Foods and Drinks that Improve Skin Appearance

You can take good care of your skin without buying expensive cosmetics and skin care products. Although some skin care products can help to maintain a clear complexion to a certain extent, not all of them are free of harmful chemical ingredients. Moreover, skin care products only improve the outer appearance and do nothing to maintain healthy skin from the inside. To enhance your skin health from the inside and prevent common problems like acne, it is a must for you to follow a healthy diet plan. It is common to lose skin elasticity and develop wrinkles as you age. However, even this can be controlled by having a healthy diet plan in place. A diet consisting of antioxidant-rich foods is the best for you skin. Listed below are some of the top foods and drinks that should be a part of a skin care diet plan.

Green Tea

The fact that green tea contains very high quantity of antioxidants makes it a very effective drink for tackling the effects of dangerous free radicals. The antioxidants present in green tea are known to prevent premature aging by helping to protect the skin from potential damage caused by sunlight radiation. Consuming just about two to three cups of green tea each day can also help to prevent skin cancer. In addition to dealing with the skin damage in a better way, green tea helps to rejuvenate your skin cells. This healthy drink also fights inflammation and acne.

Water

Increasing water intake and drinking lots of it all through the day is the least one can do to improve skin health. Water gives your skin a clear and fresh appearance by flushing all the nasty toxins out of the body.

Lemon Water

Having lemon water is a good skin care technique. Being a natural antiseptic medicine, lemon helps to treat various skin related issues. The vitamin C present in this citrus fruit brings in a healthy glow by rejuvenating your skin from within. Regular consumption of lemon water will help to eliminate wrinkles and blackheads.

Carrots

Carrots have a lot of positive effects on your skin. Eating four or five carrots or consuming a glass or two of carrot juice every day can act as natural sun block. Having carrots on a regular basis can be very beneficial for people who frequently suffer from acne problems. Carrots contain a lot of skin-friendly nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium. Consuming this vegetable regularly is a good way of achieving a clear complexion.

Salmon

The omega-3 fatty acids contained in salmon help to ease inflammation in the body. This can be helpful in reducing as well protecting the skin from sunburn and might even reduce the risk of skin cancer. Eating salmon about three times per week can not only improve skin texture, but also add shine to the hair, eyes, and nails. Salmon and other fishes rich in omega-3 fatty acids are considered to be among the best foods for improving skin elasticity. This is because they help to increase the production of keratin, collagen, and melanin. People who don’t eat fish can have flax seed to increase their consumption of omega-3 fatty acids.

Berries

The fact that berries contain abundant amount of antioxidants makes them excellent for the skin. Berries like blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc. are known to protect the skin from damage related to free radicals.

Foods that High Blood Pressure Patients Must Avoid
High blood pressure or hypertension is a common but serious medical condition that is caused when there is a rise in pressure on the arterial walls. People affected by high blood pressure can experience serious health issues like heart attack, heart disease, kidney failure, etc. On being diagnosed with hypertension, the doctor will prescribe certain medications to keep the blood pressure under control. To efficiently control high blood pressure, it is important to exercise and eat healthy along with taking the prescribed medications. People who don’t eat a healthy and nutritious diet are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure.

A healthy diet for high blood pressure patients should be rich in antioxidants, vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. People with high blood pressure should eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grain cereal, and some other healthy foods. Avoiding some unhealthy foods is as important as eating these healthy ones. Many high blood pressure patients go on to experience some severe health condition because they fail to have control over their diets.

Listed below are some foods and drinks that high blood pressure patients should avoid.

Salt and Sodium

People suffering from high blood pressure should restrict the consumption of salt in their food. Having too much salt in food will not only increase the risk of high blood pressure, but it can also cause damage to the heart and arteries. A high blood pressure patient should not consume more than one teaspoon of salt on any given day.

Fats

Foods that contain trans or saturated fat should be completely avoided by high blood pressure patients. If the problem is not too severe, then the doctor might advice the patient to just limit the use of fats. Eating foods that are high in fats is bound to cause obesity, which in turn leads to the problem of high blood pressure. Hence, it is best for your overall well-being to avoid foods that are fried and contain fatty acids. Eating foods that are cooked in artificial oils should be strictly avoided.

Red Meat

Red meat is another food item that high blood pressure patients should avoid. This is because red meat usually contains toxic substances and chemicals that are consumed by the animal. Instead of red meat, high blood pressure patients are recommended to have reasonable proportions of white meat along with a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Sugar

Like fatty foods, those that contain high amounts of sugar can also lead to obesity. Being obese or overweight will put added pressure on the heart, thereby casing poor blood flow. Hence, people suffering from high blood pressure are often advised to avoid sugary foods.

Processed Food

Avoiding processed or packed foods is also important. Because of today’s busy lifestyle, more and more people have started to opt for packaged food. These foods lack essential nutrients and most of them are high in salt and fat. Avoiding processed foods and junk foods will not only help to keep blood pressure under control, but also reduce the risk of several serious health problems.

Alcohol

Consuming alcoholic beverages can also lead to a rise in the blood pressure level. This is because too much alcohol consumption can damage the walls of the arteries, thereby leading to some serious medical complications. Patients with less severe cases of high blood pressure might be allowed to drink alcohol in moderation.