The Verdict Is In: How Some Notorious Foods Really Affect Our Skin

It seems like there`s always some rumor floating around, at one time or another, about some certain food and what it does or doesn`t do for our skin. One minute it`s in, the next minute it`s out. While still some have just been known to be bad all the way around. And further still, some may have an affect on our skin, but not as directly as once thought. The jury here at CareFair has been in deliberations, and the verdicts are in. We`ll address the most common claims.

The Most Notorious Claims

The first one to be examined: Omega-3 fatty acids. These are the good fats - yes, there are "good" fats. These are fats contained in fish oils, olive oil, nuts and seeds, and avocados that have proven to lower our risk of heart disease, improve overall heart health, and are good for skin and nails.

Omega-3 fatty acids do not have a direct effect on skin and nails, but it is shown that their consumption over time contributes to healthy, shiny, hair and nails, and a higher level of natural oils in the skin. Experts recommend consuming your recommended amount of these types of fats daily or taking a daily Fish Oil supplement.

Alcohol: Namely, red wine. Some prior claims say red wine improves circulation, thereby improving skin and complexion. There`s no evidence proving this, and although doctors say that a glass of red wine a day is great for the heart, the truth is that red wine, or any alcohol for that matter, actually inhibits circulation, reduces oxygen flow to the skin, causes blotchiness, and can result in broken capillaries. Keep wine consumption to a minimum - one-half to one glass a day is best.

Caffeine: Caffeine`s affect on the skin is common to that of alcohol because it can contribute to broken capillaries as well. Consumption of caffeine in large amounts raises blood pressure and keeps oxygen from reaching cells. Consuming large amounts of coffee - more than three cups per day - over a period of time, can contribute to aged looking skin, but caffeine in reasonable amounts has no immediate or significant affect on our complexion.

Fruits and Vegetables: Again, these have no direct effect on the skin. They do, however, have a great indirectly effect on the health and appearance of our skin, for obvious reasons. The antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in fruits and vegetables contribute to overall health, skin repair, and a healthy complexion.

Chocolate: We bring good news! Chocolate has no ill effect on the skin! But chocolate has caffeine, right? How is it possible that it doesn`t harm the skin? One serving of chocolate actually contains as much caffeine as about one-half cup of coffee - not enough to do any harm to our complexion. Furthermore, the old theory about sugar and breakouts was debunked a long time ago, so keep that stash going!

Source: CareFair.com