals, which are one of the major culprits of damaged skin and aging, but also help your skin maintain water content and elasticity. (They taste great with corn!)

Chia seeds

A top-notch smoothie ingredient, sprinkling these little guys into your morning meal means you're netting one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids. "Omega-3 fatty acids help provide building blocks for healthy skin cell function and new collagen production to keep the skin foundation strong and wrinkle free. (Good news – You can have both smoothie and chia seeds at our Café)

Oatmeal

Swap sugary cereal for a bowl of plain oats in the a.m. and your skin will thank you. This food is low on the glycemic index, a scale that rates foods containing carbohydrates according to how much each

food increases blood sugar (high-glycemic foods cause a fast, drastic spike and subsequent crash, whereas low-glycemic options provide a slow, steady increase and decline). Your sugary cereal will increase blood sugar, promote inflammation, and have been shown to be associated with acne breakouts, so choose Oatmeal instead! (Or not)

Quinoa

This protein-packed grain is well-known in the kitchen, but its high levels of riboflavin make it a superstar for your skin. Riboflavin lends a hand to your skin's elasticity and the production of connective tissue, which helps even things out and makes fine lines and wrinkles look less prominent. (You can definitely get this at our Café!)

Cinnamon

This basic spice is great for stimulating circulation/ blood flow, brings oxygen and nutrients directly to the skin. Plus, some studies have shown that cinnamon could help to stabilize and balance blood sugar levels, so how about adding a dash of the spice to your coffee or tea to start your day off right, or blending some into a morning smoothie?

That’s all you need for that glow! Wanna try? Sign up to our meal plans or pick up any of the above, (excluding sunlight of course) at our store! We can make you Grilled Chicken and Egg Sandwich with Avocado or Sugar Free Greek Yogurt topped with Chai seeds! And you can order your Quinoa and Oatmeal from us as well! You can join us in our healthy lifestyle journey! You can Eat To Live!