Many of us are aware that to maintain youthful and healthy skin, we need develop good habits such as applying sunscreen, not smoking, and using moisturizers.
However, healthy skin develops on other life choices we make such as what we eat. In fact, diet has a major impact based on our overall health as well as on the quality of our skin.
We would like to suggest that you adopt what is popularly known as the Mediterranean Diet. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty oils from fish, antioxidants, fresh produce, and monounsaturated fats from olive oil as well as a glass or two of red wine a day is a nutritious and delicious way to take care of your health. Combined with an active lifestyle, this diet will not only benefit you physically, but it will also provide you with a refreshing sense of vigor and wellbeing.
It is true that there a number of opinions as to what constitutes a good diet. However, unlike fad diets which come and go, the Mediterranean diet has the backing of scientific proof. It is healthy without a doubt. In our expertise as physicians, we think the Mediterranean diet is a wonderful recipe for glowing skin and a long, healthy life.
Considering that French, Spanish, and Italian women have some of the longest life expectancies in the world, living to 84 years-old and beyond on average, there is certainly much we can learn about good health from our friends in that beautiful part of the world.
In a brief series of posts on the subject of diet and nutrition, we will elaborate further about what constitutes a Mediterranean diet and its many benefits.
For a user-friendly, comprehensive explanation of this diet, please check out the book, French Women Don’t Get Facelifts, a positively delightful read by Mireille Guiliano. See chapter nine for more about the Mediterranean diet.
Here are some foods that are instrumental in providing stamina, well-being, and beautiful complexion anti-aging benefits:
- Lemon (and other citrus fruits such as grapefruit and lime): Avoid consuming these fruits as pure juices so as to minimize sugar intake and to maximize the benefits of pulp.
- Vinegar
- Yogurt and Cheese (particularly fresh goat cheese, fresh ricotta, and faisselle)
- Eggs
- Grains (particularly quinoa, lentils, millet, and bulgur)
- Mushrooms (any type)
- Fish (oysters, mussels, salmon, black cod, or any fish prepared papillote style
- Potatoes (a small portion daily – from boiled to mashed to roasted, and on rare occasions, fried)
- Green vegetables (particularly leeks, broccoli, zucchini, fennel, asparagus, kale, peas, cucumbers, and a type of string bean known as haricots verts)
- Berries (particularly strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cranberries)
- Tomatoes (A tomato is technically also a berry, believe it or not!)
- Nuts (particularly walnuts and almonds)
- Herbs (parsley, basil, rosemary, thyme, and mint)
- Spices (cinnamon, curry, turmeric, cumin)
- Fruits (particularly apples, pears, kiwi, papaya, pomegranate, and mango)
- Honey
- Oatmeal
- Spinach
