There is a saying that the eyes are the window to the soul, which can also be said about your skin. If your complexion is looking a bit dull or has been breaking out lately, your diet could be to blame. Skin, our largest organ, is important to keeping us healthy, but just like how we feel, skin can also tell us when something is off.
Your looks are more than just vanity, but can also be an indicator of how well you actually are. Our skin is the fastest growing organ so to keeping it healthy, we need to keep it nourished. Water alone isn’t going to cut it but it’s a start. However, what skin really thrives on, are vitamins.
Vitamins are so important to the skin because our bodies cannot replicate them. Instead, we have to receive them from other sources, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, dairy and other natural sustenance. Because vitamins have the ability to give us nutrients that we cannot make on our own, not having enough vitamins can have harmful effects on the body and lead to unsightly skin allergies
What Are Vitamins?
Vitamins allow our bodies to develop properly and also help with important functions such as immunity, digestion and even metabolism. There are 13 essential vitamins that our bodies need in order to function properly, which are including, but not limited to:
- Vitamin A – Helps with formation of teeth, bones, white skin cells, the immune system and mucous membrane.
- Vitamin K – Aids in prevention of blood clotting and prevents calcification of the arteries.
- Vitamin D – Helps with the absorption of calcium and helps to build sturdy bones.
- Vitamin C – Supports healthy immune function as well as the repairing of collegen.
- Vitamin E – A natural antioxidant. Helps protect skin from damaging free radicals.
- Folate – Helps our bodies produce and maintain cells.
- B Vitamins – Includes Niacin, Thiamin, Pantothenic acid, Riboflavin and B6 (All B Vitamins). Helps maintain proper brain function.
- B12 – Assists with alleviating soreness in the mouth, fatigue and vision problems. Also aids in digestion and promotes healthy skin, hair and nails.
Why Are Vitamins Important?
Vitamins are important to keep your skin supple and glowing, while also boasting an efficient internal system. Contrary to vitamins helping to keep your body in top form, a lack of vitamins can have an adverse affect on the skin.
Common problems associated by vitamin deficiency include mild to moderate dryness, flakiness, cracking and bruising to more extreme cases such as scurvy, which includes corkscrew hair and bleeding hair follicles.
Some other vitamin deficiencies include:
- Vitamin A – A lack can cause itching, dryness and scaly skin. More extreme cases are deep cracks and fissures.
- Riboflavin – Deficiencies cause nasal inflammation, as well as a red rash onface in the form of swelling and redness on the forehead, cheeks and and behind the ears.
- B6 – Flaky, oily white skin lesions can occur on the face, neck, shoulders and buttocks.
- Biotin – A lack can cause crusting around the eyes, nose, mouth and other areas of the skin.
Preventing Skin Allergies
Many people tend to think that taking a multivitamin is enough, so they eat unhealthy and take a supplement. A supplement should not be the sole way to get your nutrients because it’s not a food and it’s not sustainable as your main source of nutrition
Supplements are great for filling in those gaps to ensure proper cell function and preventing certain skin lesions. However, vitamins in the pill form should only be considered for insurance. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is always the best way to get the proper nutrition that you need. Eating healthy also helps to deliver nutrients more quickly than with a bottled vitamin.
Think of what your body needs and eat that first. Food should always be the forefront of nutrition. Anything else left over can be filled in with a multivitamin. Take inventory of what you’re eating on a daily basis and banish food that is full of empty calories and low nutrition. Even purported “healthy” foods, such as iceberg lettuce and white potatoes should be eaten in moderation because they actually contain very little nutritional value.
Most people aren’t getting enough nutrients, thanks to our microwave society, but with better knowledge comes great responsibility. Take charge of your health and get on the road to better beauty.