The Beauty Diet (21 page)

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Authors: Lisa Drayer

 

BEYOND THE BEAUTY DIET

Lifestyle Tips for Gorgeous Skin

Drink water, not alcohol.
Drinking alcohol contributes to aging skin by dilating small blood vessels in the skin and increasing blood flow near the skin's surface. Over time these blood vessels can become permanently damaged, creating a flushed appearance and broken vessels on the skin's surface. Drinking water keeps you adequately hydrated and your skin moist and supple.

Relax!
Stress and worry cause frowning, and over time the muscles in the face actually conform to that movement. Be aware of your stress level and try to relax your facial muscles during the day. A good antiaging skin-care program should include meditation, yoga, gentle exercise, or other relaxation techniques (see
Chapter 8
).

Get your beauty rest.
Lack of sleep shows up on your face as puffiness, bags, and dark circles under your eyes. Most adults need eight hours of sleep each night to feel refreshed in the morning. (If you are having trouble getting to sleep, see my tips in
Chapter 8
.)

secrete more oil that becomes trapped inside the pores, so skin appears shinier and pimples become plentiful. In other words, a diet focused on refined carbohydrates (those in white breads, cookies and cake, and even some salty snacks) sets off a hormonal cascade that causes excess oil production in the skin, leading to clogged pores and pimples.

In one recent randomized controlled trial published in
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
, individuals with acne were assigned to either a diet consisting of 25 percent protein and 45 percent low-glycemic-index carbohydrates or to a Westernized diet rich in refined, sugary carbohydrates.

BEAUTY MYTH

Vitamin E Helps Reduce Scars

Although vitamin E is the main lipid-soluble antioxidant in the skin, further research is needed to prove its effectiveness in reducing scars and stretch marks. One study looked at a randomized group of 159 burn patients who were treated with topical vitamin E for four months. After one year, scar thickness, alteration in graft size, range of motion, and appearance of the scars were recorded. No beneficial effect of vitamin E was seen in any of the patients. In another study, postsurgical patients were given two ointments labeled
A
and
B
. One of the ointments contained vitamin E, and the other didn't. Patients were instructed to apply each ointment on a separate half of their scars twice a day for four weeks. The researchers concluded that not only did the vitamin E have no beneficial effects on the scars; it actually made matters worse as some patients experienced an allergic reaction to the vitamin E. Bottom line: don't depend on vitamin E creams to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks.

After 12 weeks, those following the experimental diet low in refined carbohydrates experienced an improvement in their skin, as evidenced by a decrease in "total and inflammatory lesion counts." Their acne had improved significantly compared to the control group.

My Beauty Diet includes all the nutrients you need for beautiful skin and avoids problem foods with lots of sugar and poor-quality fats. By making a few modifications, you can create your own personal Antiacne Diet. Follow it closely and you should see improvements in your skin in about four weeks.

Dairy and Acne

Many people have asked me if dairy foods can cause acne. Here's the lowdown: Some researchers believe that iodine is
what exacerbates acne, and dairy products are a source of iodine. In addition, farmers give their cows iodine-fortified feed and use sanitizing iodine solutions on cows' udders and milking equipment. Others believe that hormones in milk may be responsible for acne. While research has revealed that drinking milk and consuming dairy products from pregnant cows exposes us to hormones from the cows' pregnancy, the amount of hormones in the milk is minuscule compared to the amount produced in our bodies, according to Greg Miller, Ph.D., a scientist with the National Dairy Council.

The dairy and acne link has not been substantiated in clinical studies. If you suffer from regular acne flare-ups, it is most likely due to other causes.

Topical Treatments

Many of the foods discussed in this chapter can also be applied directly to your face. For example, many people use yogurt as a face mask. I have read that applying fish oil to your skin can be beneficial, but I have not tried this personally—I don't want my husband, David, to think I smell like a mermaid!

Many natural substances found in food are now being used in commercial cosmetics. For example, dimethylaminoethanol, which is found in salmon, is used topically to increase circulation. A modified version of vitamin C can be applied to the skin, and of course medications containing vitamin A are used for acne and other skin problems. I asked my friend Valerie, a skin specialist who owns the Face Studio in New York City, for her recommendations regarding food and beautiful skin. You can read what she has to say in the "Expert Advice" section that follows. If you are considering other topical treatments for your skin, be sure to check out Dr. Aron Kressel's advice in the second "Expert Advice" section.

Expert Advice: Natural Skincare Ingredients Found Inside Your Home

According to skin expert Valerie Mayo of the Face Studio in New York City, once you find the right combination of natural ingredients for your skin, you will be amazed at how radiant you look.

Following are a few suggestions from Valerie for using natural skin-care ingredients found at home to get you moving toward healthy, balanced, and radiant skin. Remember to test any ingredient on a small area of your body first, to make sure you are not allergic.

Honey.
Humectants attract and help to retain moisture, which is a major factor in giving the skin a hydrated and plump appearance.

Strawberries and egg whites.
Strawberries contain antioxidants that help the skin fight free radicals caused by stress, sun, and pollution. Egg whites have a great firming effect on skin. Mix the ingredients together and you have a winning antiaging combo.

Lemons.
These are excellent for lightening dark patches on the surface of the face and body. The citric acid is the ingredient that lightens the skin.

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