We all know how important innovative, environment- and body-friendly sunscreen is for protecting your skin against the damaging UV rays of the sun. But have you ever considered it’s what’s on the inside that’s making a difference too?
Lately, I’ve been particularly interested in how one’s diet can affect the skin. In an attempt to cleanse our systems of all the bad stuff (you know, starches, refined sugars, ice scream sundaes), my husband and I decided to follow a stringent food regiment of nothing but water, egg whites, grilled salmon, blueberries, raspberries, apples, cantaloupe, almonds, broccoli, brussels sprouts, haricot verts, and whole-grain oatmeal for three very long days, Now, I would be lying to you if I said that I enjoyed every minute of it (truth be told, I’m glad it’s over), but it got me thinking about how important the very colorful fruits and vegetables that were the mainstay of my stripped-down diet are for the body—adults and children—inside and out.
Of course excess sun exposure causes photo-aging, loss of skin elasticity, thinner-looking skin, wrinkles, broken capillaries on the face, freckles, spots and blemishes, among other things. But not getting enough protein in your diet, going totally “fat free,” not drinking enough water, and consuming inflammatory foods such as the aforementioned starches accelerates aging and shows up on your skin in the form of dark circles under the eyes, puffiness, an increase in fine lines and wrinkles, increased pore size, and an overall loss of radiance. And sugar is the biggest culprit (as someone with a nearly insatiable sweet tooth, it’s a battle I fight every day). It robs us of our youth, our health, and our beauty, and also can contribute to many diseases (coronary heart disease and osteoporosis, among them). Pass the sprouts, please.
And today’s children unfortunately show the signs of these dietary deficiencies right on their lovely faces: many have dark circles under their eyes, carry an extra 5-10 pounds on their bodies, and show a decreased interest in playing outside. That said, it’s important to instill good habits on how to prevent the degenerative diseases plaguing our society right from the start: infancy and childhood. As parents, we need to walk the walk and talk the talk, providing them with a balanced diet and a role model of someone who follows a balanced diet so that we can all look and feel our best.
And doing this doesn’t have to be complicated (or cause total mayhem at mealtimes); try making a few simple additions to your weekly menu such as steel-cut oatmeal for breakfast; whole grains including quinoa and brown rice for lunch and dinner; and integrating high-antioxidant treats like cherries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, and even dark chocolate (in moderation, of course: the higher the cacao percentage, the more cacao and less sugar there is in the chocolate) throughout the day.
Because I founded Supergoop! in part to provide innovative, everyday UV protection solutions for all and also to educate adults and children on how to protect their skin, I’ve always believed that Supergoop! is not just a sunscreen, but also a lifestyle. It’s about not only forming great skincare habits, but also forming great body-healthy habits at a young age so everyone in the family is healthy from the inside out.
We’d love to hear from you on this topics, so let us know what you think and what you are doing to ensure your family is eating and living healthfully every day.
