Eat

EAT YOUR WAY TO FABULOUS SKIN

Add these foods to your diet and you’re on your way to healthy and radiant skin.

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Add these foods to your diet and you’re on your way to healthy and radiant skin.

As much as we love our makeup and skincare products, we know that beauty truly starts from within. Sure, you can cover up your blemishes or enhance your features with products that seem to work miracles, but you shouldn’t take your diet for granted. A healthy and wholesome diet can affect the appearance and condition of your skin.

We spoke to Dr R. Muthulaksmi, consultant dermatologist of Columbia Asia Hospital in Malaysia, to outline the kinds of foods you should be eating based on your skin type. As a general rule of thumb, you should keep a balanced diet to keep your skin healthy. Additionally, you should drink an adequate amount of water, exercise regularly, and have enough sleep, to have healthy, glowing skin.

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If you have DRY SKIN

People who suffer from dry skin should eat more foods that contain healthy fats and oils to give their skin more moisture. Dr Muthu recommends eating foods like avocados, nuts and olive oil.

You can also load up on foods that are rich in vitamin A – tomatoes, passion fruits, carrots and spinach – to help your skin retain moisture.

One of the major causes of dry skin is the lack of water, so you should always have a bottle of water with you, to keep hydrated.

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If you have ACNE-PRONE SKIN

As with oily skin, it’s best to avoid foods that are high in saturated fats – eat more greens instead, to combat breakouts.

High-fibre fruits and vegetables are highly recommended as they help to cleanse the body of toxins. Cucumbers, carrots, berries and green tea are perfect as they contain antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory benefits.

According to Dr Muthu, the best acne-combating food is yogurt, which he says contains skin-repairing protein and probiotic properties that help decrease stomach acidity.

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If you have OILY SKIN

Avoid fatty meats such as beef, lamb, sausages, and anything that contains high amounts of saturated fat.

To combat excess sebum production in your skin, Dr Muthu advises that you eat more foods with a low glycaemic index, like whole grains, pasta, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, beans, and fruits.

Foods with a low glycaemic index are those that don’t cause your blood sugar level to spike. It is said that these foods can improve your complexion and reduce inflammation too. Dr Muthu also advises that you reduce your intake of sugary items – these apparently increase oil production in the skin.

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If you have DULL SKIN

To help you achieve a brighter complexion, Dr Muthu recommends eating vitamin A-rich foods, such as sweet potatoes, green vegetables, carrots, red beans and peppers.

You should also be extra careful with your diet, as foods that have high levels of sodium are said to damage the skin. Salty snacks such as potato chips, French fries and crackers also often contain trans-fats, which are said to impair skin function.

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