If you are suffering from dry, flaky, and perhaps even itchy skin, you should consider adding certain items to your diet. The right foods really can help you skin to glow with good health, and even those who suffer from eczema and psoriasis can benefit significantly from bringing the right foods to the table.
Foods that are particularly skin-friendly contain antioxidants as well as have anti-inflammatory properties and include:
- Fatty fish that is high in omega-3 acids. Salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel are all great choices for those who want to feed their skin from the inside out.
- Walnuts, almonds, flax seed, and canola oil are excellent ways to include omega-3 acids in your diet.
- Many brightly colored vegetables such as tomatoes, pepper, carrots, sweet potatoes, and corn contain anti-inflammatory compounds as well. Broccoli, cauliflower, and leafy greens such as spinach and kale, are also great choices because they’re high in antioxidants.
- Certain spices also possess significant anti-inflammatory properties. Cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom, and curry powder are excellent choices to use as often as possible when preparing meals in your home kitchen.
Substituting lots of water for sugary beverages such as sodas is another skin-healthy dietary option, and green tea has been shown to improve skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Adhering to a gluten free diet can also help improve certain skin conditions. Gluten is a protein that is found in certain grains such as rye, wheat, and barley and can create significant damage to the small intestine in those who are gluten intolerant. This condition is called celiac disease, and one of the symptoms can be a skin rash known as dermatitis herpetiformis.
In fact, it can sometimes be the only early symptom of this disease. Because this rash can be itchy, painful, and even blister and crack, those with gluten intolerance need to be very careful about following a diet that doesn’t aggravate their condition.
Along with consuming gluten free foods, those who are afflicted with gluten intolerance should also include the foods listed above in their diets. Foods that contain high levels of antioxidants and are rich in anti-inflammatory properties will also help keep outbreaks of dermatitis herpetiformis at bay.
