The Best Food for Healthy, Sexy Skin and Hair

Dr. Mitchell is co-author of Fat is Not Your Fate, Eat to Stay Young and I’d Kill for a Cookie.
Listen to her weekly Internet Show on AM580 WDBO http://580wdbo.com/healthcenter/

Visit her websites: http://www.susanmitchell.org and http://www.fatisnotyourfate.com

Men, do you put the same focus on how your skin and hair look as we women do? We want our skin and hair to look healthy and sexy. Pick up any women’s magazine and you’ll see what I mean. There are all types of ads for products to make your skin and hair more beautiful, radiant, healthy, younger-looking, vibrant…you name it…there’s a lotion, cream, shampoo or scrub for it.

Rarely do you hear food mentioned as one of the answers for healthy, sexy skin and hair. If you think of food only in terms of losing weight or lowering your cholesterol, listen up.

Your skin can be negatively affected by many factors including sun exposure, smoking, not drinking enough fluids, pollution, and hormonal changes. A sedentary lifestyle where the couch and remote control see more action than you do, stress, aging and poor eating habits all contribute to the overall health and look of your skin.

Nutrition is a major player in skin and hair health. You’ve heard the saying, ‘you are what you eat?’ I can think of a dozen foods off the top of my head along with the various vitamins, minerals, protein, and antioxidants that they provide to your body which can help make a difference in your skin and hair.

Here’s your food prescription.

Lean red meat, turkey, lentils, eggs for protein: important for making new skin cells and skin repair. The iron in the protein carries oxygen to cells all over the body including hair follicles.

Peanut butter, avocado, almonds, wheat germ for vitamin E: good for skin repair and it’s a strong anti oxidant. Vitamin E helps to keep healthy skin cells healthy.

Strawberries and blueberries, broccoli, oranges, red peppers for vitamin C: important in collagen production and skin elasticity.
Mango, apricots, carrots, and sweet potatoes for beta carotene: this antioxidant helps prevent premature aging and has a role in the growth and repair of skin.

Salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds for omega-3 fats: keep the cells that make up your skin healthy

Water: your body is well over 60% water. Water is what keeps skin moist and hydrated. Overdoing it on alcohol and caffeine can dehydrate the skin. A good rule of thumb is for every alcoholic beverage you drink or cup of coffee or soda with caffeine, follow it with a glass of water.

If you want your skin and hair to look healthy and sexy, spend some of your money on these great foods to nourish the inside of your body instead of only products for the outside. You truly are what you eat. Bon appetite!

Dr. Susan