While everyone has a go-to cosmetic product for achieving glowing skin, there’s no denying that beauty comes from what we consume. Monitoring your nutrition intake feeds the skin – giving you an everlasting glow. Having said that, reversing aging effects on the skin isn’t possible. But you can certainly slow down this process by adopting a holistic approach that protects your skin from the inside out. 

Ann Claiborne, Celebrity Nutritionist, believes that many of us have skin concerns like hormonal breakouts, excess oil, or fine wrinkles that can result in a lack of confidence and increased insecurities. She shares her top skin hacks to help her clients achieve their desired glow. Here’s a look into what Ann suggests for people facing skin problems. 

5 Hacks for a Youthful Skin 

The secret to staying young forever isn’t in a magic potion. It’s basically what you consume and in what portion. 

• Keep Your Water Bottle Close 

Water flushes the toxins and impurities from your body and hydrates the skin making it appear plump and more youthful. Ann says, “Start your day with a tall glass of water but don’t stop there. She encourages her active clients to aim for a gallon of water a day. Although it may seem excessive at first, you will soon see the multiple benefits.

Water balances your body’s pH levels, keeping your skin fresh and youthful. In fact, pH levels range from 0-14, with 0 being acidic and 14 containing the highest alkaline levels. “Washing your skin after using cosmetic products is a healthy practice leading to healthy skin. A pH range of 5 is ideal for treating your skin from the outside,” she adds. 

• Add Five Portions of Veggies to Your Diet 

Gut health is critical to great skin. The increased fiber intake keeps your gut healthy and your skin glowing. According to Ann, adding greens and beans to your diet will help rejuvenate the skin because they prevent cellular damage. In addition to that, eating a wide range of colorful vegetables boost normal cellular development and improves your skin tone. 

• Stock Up on Vitamin C 

Vitamin C is a popular antioxidant that protects the skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays and stimulates proteins that serve as your skin’s main building block. Ann suggests incorporating kiwi, mango, citrus fruits and broccoli in your diet as they are loaded with vitamin C. Apart from protecting the skin from photo-aging, vitamin C also increases your skin’s regeneration ability from blemishes and strengthens the blood capillaries, which also helps if you bruise easily. 

• Eat Healthy Fats 

Contrary to popular belief, eating healthy fats is a good practice when you are on a diet. On top of that, healthy fats act as a natural moisturizer for your skin, keeping it supple and elastic. Healthy fats are found in nuts, seeds, coconuts, fatty fish and avocado. Adding them to your diet may help prevent skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. 

• Control Your Hormones with Tofu and Tempeh 

Hormonal imbalance is the primary cause of skin damage because your body releases too many toxic substances through your skin pores. Balanced hormones can result in less emotional stress, and we all know stress causes wrinkles. Natural compounds (phytoestrogens) found in plants balance your hormones. Ann says, “There are 500 species of bacteria in your gut; it’s a huge chemical factory that helps you digest food, absorb vitamins and regulate hormones.” 

Adding Tofu and Tempeh to your diet can significantly reduce hormonal imbalance because it contains phytoestrogens that mimic similar functions to human estrogens. In addition, eating Tofu and Tempeh should be standard practice for aging women. A common myth is that women should not consume soy products because it leads to breast cancer. Recent studies have proven this is NOT the case. On the contrary, consuming soy in moderation is excellent for women.

• Limit Processed Foods

We have all heard the saying, ‘you are what you eat’, and this bears some truth. If you consume saturated fats, and highly processed foods, even those marketed as ‘healthy’, you will not only feel bad but also negatively affect your skin. Ann’s rule of thumb is to consume things as close to the way Mother Nature made them for better health and glowing skin.

Celebrity Nutritionist Ann Claiborne says, “The key is to start small, stay consistent, develop systems and think long-term.” Following these tips can definitely help you achieve glowing and supple skin. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, give it a try and see the magic!