national eczema week
Healthy Skin
The old adage that says "you are what you eat" is not just for overall health and nutrition, but how our skin looks and feels so good. As the largest organ in the body, our skin can benefit from the same nutrition we get from foods that have a positive effect on our hearts and other major organs. Actually new study suggests that eating foods rich in protein and certain vitamins and minerals can provide valuable anti-aging effect.
Speeches by November 8 American Academy of Dermatology's SKIN academy (Academy), dermatologist Susan C. Taylor, MD, faad, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in New York, NY, and clinical assistant professor of dermatology and associate faculty of the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania discussed the importance of eating nutritious foods for optimal skin health and how foods can aggravate common medical skin conditions.
"While there is no doubt how our diet affects our overall health, we are just beginning to understand how certain foods – or lack thereof – can affect our skin health, "says Dr. Taylor." Plus, studies show that some foods and beverages can aggravate common skin conditions and cause allergic reactions as manifest on the skin. "Healthy skin care for skin problems are a part of overall good health. Proper skincare treatments are essential to prevent skin damage and premature skin aging. Polish, clean and repair a reservoir of energy to your skin. The most luxurious & effective way to restore skin clarity and radiance learn more about http://www.skinbeauty4all.blogspot.com/
Good food, good skin
Perhaps the simplest way to maintain a healthy, balanced diet and ensure optimal skin nutrition from the foods we eat is to follow the recommendations issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Daily Food Guide, often called the food pyramid.
These include:
Choosing and eating at least three ounces of whole grain breads, cereals, rice, biscuits or pasta.
Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including more dark green and orange vegetables.
Consuming calcium-rich foods such as fat-free or lowfat milk and other dairy products.
Opt for a wide range of low fat or lean meats, poultry and fish.
"They foods recommended by the USDA as part of a healthy diet contain valuable vitamins and minerals that have proven health benefits for our bodies, "says Dr. Taylor. "Research has shown that the antioxidants in vitamins C and E can protect skin from sun damage and help reduce damage in skin cells caused by harmful free radicals, which contributes to aging skin. Similarly, we have long known that B-vitamin biotin is responsible for forming the basis of skin, hair and nail cells, and vitamin A – found in many fruits and vegetables – maintains and repairs skin tissue. Without an adequate supply of these vitamins, you can feel it in the appearance of your skin, hair and nails. "
While the direct link between the consumption of food and skin lesions have not been widely studied, one study comparing relationship between food and nutrient intakes with wrinkles found a positive correlation. The study, "wrinkling: Can food make a difference?" There was published in the February 2001 edition of the Journal established by the American College of Nutrition that Swedish
subjects aged 70 and older had at least wrinkling in a sun-exposed site among the four ethnic groups studied. This cross-sectional study that analyzed the aggregate data by major food groups, suggests that "persons with a higher intake of vegetables, olive oil, and monounsaturated fat and legumes, but a lower intake of milk / dairy products, butter, margarine and sugar products had less wrinkling in a sun-exposed site. "
"More studies should be done to determine long-term benefits of food on our skin," says Dr. Taylor. "Eating a variety of healthy foods and drink plenty of water until the skin is hydrated should help most people improve the appearance of their skin. "
Foods that can cause bad Skin Disorders:
For the millions of Americans affected by medical skin conditions such as acne, rosaceous, eczema or psoriasis, eating certain foods or consuming alcohol could aggravate their symptoms or trigger an unexpected flare-up. Dr. Taylor recommended that patients suffering from these chronic skin conditions should be aware of certain food interactions in order to better to manage their treatment regimen.
Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by the foods we eat. Although many studies have not found a link between diet and acne, new research now suggests there may be a correlation between a low-glycolic diet and an improvement of acne. The study, "Low-Glycolic-Load Diet may improve acne in young men, which was published in July 2007 issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined whether male acne patients aged 15-25 who followed a low-glycolic acid diet (25 percent of energy from protein and 45 percent from low-glycolic index carbohydrates) had a reduction in acne lesions versus a control group that consumed a diet rich in carbohydrates.
"The study found that after 12 weeks, acne lesions had decreased more in the young men in low-glycolic acid group than their counterparts in the control group whose diet had no consideration for the glycolic index, "said Dr. Taylor." This suggests that there might be a connection between limiting carbohydrate-rich foods in acne patients' diets and an improvement in their acne, but more studies must be done to confirm this finding before we consider any future dietary modifications for our patients. "
On the other hand, some acne patients noticed that certain foods aggravate their symptoms – Especially chocolate, fatty foods, sodas, peanuts or foods high in fat.
"Patients who notice a cause-effect relationship between eating certain foods and acne flare-ups should avoid those foods, "says Dr. Taylor." But will follow a strict diet is not clear acne either. It best advice is to eat a balanced diet and follow the treatment plan recommended by your dermatologist. "
Rosacea, characterized by facial redness and swelling, often can be triggered by spicy food or alcohol. Actually found a study by the National Rosacea Society, that the most common rosacea triggers are alcohol (52 percent); spicy foods (45 percent) and heated beverages (36 percent).
"Patients with rosacea should keep a journal to track their food and beverage triggers so they can record how the experience of them feel and remind themselves to avoid these things in the future, advised Dr. Taylor. "They should also read labels at the grocery store and proceed with caution when it comes to spices such as cayenne, red, black and white pepper, curry powder, chili powder, and even salsa. "
In addition, foods such as liver, vinegar, soy sauce, dairy products, certain fruits and vegetables, hot chocolate, cider, tea and coffee been known to cause flare-ups in some rosacea patients.
Other chronic skin disease that can be aggravated by food is eczema, which is commonly characterized by dry, red and itchy patches of skin. Foods which have been known to exacerbate eczema symptoms include eggs, milk, peanuts, soy, wheat and fish, while some patients even report that chocolate, coffee, alcohol, tomatoes and sugar can trigger a flare-up. Dr. Taylor added that juices from meats and fruits can irritate already sensitive skin when they come into contact with skin and she suggested that eczema patients also should keep a trigger journal as a reference for what foods or beverages may have caused a flare-up.
Research has shown that psoriasis, a serious medical condition affecting the immune system and is characterized by patches of raised, reddish skin covered by silvery-white scales, can be triggered by heavy drinking and that alcohol consumption may even inhibit the effectiveness of psoriasis treatment.
Dr. Taylor warned psoriasis patients who drink to do so in moderation and to avoid alcohol if they suspect it is worse their symptoms.
"While certain foods can also trigger psoriasis, patients should avoid any radical diets that claim to 'cure' psoriasis," explained Dr. Taylor. "There is not a cure for psoriasis and extreme changes in diet may actually worsen the symptoms."
Dr. Taylor added that people who have questions about how their diet may affect health and appearance of their skin should discuss their concerns with a dermatologist.
About the Author
Beer Drinking Women Risk Higher To Develop Psoriasis
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