Healthy Eating - Healthy Skin

The human body is truly a miraculous living machine. We eat food that we like and enjoy because we want to. Then our bodies convert the food to energy and extract the nutrients that our bodies need with no conscious effort on our part. Waste is excreted through urine and feces. Each part of the human body has a job to do�including the skin. The skin is much more important than just being a nice, smooth cover that holds the insides in place. The skin is a living, breathing organ of the human body that is actually a very good outside indicator of how healthy the inside is.

There is an old axiom that says, "Garbage in = garbage out." This saying really refers to the use of business systems, but it applies to the human body as well. The human body requires certain nutrients every day in order to function properly. If the body is given these nutrients
and if there is no disease present, the skin reflects good health. If the body is denied any of the required nutrients, or if the body is ill and not absorbing the nutrients, the first indication that something is wrong can be seen on the skin.

Our bodies need:

1. Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants: The human body requires a whole host of various vitamins and minerals. If the body isn't fed food with all of the required nutrients, then a vitamin/mineral supplement should be taken every single day. But it is very important that vegetables and fruits are consumed even when a vitamin/mineral supplement is taken because none of them supply all of the vitamins/minerals and antioxidants that are required.

2. Fats: Yes, I said fats, but the fats need to be "smart" fats. The saturated fats that are found in that double cheeseburger and fries are not "smart" fats. They will clog up your arteries and cause all manner of physical problems. Smart fats are fats like Omega-3 fats found in fish, walnuts and flaxseed.

3. Whole grain foods: Whole grain foods provide the body with nutrients that it can't get anywhere else. Whole grain bread and whole grain cereals are a much better choice that white bread and sweetened cereals.

So the bottom line is, if you want to have healthy skin, your diet needs to be rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grain foods and smart fats like fish.