A fit life: For young-looking skin, keep on eating those carbs
Q: Does eating completely fat-free foods, and exercise benefit the skin? A: The completely fat-free, carbohydrate-free diet may be beneficial to lose pounds quickly, however, it wreaks havoc on the quality and visual beauty of the skin, says Dr. James Lyons, assistant clinical instructor in plastic surgery at Yale University.
“The skin requires a certain amount of fat to look smooth, turgid and toned. Think of the long distance runner who demonstrates perfectly sculpted muscles on the legs or a six-pack on the abdomen, but the face looks gaunt and the skin hangs on the bony framework of the face creating a less than healthy and youthful appearance,” he says.
Certain fats are actually good for the skin and body, and in moderation, add the layer of fat under the skin that is necessary for proper skin draping. Lyons recommends supplements of essential fatty acids, and a liberal selection of fish in the diet to enhance skin beauty.
Some tips:
– Don’t eliminate carbohydrates from the diet. Control the carbohydrates in your diet, and eat them before lunch so that they can be metabolized during the day. But they are necessary to add (and hold) water to your skin, and make it look taught and even.
– Drink water liberally, at least 8 to ten 8-ounce servings a day. Carry around a water bottle all day. The effect of cold water on the metabolism is huge.
“Antioxidants are important for the entire state of your health, but we can see the effects of choosing antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables in one’s skin: think color when shopping. Focus on red, yellow, orange – these are the good vegetables, filled with antioxidants,” says Lyons.
He recommends: blueberries, strawberries and cantaloupe.
Lyons notes that increased blood supply to the skin increases the endorphins in the blood stream, thus combating the effects of “stress hormones” on the skin color and blood supply. Exercise opens up skin blood vessels to make skin look healthy, pink, dewy and youthful.
“Too much exercise will deplete the padding of the skin, the fatty layer and make the skin look sallow and wrinkled. When we modulate what we eat and how we exercise, we will then produce a more youthful, vibrant and beautiful appearance,” says Lyons.
(Send your questions to Steve Infanti at scinfanti@earthlink.net