If you take a few moments to read this article, you will learn about some of the foods for healthy skin, as well as those that you should avoid.  Actually, if you memorize a short list of “bad” dietary choices, you won’t have anything to worry about.

The human body needs fuel, in the form of calories, but it cannot survive on calories, alone.  It needs nutrients; vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids and trace antioxidants, although exactly how much of the trace nutrients the body needs is, as yet, unclear.

There are three basic sources of calories, which must be present in a daily diet.  They are carbohydrates, fats and protein.  Under each of those basic categories, there are bad, good, better and best choices.

For example, one of the best protein sources is Wild Pacific salmon.  It is a “complete” protein, meaning it provides all of the essential amino acids and each serving provides the current minimum daily requirement for omega-3 fatty acids, which are the best kinds of fats to include in your diet.

When it comes to a carbohydrate it could be food for healthy skin or it could contribute to acne and cause wrinkles.  The two types of carbohydrates are simple (bad) and complex (good).

Simple carbohydrates include most “white” foods.  White or polished rice, white or processed flour, white bread, Irish or white potatoes, white sugar and dishes that contain those items, such as mashed potatoes and gravy, chocolate cake and most other baked goods are simple carbohydrates.

Many of them are referred to as “junk”, because they are high in calories, but very low in nutritional value.  They are NOT the right foods for healthy skin.

Good carbohydrates are fruits, vegetables and whole grains, like oatmeal, brown or wild rice.  Many people are still confused about grains, because they were taught that bread is a grain.  While it is a grain product, it is not a whole grain.  The USDA recommends three servings of “whole” grains, every day.

Multi-colored fruits, vegetables, teas and other plant-foods contain antioxidants and other unique compounds that help prevent sun damage and general skin-aging.  Some of them may repair damage, too.  Avocados, for example, contain phytosterols that have been shown to reverse age spots, but only when applied directly.  Other nutrients and plant extracts are beneficial when applied directly, too.

So, in addition to eating food for healthy skin, you should also choose nutrient-rich skincare products.  In other words, feed your face.

Studies have shown that the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 and the protein keratin are particularly beneficial.  Grape seed oil provides vitamin E and essential fatty acids that prevent moisture loss and help heal injuries.

The list of ingredients in your skincare products should look something like a health supplement.  If you see ingredients like ethylene oxide, ethanol or polyethylene glycol, you’re in trouble.  Those are petrochemicals.

Make no mistake about it.  You want natural foods for healthy skin that are free of chemical additives and you want natural skincare products that are free of artificial preservatives, added fragrances and petrochemicals.  If you get what you want, you’ll look better and feel better, too.

You can learn more insights by visiting my web site and discovering more natural ingredients I personally use daily.

Laurel is a long time user and passionate advocate of natural skin care products. Visit her site now to discover cutting edge, anti-aging skin care products she recommends after extensive research: http://www.beautiful-skin-site.com.

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