Food is the only medicine that the average healthy individual requires on a daily basis. There is a copious amount of research underway now on the direct effects on health from the consumption or supplementation of various nutrients ,specifically SKIN.

DIET AND ACNE

One of the commonest problem affecting young adults and middle aged people is ACNE VULGARIS(pimples,zits etc). It is well proved now that low glycemic diet plays a substantial role in controlling and preventing acne.such a diet includes fresh veggies and fruits,lean meat,fish ,essential fatty acids(OMEGA 3 , 6 , 9) and low saturated fat diets.

Also milk and milk products contribute to flares in acne. Hence cutting down on dairy food consumption helps in controlling acne.this also includes chocolates.

CAROTENOIDS

Sun damaged skin manifests as wrinkled,dry,lack-luster and pigmented. Certain plant constituents have been established as exerting photoprotective effects. For eg. Antioxidants including carotenoids,flavonoids.Vitamin E,Vitamin C,lycopene are effective in preventing and curbing sun induced redness/damage.

Food rich in these sun- protective nutrients are

• Tomatoes
• Apricots
• Papaya
• Pink grapefruit
• Guava
• Watermelon

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS AND VEGAN DIET

Omega 3 ,omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids play a key role in controlling eczema and atopic dermatitis. They alleviate symptoms like pruritus and severity of lesions. They are useful in controlling symptoms in other related allergic disorders too.