How does the food I eat affect my skin?

Would you be surprised to learn that the telltale signs of what you have been eating -- or avoiding -- are equally noticeable just by looking at your face? It's true. Dermatologists explain that our skin is a window into our overall health and can show clues of what's going on under the surface.

New research reported in the British Medical Journal states that enjoying a Mediterranean-style diet including a combination of olive oil, seeds, nuts, fresh fruits, vegetables -- and only moderate alcohol intake -- can improve overall health and longevity. And when we look at the faces of men and women from Mediterranean countries, who consume large amounts of olive oil, we see fewer wrinkles and firmer skin (despite avid sun worshipping). And they not only have beautiful skin, but cleaner arteries (on average) to boot!

Examining the faces and diets of many Asians shows that a diet rich in green tea can help the skin remain clear and blemish-free for decades longer than people who sunbathe, smoke or otherwise rob their skin of "free radical-fighting power." Green tea is rich in polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties to neutralize the toxic effects of what we call reactive oxygen species.

The food you put into your mouth has an effect once it's been metabolized and delivered to the skin. The way it is metabolized is also why eating certain foods, though beneficial to both the skin and body, may not affect the complexion directly. The body breaks down what we eat into tiny particles of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Food is circulated in its smallest form, so that nutrients can be reconstructed and repackaged, and then transported to the organs that need them. Eventually nutrients get to the skin too.(Remember that the skin doesn't take precedence in the body.) It's like a factory conveyor belt with lots of things happening at once, so it's not realistic to imagine that eating an avocado or a piece of salmon will deliver healthy fatty acids straight to your skin. That being said, it's a good idea to incorporate skin-healthy foods into your diet, especially olive oil, avocados, salmon, sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, wheat germ, broccoli, and leafy greens.