How many times have we heard growing up that true beauty isn’t just skin deep and that it comes from the inside out. When it comes to nutrition, this statement can’t be more true.

"True Beauty via Diet"There are many things we can do on a daily basis to ensure that our outward beauty reflects the inward beauty of our overall health. Our skin is in many ways our largest organ of our body. Therefore, if our health is not optimal, it usually shows in our skin. When my patients are concerned about skin issues, I usually start with changes to their diet and skin care all in the same discussion.

Our skin responds well to a diet that is mostly plant-based with healthy fats and low in sugar. The key things to make sure that at least half of your plate is full of vegetables and another quarter of the plate is from lean proteins and healthy fats like avocadoes, nuts, or fish, and the last quarter of the plate is with whole unprocessed grains.

Avoidance of sugar, especially in processed forms, is important to healthy skin and body. Sugar is toxic to our cells in the processed form. If you are craving sweets, turn to fruits instead. Caffeine can also be harsh on problematic skin so avoid drinks too high in caffeine and switch to herbal teas or green tea that is low in caffeine. The phytonutrients and antioxidants in teas will be additively beneficial to skin health.

Lastly, make sure to be gentle on your skin for your skin regimen. When you are aggressively cleaning your skin, that can aggravate your skin and make the problem worse. So, I usually will recommend a gentle hypoallergenic cleanser and treatment serum for specific skin issues and end with a skin moisturizer. Skin that is too dry and irritated is more prone to acne, wrinkles, and damage.

So, take these steps toward protecting your skin and body from the inside out. This way, your beauty won’t just be skin deep and will be a real reflection of a truly healthy body.