by N. A. Hernandez

Created on: October 12, 2007   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

We have all been told, "You are what you eat" and it is true to a certain extent. No you are not going to turn into a hamburger or french fry, but your skin, hair, nails, etc. will pay the price if you are always eating a bunch of junk food. Eating a well balanced diet is a great way to help your body from the inside out. Of course having a bit of junk food here and there is O.K. but you do want to limit it. The damage of a poor diet will not happen over night, but over time. It can dry out your skin, cause acne, aging, and other problems.

The healthier foods that you eat, the better off you are inside and out. The best foods for healthy looking skin are...

Low-fat dairy foods ~ Vitamin A is essential for great skin health. Low-fat dairy products have high levels of vitamin A.

Fruits ~ Blueberries, cranberries strawberries, plums, and blackberries are great for you from the inside out. They contain high antioxidant content, more so then any other food. Antioxidants help protect the cell that causes sun damage and other free radicals so it helps protect from damage.

Fatty acids ~ Salmon, walnuts, canola oil, flax seeds are all great sources of fatty acids that are essential for healthy skin from the inside out. Omega 3 and Omega 6 are great sources of fatty acids as well.

Whole grains muffins, breads, cereal's, and tuna, turkey ~ All of these contain the mineral selenium that is essential for healthy looking skin. It has been said that the mineral selenium plays a key role in the health of skin cells.

Water ~ We all know that our bodies need water! It is so important for your body and your health. Water is essential for the health of our skin, we all know we should drink it to stay hydrated and healthy. Eight eight ounce glasses a day is the recommended dose for what our bodies need. Water keeps us healthy as well as aids in removing toxins from the inside out.

Green tea ~ Green tea is such a great product for our skin and body. It has anti-inflammatory properties, and it protects the cell membrane. It also can help to decrease our chances of cancer. It is great for our bodies from the inside out as well.

Olive oil ~ This is another essential fatty acid that is great for your skin to help keep it moisturized. Extra virgin olive oil is rich in healthy monounsaturated fat, which is a good fat for your body.

Dark leafy greens ~ Spinach, kale and other dark leafy greens are great for helping clear up acne and aiding in repairing damaged skin.

Carrots and broccoli ~ Most vegetables are great and full of vitamins. We all know we should eat our veggies and there is a reason why. They are great for your body for so many reasons!

some of the worst things to have for the health of your skin and body are sugary foods and drinks, caffeine, alcohol and sodas, hydrogenated fats, nitrates, olestra, high fatty foods and snacks, raw oysters, animal fats (saturated), low-acid canned foods etc. etc. There are many bad foods for your body as well as your skin that you should try to avoid.

Maintaining a well balanced diet is essential for your body and your health. So use common sense when it comes to eating and drinking and try to limit what you know is not good for you. Most importantly drink plenty of water and eat your fruit and veggies!

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