Hiya Gorgeous,
Have you tried every lotion and potion under the sun to soothe your skin woes? I remember reaching for zit cream when pesky pimples showed up in my earlier years. Occasionally it worked, but never long-term. It wasn’t until I cleaned up my diet that I got the glow I’d always wanted, which is why I’m a big fan of Jolene Hart’s work.
Jolene got her start as a beauty editor while researching, testing and recommending products at InStyle Magazine. During this time, she was also going through a 10-year struggle with cystic acne and eczema. Jolene followed the advice of dozens of experts and tried countless editor-tested products, prescription antibiotics and topical treatments. Nothing worked until she turned to her diet for answers. Goodbye, products. Hello, food! Today she’s a health coach (certified by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition), founder of the pioneering coaching practice Beauty Is Wellness, co-founder and Director of Education of the Nutritional Aesthetics Alliance and the author of Eat Pretty: Nutrition for Beauty and Health.
While talking to Jolene, I learned so much about how what we eat and drink impacts our skin, and I know you will too! Here are the juiciest insights and tips from our conversation…
Kris: Some folks think there’s no connection between what we consume and our skin health. Has that cray cray myth been disproved?
Jolene: I’d say an emphatic “yes!” But while this myth has been debunked time and time again, I still come across experts claiming that diet and skin health are unrelated. Did you know that for decades dermatologists were taught that there was no link between diet and acne? This misinformation was based on two outdated and flawed studies.
More scientific research in this area is needed to increase awareness, but there are already studies out there demonstrating strong ties between diet and visible signs of skin aging (study) and connecting a boost in fruit and veggie intake to a healthy glow (study). Not to mention the proof in the mirror!
Kris: What are the biggest trouble foods and drinks when it comes to skin health?
Jolene: I’ve got to point a finger at sugar. The sweet stuff can really be a beauty-buster, increasing our chances of developing wrinkles, breakouts, cellulite and more. The same goes for foods that act like sugar in the body, like pretzels, pastas, crackers and cereals made from refined ingredients, as well as sodas. This is because sugar messes with hormones, blood sugar and the immune system, and can even steal nutrients and hydration from our skin. Healthier sources of sugar, like maple syrup, are definitely better, but can still cause skin problems. I’d recommend that you choose whole, unrefined sources of sugar, and keep an eye on how your intake affects your skin—you may need to cut back.
Kris: On the flipside, what are the most beneficial foods and drinks for your skin?
Jolene: There is quite literally a rainbow of beauty food options. It’s actually kind of difficult to narrow down the list to just a few, since diversity of nutrients is a beauty essential. Getting a range of colorful produce in your diet is a great place to start, since those colors signal the presence of phytochemicals, each of which have their own skin benefits.
In Eat Pretty, I share a chart that lists important phytochemicals for beauty, their benefits and their sources (think UVB-protective quercetin from onions, wrinkle-blocking catechins in cacao and elasticity-strengthening anthocyanins in plums). Some of my favorite, rather unexpected, beauty foods include watercress, which has been shown to reverse and prevent DNA damage (study), making it a powerful anti-ager. Ginger and turmeric are also on that list (I like using the whole, fresh root when available) because they decrease inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a precursor to wrinkles, blemishes and redness in the skin, so a diet filled with anti-inflammatory foods strongly supports skin health.
Hydration is incredibly important too! The skin is about 70% water, so it makes sense that we should keep our daily water intake high to maintain healthy skin. But beyond that, we need water for metabolism, nutrient absorption, elimination and circulation—all of which have a major impact on our skin. My top picks for healthy hydration are filtered water (with or without add-ins like lemon, ginger and infused herbs), as well as drinks like herbal teas and fresh juices or smoothies that are primarily veggie-based.
Kris, Young Living has just come out with make-up. Have you checked them out? A pretty awesome company that is very much concerned about natural products. You should check into their products.
Hi Kriss,
I always make sure to drink more than 8 glasses of water a day. I had a horrible experience with acne and from then on I stop eating food that contains refined sugar and I also avoid dairy products. Thanks for sharing this informative post.
Asking questions are in fact pleasant thing if you are not understanding something fully, except this piece of writing
gives good understanding even.
Hi,
As long as I know that I am eating the right food for my body, I know that my skin will be healthy. I don’t just eat healthy foods, I also make sure to take supplements and use chemical-free skincare products for a healthy living.
Does supplements can effect to our skin specially for teanagers?
I really love the topic! it’s so broad and sometimes there’s no one fits all solution.
Besides having 3/4 plant based food habits, I add incredible concentrated fruit supplements and omega 3 (you sleep like a baby!!).
Regarding the skincare, I firmly believe everything is connected and we truly are what we eat and of course our skin suffered from pollution etc..
I’ve been using a skincare line based on the swiss apple Uttwiler Spätlauber known for its resistance to decay and environmental damage.
Even though I’m 26 years old, I see the difference !
That’s so true! Diet and skin are a perfect couple!
Honestly, I love coffee and drink it everyday until I realized that coffee makes me have more acnes. I decided to reduce the frequency of coffee a week and instead of coffee day, I change into orange juice. And it truly works! I haven’t gotten many acnes as before. Now I still keep maintaining this habit.
Back to this realization, I used to thought that is wasn’t because of coffee but my mood since I had been under a lot of stress at work and stayed up too late. But since I have tried my new habit, my skin gets better even I’m still working under pressure or watch TV series until very late.
So after all, I realized it’s about food and skin relationship!
amaing thank you
This is a very good tip especially to those new to the
blogosphere. Short but very accurate information… Thanks for sharing this one.
A must read article!
Great article. The foods that are good for your skin share are excellent. I will actively eat these foods.
Water, water, water drink lots of water. It’s so important to drink lots of water every day to make your skin look fresh. When you start to drink enough water you will see the difference in a week or so.
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