Food for Glowing Skin

By Dr. Khushboo Thakkar

The answer to a radiant skin we often believe lies hidden in a cosmetic bottle. In fact face creams, treatments and other such products are superficial in their approach. For a deep and long lasting change – we often need to look at our diet. Simple changes in our diet can go a long way here.
Incorporating fresh, at least 2 home cooked meals a day works wonders.

Below are some of the Super Foods that you must include in your diet for a Glowing Skin:
• Water: Dehydration makes the skin look dry and tired. Keeping yourself hydrated, not only provides moisture, it also helps your kidney flush out toxins and hence keeps the skin clear and glowing.
• Coconut Water: Rich in electrolytes and antioxidants, Coconut Water not only hydrates your skin but also works as a natural anti-ageing drink. Applying locally on your face, it works like a toner.
• Sugarcane Juice: Having a glass of sugarcane juice when out in the noon, is not only the perfect heat buster, it also is the most natural detox drink. In the past when there was no treatment for jaundice, it was used to detoxify the liver. Loaded with minerals this drink prevents wrinkling and keeps the skin smooth and supple.
• Ghee: When made at home from cow’s milk, ghee works wonders. Rich in essential fatty acids, it helps in the good assimilation of fat soluble vitamins – especially vitamin A and E that help clarify the skin and give it a natural glow. 2 teaspoons of ghee a day is an ideal product for the skin.
• Milk and Milk products: Full fat milk, home set curd, buttermilk, white butter are miraculous when it comes to their effect on our skin. Milk and Milk products contain the essential mineral selenium, which is a powerful antioxidant along with vitamin E. They help to smoothen the skin and keep it healthy and elastic. This also gives a healthy glow to your skin.
• Chyawanprash: Winters make our scalp flaky and our skin scaly. This is time to bring out the Chyawanprash. It helps the body restore its moisture. Dryness and ageing go together. Amla the key ingredient of Chyawanprash has phytonutrients, antioxidants and digestive enzymes, which helps prevent ageing. Just take 1teaspoon as soon as you wake up to kick start your day.
• Fruits and Vegetables: You must include at least two to three servings of fruit daily and a minimum of three-four servings of vegetables. These you can include as salads, soups, stuffed in roti/paratha or mixed up in your rice as pulao/biryani or as a raita. They contain powerful antioxidants, which help in protecting the skin from free radicals that damage the cells. smoking, pollution and sunlight cause free radicals, which in turn can cause wrinkling and age spots.
• Dry Fruits and Nuts: These are packed with vitamins, essential fats, nutrients and minerals – like selenium and zinc, which any dermatologist would prescribe to you as an anti-ageing treatment. The essential fatty acids act as a natural moisturizer for your skin, keeping it supple. A handful of dry fruits and nuts a day as mid meal can come to your rescue to repair skin damage.
Did You Know? You skin goes through a monthly routine of replacing itself. New cells are made by your body from the food you eat. So – You Are What You Eat! Choose Wisely. Eat Well. Eat Sensibly.

About Dr. Khushboo Thakker: She is a Homeopath, a Certified Nutrition Counselor, a Specialist in Sports Nutrition from International Sports Science Association, a Certified Trichologist from the International Association of Trichologists, Australia and a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, with the backing of several degrees. Her venture, Meraki, encourages a re-connect of people with their inner selves.
Her Website: www.khushboothakker.com