{"id":58040,"date":"2012-04-09T06:00:37","date_gmt":"2012-04-09T10:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=58040"},"modified":"2014-01-17T08:24:09","modified_gmt":"2014-01-17T13:24:09","slug":"nutrition-for-the-skin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2012\/04\/nutrition-for-the-skin\/","title":{"rendered":"Nutrition for the Skin"},"content":{"rendered":"
[yframe url=’http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=aY1r_-znbrU’]<\/div>\n

Your skin is a window into your health and the types of foods you eat can impact the color, texture and luminescence of your skin.\u00a0Foods that boost your immune system and prevent illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes, can also make your skin more radiant, healthy and youthful looking.<\/p>\n

UConn Health Center dermatologist Meagen McCusker<\/a> says the first step in improving your skin is removing the \u201cAGE-ing\u201d foods in your diet. That means avoiding sugar, high fructose corn syrup and most white foods.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour next step to healthier-looking skin is to get your intestinal immune system in shape,\u201d says McCusker. She suggests the best way to support your gut is to consume a high-grade, pharmaceutical probiotic (20-50 billion colonies) daily. You can also add ground flax meal to your breakfast smoothie or cup of yogurt. Flax seed is a superfood prebiotic with essential fats and anti-inflammatory fibers.<\/p>\n

Now your body is ready to make the most of the following superfoods you consume.<\/p>\n

Fabulous Fats:<\/strong>\u00a0 wild salmon and sardines, grass-fed beef; hemp and flax; almonds and walnuts.<\/p>\n

\u201cFatty fish like salmon have Omega-3 fatty acids which are responsible for healthy cell membranes and the overall health of the various cells in the body. The stronger the walls of the cells, the more water is kept in, thus making skin cells look more vibrant, plumper and overall more youthful,\u201d explains McCusker.<\/p>\n

Flax seeds also contain essential fatty acids that improve your skin. Almonds and walnuts are packed full of vitamin E and rich in monounsaturated fat, which is a “good” fat known for lowering cholesterol and keeping cell membranes strong and intact.<\/p>\n

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Eating antioxidant-rich "rainbow foods" help repair skin cells and slow down skin cancer cells. (Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rainbow Foods:<\/strong><\/p>\n