Sunday, December 09, 2012

Foods to Prevent Dry Skin



As food is always the preferred way to treat common ailments from a natural health perspective, here are some vitamins and nutritional supplement suggestions for a winter ailment – dry skin.

Niacin, or its other name B3, is a vitamin that helps prevent skin rashes and inflammation. The best sources are eggs, shitake mushrooms, chicken, tuna, beef, halibut, lamb, salmon, spelt, sardines. 

Riboflavin, B2, helps the body metabolize amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates and is essential for healthy skin. Food sources include eggs, green leafy vegetable, yogurt, soybeans, calf’s liver, mushrooms, spinach and almonds.

Vitamin A, which helps cells reproduce, can turn old, dry skin into new skin.  Foods include fruits and vegetables, such as cantaloupe, passion fruit, tomatoes, sweet potato, carrots and spinach.

Omega-3 fatty acids can keep the top outer layer of the skin strong and intact so that external toxins and pollutants are kept out. Sources include wild salmon, sardines, fortified eggs, and walnuts.