Dry Skin Diet
Dry skin is a common problem as the air gets colder during the winter months. One of your best defenses against dry skin is simply to keep your skin cells hydrated by drinking enough water every day. However, dietary considerations can also help you stay free of dry skin simply by eating the right foods and making sure you get some key vitamins.
Foods high in sulfur are helpful in keeping your skin smooth and flexible. Eggs, onions, garlic, and asparagus are good sources. Keeping a healthy level of fatty acids also helps keep moisture in your skin, particularly omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Flax seed oil is a good source for essential fatty acids, but keep in mind that these acids may not survive high temperatures, so take the oil as a supplement or with food that doesn’t require cooking. Vitamins A, C and B5 are especially important for maintaining and repairing your skin. Apples and carrots are great sources of vitamin A, while oranges and other citrus fruits (as well as many juices) provide vitamin C. There are many food sources for vitamin B5, with leafy green vegetables being one of the most prevalent. Of course, Clear5 and a multivitamin will cover most of your bases.
If you know dry skin is a problem for you, do yourself a favor and try to avoid alcohol and caffeine. These substances have a diuretic effect on your skin cells, sapping them of moisture and making you much more susceptible to dry skin (this is why you skin can appear flushed after drinking coffee or beer). Making smart dietary choices can help protect your skin against dryness, but likewise poor choices can make dry skin that much worse.
