What These 11 Foods And Drinks Are Doing To Your Skin

Our skin can tell us a lot: how old we are, if we have gotten enough sleep, or how stressful the week has been. Healthy skin depends on factors we can and cannot control. Aging, wrinkles, and sun damage can happen over time and before you know it, your skin is not the same as it was 15 years ago. What can you do? Along with using sun protection, you can eat your way to healthy skin.

Blueberries and other darker berries, such as blackberries, are packed with antioxidants, which prevent cell damage by blocking free radicals. Regulating your body will help keep your skin in check and the naturally sweet taste will prevent you from reaching for candy.

One of the major causes of acne is nutrient deficiency in minerals, such as zinc and selenium. Brazil nuts are packed with selenium, which is an antioxidant mineral that helps protect skin from sun damage. All you need is one or two nuts a day to get an adequate dose. 

Candy and excess sugar is hurtful not only for your waistline, but also for your skin. Simple carbohydrates, such as sugared candy, cause your insulin levels to spike and cause inflammation throughout the body. This inflammation leads to a breakdown in collagen and elastin, which in turn leads to wrinkles and sagging skin.

When you are stress, you usually don't reach for an apple or a bag of carrots — but you should. Eating high-fat foods, such as fried potato chips, filled with excess salt and oil, will cause your skin to break out. Just remember that if you are actually hungry, potato chips will satisfy you for about five minutes and then your cravings will rare up again.

On the most stressful days, your mind is not the only thing affected. Your skin always picks up on high stress by producing blemishes. Peppermint is proven to help with stress, so when you feel your heartrate start to increase, sip on some peppermint tea or add a few drops of peppermint essence to your water. 

A glass of red wine a day has countless healthful qualities, such as high antioxidant content, which has been linked to slowing the aging process. However, red wine may not be helpful for everyone. Dr. Debra Jaliman told the Huffington Post, "76 percent of people that drink red wine have a flair of their rosacea." For those that have rosacea, it may be best to stick to white wine or beer. Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink can also protect against aging, so think about that when you reach for the next two glasses.

According to Joy Bauer, omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon and flaxseed, help maintain cell membranes. These cell membranes form effective barriers which allow water and nutrients in and keep the toxins out. Omega-3s also reduce inflammation and prevent skin breakouts from happening.

Whether it be on the rim of your margarita or from a bag of chips, salt will not give your skin that lasting glow. Dr. David Colbert, founder of New York Dermatology Group, told Huffington Post, "If you drink a lot of salt, you're going to get symptoms like swollen eyes and thirsty skin, and your body is telling you to drink more water to get rid of the salt."

According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, low-glycemic foods are better for skin than high-glycemic foods. Skim milk has a higher number on the glycemic index chart than whole milk, which means that it has a negative impact on blood sugar levels. Skim milk breaks down more quickly than whole milk and with that, it can cause acne and prematurely aged collagen.

Spinach is full of vitamin E, which blocks out the harmful damage of the sun's UV radiation. This nutrient should definitely come from your diet, instead of supplements. Vitamin E can be found in other sources such as whole-grain cereals, nuts, seeds, and olive oil.

Similar to skim milk, white bread, pastas, and cakes are considered high glycemic and cause spikes in blood sugar. It is best to avoid these types of foods if you are trying to maintain a healthy weight or keep your skin problems in check.