7 Dietary Ways to Remove Toxins for Healthy Skin

Have you applied all sorts of expensive creams or cleansers and wondered why your skin continued to look unhealthy?  That is because healthy skin comes from the inside out.  You might not often think of it this way, but remember, your skin is an organ, and like all organs, it benefits from a healthy, toxin-free diet.

Here are some dietary steps you can take to have healthy, beautiful skin:

1. Stay hydrated

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* You have probably heard about the importance of drinking water to stay healthy and cleanse the system, and that includes your skin.  Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, at least six 8oz. glasses a day.  In fact, all fluids you drink count towards your daily hydration needs, but limit caffeinated beverages as they have diuretic and dehydrating effects. 

* Add a squeeze of lemon juice to cleanse your liver.  In traditional Chinese medicine, poor skin indicates an unhealthy liver - which makes sense, as these are our two main organs of detoxification.

2. Bring on the fats

* For your skin to remain plump and supple, applying moisturizers can help, but taking healthy fats into your system will also have a deeper, healthier effect on your skin. 

* Flax, olive, and fish oils, as well as clean animal fats such as organic butter from grass-fed cows, and expeller-pressed organic coconut oil, should be incorporated into the diet. Eat fatty, cold-water fish such as salmon at least once a week, but make sure it is from a reputable source so that you are not adding to your body's toxic overload by eating fish that have lived in toxic waters. Only eat wild-caught fish - never farmed.

3. Fresh fruits and vegetables

* In addition to hydrating the body, fresh veggies and fruits provide vital skin-healthy nutrients and antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C and E and toxin-absorbing fiber.  Lightly steamed or raw are the ideal ways to consume these foods, in order to preserve their vitamin and antioxidant powers. 

4. Nuts and seeds

* These little gems include important blood-building nutrients like iron, and healthy circulation and blood are key to good skin health.

* Nuts and seeds also contain healthy fats which, as noted above, keep the skin smooth and glowing.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

5. Go organic

* If you have not already, switch to organic foods.  Your body needs to be as free from toxins as possible for your skin to be healthy, and organic food is not contaminated with synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers.

* These harmful substances can also cause hormonal imbalances, which are strongly implicated in acne and other skin problems.  This goes for produce, as well as meats and dairy products. Speaking of dairy products...  

6. Limit dairy products

* Except for plain yogurt, you should sharply limit your dairy intake if you want healthier skin.  Most modern dairy products are likely to contain hormones or antibiotics or other toxins. Only eat dairy from organically raised, grass-fed animals.

7. Limit junk and fast foods

These "foods" are full of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and unhealthy fats.  Cleanse your skin from the inside by eating whole, fresh natural foods instead. They taste better and are more satisfying too!

There you have it - 7 ways to get healthy, glowing skin - naturally!  And your whole body will be healthier as well.

Fall and Winter Skin Helpers

The skin is the largest organ of the body. Being on the outside of your body, of course it takes the brunt of the force from changes in the weather. Keeping your skin healthy and in good condition does more than just keep it looking good - it also maximizes its detoxification potential, which is important as your skin is your largest detoxifying organ.

Image by blmiers2 via FlickrDuring the summer, skin needs protection from the sun. When the weather gets cooler, the methods we use to keep our skin healthy need to change too. This way our skin can glow and be healthy all throughout the year.

Skin Tips for Cooler Weather

* Stay hydrated – Many people think that drinking water is only important when you are exercising or the weather is hot. However, it is just as important when the weather begins to get cold and dry out. Continue to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to replenish water lost through sweating, urination and normal cellular activity.

* Use a humidifier – Dry air can cause skin to become red and itchy. Restore moisture to the air with a humidifier. A cool mist humidifier in your room at night can give keep just enough moisture in the air to make sleeping comfortable.

* Find a good moisturizer – Regular lotions contain perfumes and additives that can actually dry your skin. Look for an all-natural moisturizing product that is light but also contains natural plant oils so that it absorbs into the skin well. (Aubrey Organics and Organic Fiji are two of our favorites - you can find ratings and reviews of other good all-natural moisturizers at http://www.thenaturalproductdirectory.com/natural-skincare.html.)

* Remember to exfoliate – It is still important to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. Old cells can clog pores leading to acne and irritation, and can decrease your skin's detoxification potential. Once a week, use a good scrub (such as a natural sugar scrub) to gently remove any clinging dead cells from your face and body.

Image via Wikipedia* Protect your lips – Lips can become chapped easily when the weather turns chilly. Keep them from peeling and cracking with lip balm. Choose one with a natural zinc oxide sunscreen added if you plan to be out in the sun a lot. Apply as needed to keep lips moisturized and supple.

* Wear gloves outside – Skin on the hands can easily be affected by the elements. When you go outside, wear a good pair of gloves. They will hold in moisture and keep your hands warm.

* Avoid drying out your skin – We often forget that we have skin underneath our hair. The scalp can become dry and itchy when we use blow dryers and other hot styling tools on the hair - especially in winter time. Keep the scalp protected by putting away your blow dryer. Towel dry your hair to protect the skin of your scalp, and use a moisturizing shampoo such as one of the gentler ones from Aubrey Organics formulated to be gentle on the scalp.

* Wear socks to bed – You may want to do this if it gets cold in your house in the winter. The reason here is to hold moisture in and keep the skin on your feet soft. Moisturize them before bed and wear socks to help it absorb overnight.

Protect your valuable skin from the elements with these tips, and your skin will look and feel great year-round.

Get Great Skin From the Inside Out

Our skin is the first thing that people see of us. But, to make it look its best requires us to watch what we do to our insides. To get the best from our skin, we need to eat foods that nourish us and don't fill us up with toxins that are hard for the body to process.

Image via WikipediaThe skin is after all an organ. It is the only one that is on the outside of our body. As such, whenever there is a problem on the inside of our body, it will show up in our skin. Have you ever experienced dull and lifeless-looking skin? You were probably also sick at the time. The reason for this is that our skin is actually our largest detoxing organ.

In order to prevent the skin from looking sick, you need to feed your body the right way. Eating healthy keeps your skin healthy as well. Here are some ideas of how to eat for a great-looking outer layer!

* Berries – Berries of all sorts are full of antioxidants. We know that antioxidants fight free radical damage done in the body from cellular activity. It is this damage that can lead to wrinkles, saggy skin and other signs of aging. To keep skin strong, toned and looking its best, keep free radical damage to a minimum. Try strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and others.

* Water – Drink as much as you can. Water gives the body an internal shower. It helps the body to remove toxins at the same time. Try drinking at least eight glasses a day.

Image via Wikipedia* Green tea – This contains antioxidant substances called polyphenols. These are also found in chocolate that contains a high level of cacao. Polyphenols have anti-inflammatory properties. This increases immunity levels as well, and it has been said, they can slow the aging process as well.

* Dairy products – Eat full-fat yogurt, cheese, and cottage cheese. Why full fat?? The fat is an essential part of the milk. Removing it impairs digestion and removes a lot of the nutrients that are contained in the fat. Dairy contains vitamin A, an essential vitamin for skin health. But guess what? It's not in the milk - it's in the cream. If you remove this, you are removing the vitamins along with it. Eating full-fat dairy products in moderation is perfectly fine for your metabolism, and actually some studies have shown may even improve it. Yogurt also contains live cultures and probiotics to keep the digestive system clean and the bowels moving properly to remove unwanted waste products. A healthy intestinal system also shows in the skin.

Image by malloreigh via Flickr* Omega 3 fatty acids – These are great for increasing heart health but also can improve the look and feel of skin. Fats are needed for proper cellular membrane construction. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in plant oils like olive oil and flaxseed oil. Also, eating cold water fish like salmon gives you a healthy dose of it. Try to eat fish at least twice a week - but be careful which fish you eat. Large fish can contain high levels of mercury, and fish farmed overseas may be contaminated with a lot of other junk. (Here are a couple of links which may help you in choosing healthy, safe fish: http://www.rodale.com/safe-fish-eat
http://www.ewg.org/safefishlist )

* Whole grains – They don’t just keep the blood sugar level but also contain minerals that nourish skin. Whole grain cereals and breads contain selenium, vitamin E and vitamin A. All are helpful for healthy cellular growth of the skin and reduced inflammation. However, many grains are hard for the human body to digest. Consume sprouted grains where possible, to aid in digestion and absorb the most nutrients possible.

Keep your body healthy on the outside by feeding it well on the inside, and your skin will look great in return - even through the winter months!

What is Natural skin care?

Put simply, ‘natural skin care’ is caring for your skin in a natural and chemical-free way. ‘Natural skin care’ advocates enabling the skin to take care of itself (without any assistance from synthetic materials/ chemicals). ‘Natural skin care’ is about inclusion of good habits in the way you lead your day to day life. A lot of natural skin care measures are actually the same as those for body care in general.

Image via WikipediSo let’s see what these natural skin care measures are.

The first and the foremost natural skin care measure is – ‘Drink a lot of water’.  Around 8 glasses of water is a must everyday, for most people (for children or large adults, this number can vary). Water helps flush out the toxins from the body, in a natural way. It helps in the overall upkeep of the body and promotes good health for all organs (not just skin).

General cleanliness is another inexpensive type of natural skin care.  A daily shower (in clean, non-chlorinated water, since chlorine can irritate and dry the skin, and introduce toxins into your body), wearing clean clothes and sleeping on a clean mattress/pillow are all part of general cleanliness. After all, clean skin is the key to keeping the skin disorders at bay.

Regular exercise is the next thing on the cards. Exercise increases the flow of blood that helps in getting rid of body toxins and keeping you healthy, and also flushes toxins out through your skin via sweating.  Exercise also helps in beating stress which is the worst enemy of good health.

Healthy food and eating habits are also recommended for natural skin care.  Some types of food (e.g. high-fat, oily, and sugary food) is know to cause acne and should be avoided as much as possible. Your diet should be a healthy mix of various nutrient providing foods. Raw fruits and vegetables are known to provide the most nutrients to your body and help in getting rid of body toxins.

A good sleep is also instrumental in maintaining good health and in beating stress. Most adults require at least 8 hours of sleep per night to stay healthy (children may require more), and a night of restful sleep allows your body to heal skin blemishes and calm and relax your muscles, allowing your skin to stay firm and youthful.
Reducing stress is another natural skin care therapy. Stress causes overall damage to body and health.

Drinking a lot of water, getting sound sleep and regular exercise, which have already been mentioned, are great stress busters. Indulging in a warm bubble bath, listening to music and playing your favorite sport are also good ways of beating stress. Yoga is yet another way of beating stress; it can provide both exercise and relaxation at the same time.

Avoiding excessive exposure to sun (by wearing long sleeved clothes, hat and umbrella, etc), is another natural skin care strategy. Sunscreen lotions may be helpful for prolonged sun exposure, but are not typically recommended, as they may contribute to your toxic load and also may not be as effective as we have been led to believe (see this interesting article for more info: http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/). 

Image via WikipediaA lot of traditional and home made natural skin care products/ measures are also known to be very effective. Such measures are not only natural and easy-to-follow, but also relatively inexpensive.

Besides that, a lot of natural skin care products are available in the commercial market. We have some great recommendations for these on our website at: http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html.