Twenty-one year old Lydia Garcia faces an imminent dilemma- poverty or
acne. Lydia
religiously uses three herbs to keep her skin clear and she’s always on
the prowl for supplements to augment her health. Just last week she
read that the Chinese herb astragalus enhances the immune system. And
now, Lydia ponders, “I think I want to take dandelion root and ginseng
to ease my menstrual cramps.” Yet Lydia’s salary as a receptionist
barely covers her fanatical consumption of supplements.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on supplements when food provides all
the nutrients you need to have clear skin. Herbs and supplements that
provide support for clean skin typically offer the following benefits:
Boost the immune system
Enhance stress management
Cleanse the blood and liver, and
Aid in skin repair
A well-chosen diet can prove just as advantageous as supplements and
herbs.
Foods that boost the immune system
-Vitamin C
Oranges, grapefruits, papaya, green peppers, tomatoes, strawberries,
broccoli
-Vitamin E
Almonds, sunflowers seeds
-Zinc
Wheat germ, black-eyed peas, lean beef, crab, oysters
Foods that enhance stress management
-Vitamin B6
Legumes, whole grains, chicken, pork, bananas
Foods that cleanse the blood and liver
-Garlic, onions, turmeric, cayenne pepper, aloe vera juice, watermelon
-Bulk-producing foods
Oatmeal, apples, oranges, bran cereals
Foods that aid in skin repair
-Protein
Nonfat dairy, beans, meat, poultry, fish, nuts
-Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Sardines, herring, salmon, tuna, walnuts
-Selenium
Onion, garlic
Although herbs and dietary supplements offer a broad spectrum of
benefits to the skin, it’s no fun looking fabulous if you can’t afford
to go anywhere. So, save some cash and eat you way to clear skin.
About the Author
Health author and Stanford University graduate
Naweko San-Joyz lovingly writes from her home in San Diego. Her works
include “Acne Messages: Crack the code of your zits and say goodbye to
acne” (ISBN: 0974912204) and the upcoming work “Skinny Fat Chicks, Why
we’re still not getting this dieting thing” (ISBN: 0974912212) for
release in June of 2005. For useful acne self-help articles visit
http://www.Noixia.com |
