Mind, body & Soul: Foods for nourishing the skin

Mind, body & Soul: Foods for nourishing the skin

2:33pm Monday 24th March 2014 in Health, Beauty & Wellbeing By Sally Duffin

Spring sunshine hints at the warm summer months to come and thoughts of peeling back our layers of winter clothing.

Your skin can really suffer during winter, being stifled under vests and thick jumpers or exposed to harsh cold weather and by spring it can feel dry, flaky and dull.

Natural skincare products are great for cleansing and moisturising whilst eating foods that nourish your skin from within can help redress a wide variety of chronic conditions including sensitive skin, acne, eczema and psoriasis.

Your skin is covered by a fine layer of natural oils which protect it from damage and retain moisture in the top layer of skin cells. This natural oil barrier is affected by harsh skincare products and a diet low in healthy fats and water.

Including cold pressed flaxseed oil in salad dressings, smoothies or yoghurt, drinking plenty of water and eating fresh oily fish, nuts and seeds several times a week tops up your levels of healthy fats and maintains your skins hydration and oil balance.

Even if you have oily skin you still need these fats otherwise your skin produces more oil to compensate for a lack of them.

Eczema is derived from the Greek work exzein which literally means to boil over and skin looks sore, red and inflamed. From a naturopathic viewpoint, your skin is a reflection of what is going on inside the body and if your liver and bowels are not getting rid of wastes properly, this will affect your skin!

Food intolerances are frequently a factor in both eczema and psoriasis as they can trigger your immune system and produce skin inflammation.

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Mind, body & Soul: Foods for nourishing the skin