Nutrition and Skin Health

Balanced nutrition is important for maintaining healthy skin. What you eat (and drink) affects every organ in your body and the skin is no exception. A poor diet may contribute to more rapid skin aging, and mild deficiencies which are very common and often go unnoticed, may impair the skin’s ability to heal and renew itself. Alas, the skin is often the last organ to receive vital nutrients and the first to reveal our bad habits.

Water is essential for survival; it carries nutrients and oxygen to all the body’s cells and tissues, removes toxins, and keeps mucous membranes moist. Too little of it and all the cells of the body become dehydrated. If you are not getting enough of this vital fluid, your skin may feel dry and look dull or pale. Some experts recommend you drink roughly half your body weight in ounces…so if you weigh 150 lbs, that’s 75 ounces, or approximately nine 8-oz glasses.

Your skin can be nourished by eating healthy natural foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and high quality proteins like fish. Avoiding large amounts of refined sugars, alcohol, salt, and overly processed fast foods can help you maintain a radiant and vigorous complexion.

Eat local and choose organic. I recommend eating fresh foods suitable to the season and our geographical area. According to many nutritionists the best possible foods for the body are vegetables, fruits, and animal products raised in your area or similar climate zone.

We are fortunate to have ready access to delicious organically raised produce and meats raised on the islands. Here are a few resources for local food and agriculture:

San Juan Island Agricultural Guild: www.sjiagguild.com

Farmer’s Market: www.sjifarmersmarket.com

San Juan Co-op: www.sanjuancoop.org

Islands Certified Local program. Includes restaurants that commit to using a minimum of 75% island grown ingredients in their products. www.sjcarc.org/certified.asp

For in depth nutrition information I recommend visiting these two web sites:

www.nutrition.gov

www.eatright.org (American Dietetic Association)