Skin is the largest organ in your body. Believe it or not, the foods you eat can just as easily harm your skin as they can help it. Some foods help to boost elasticity while others contribute to reducing age spots, acne, and other unsightly skin conditions.

This is meant as a general guide, and it is important that those undergoing bariatric surgeries must adhere to nutritional guidelines.

So without further ado, let’s get started in sharing about some of these great foods!

Foods that Help Skin Elasticity

1. Healthy Fruits and Vegetables

If you eat the correct sort of fresh fruit and vegetables, you can, in fact, provide your body with helpful antioxidants, which promote healthy skin. Now not all fruits and vegetables are created equally, so here are some that are key players in helping promote healthy skin:

  • Blueberries
  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Yellow or orange-colored fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are also known to contain water, which is important to appropriately include in your diet for a significant number of health benefits, one of which is better skin elasticity.

2. Nuts, Beans, and Legumes

By eating nuts, beans, and legumes, you can, in fact, provide your body with plant sources of protein that your body can then use to replace dead cells.

The benefit of eating nuts such as almonds and walnuts is that they also contain vitamin E which can decrease the sagging and wrinkling of your skin. Nuts also provide biotin, a type of B vitamin that aids in the production of your skin cells.

3. Fatty Fish

Certain kinds of fish, just as other healthy foods such as mackerel, flax seeds, and walnuts, provide the body with essential fatty acids such as omega-3.

It is important that you eat foods such as these since your body can not produce these fats on its own.  Essential fatty acids, such as omega-3, help to provide structure to the cell membranes, which contributes to maintaining the flexibility of your skin.

4. Water

As stated in the section about fruits and vegetables, water plays a significant part in the maintenance of skin elasticity. As much as 65% of your body is made of water, which is not considered food.

However, when you do not keep properly hydrated, you risk losing the elasticity of your skin. According to East Carolina University, males ages 19 to 50 should consume a minimum of 13 8-ounce cups of water daily. For females in the same age group, the minimum is 9 cups of water.

Foods for Clear Skin-Mexico Bariatric Center

Healthy Looking Skin

1. Whole Wheat

Whole wheat is a great option to eat instead of pure white carbohydrates such as white bread and white pasta.

Simple carbohydrates such as white bread and white pasta cause a spike in your insulin, which is not good for your skin.

2. Green Tea

There are two active ingredients in Green Tea that offers great skin benefits. Green Tea is rich in both;

  • Antioxidants
  • Hydration

3. Avocado

Because they are a great source of healthy fats, vitamins A and C, and fiber, avocados serve as great healthy food to prevent delicate skin.

Worst Foods for Your Skin

1. Rice Cakes

Contrary to what some may think, these bite-sized snacks are not good for you. Because they are made up of simple carbs, the body converts them to sugar which causes spikes in insulin just as other white carbohydrates like white bread and white pasta do.

2. Candy

When candy is regularly consumed, it can lead to several health issues including pimples. Sugar also degrades collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin soft, and supple, and promote elasticity.

3. Supposedly “Healthy” Cereals

With all of the foods that say “Healthy” on them that are out there, it can be difficult to distinguish which ones are right for you. In the case of most cereals that say they are healthy, they are in fact not. They are typically loaded with high levels of sugar which causes spikes in glucose.

4. Chips

Because they are loaded with refined carbohydrates, chips increase inflammation that triggers DNA-and collagen-damaging oxidation stress. This will cause an increase in fine wrinkles, aged appearance, and other health-related issues.

5. Sugary Fruit Drinks and Smoothies

Next time when you head to Starbucks or Jamba Juice to grab your favorite frappuccino or smoothie, be mindful of what you are putting into your body. Many of these drinks contain as much as 3 to 5 times the recommended amount of sugar that you should have in a day.

And as stated with other foods to avoid, spikes in sugar levels are very damaging to your skin.

6. Fast Food

While it may be okay to occasionally make a quick stop to grab a bite at a fast-food restaurant, such as McDonald’s, or even dine in, it is important to note that many of the foods these places provide are awful for you. Fast food plays a large part in the cause of acne and lesions in the skin.

If you want healthy and radiant skin, it is best to prepare your own healthy meals consisting of whole grains, fruits and veggies, lean proteins, antioxidants, and water.

Bariatric Patients and Healthy Skin

Again, when you undergo bariatric surgery, it is important that you follow dietary guidelines provided by your surgeon, nutritionist, and primary care physician.

This list is meant as a guide to just how swapping out certain foods may very well save your health, keep you looking more youthful, and feel better as well. But it is important to bear in mind any personal limitations or sensitivities that you may personally have.

Mexico Bariatric Center® highly recommends patients take Emerge Bariatrics Formulated Multivitamins made according to ASMBS guidelines for long-term success.

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