January is a month dedicated to new beginnings. Out with the old, in with the new. Resolutions are made (and broken). All of us vow to eat healthier, follow this diet or that juice programme. Some are determined to get to the gym more often. High on most people’s list is the idea of detoxing. Whether you want to do a full month of detoxing or can only bear the thought of a one day cleanse, the idea of detoxing is pretty common in our society.
Does the skin need detoxing?
Like all detoxes this is open for debate. Over time your body does naturally detox itself, particularly if you eat healthy and drink enough water. You don’t need to fast for three days, or consume only juices, to detox (unless you want to!). Our bodies were created with the ability to rid the body of toxins pretty efficiently.
That being said, sometimes it does the body wonders to give it a little bit of help.
The skin is our largest organ and serves to protect us from the onslaught of environmental dangers. Taking care of it should be a priority for everyone as it helps regulate body temperature, defend us against UV damage, synthesise vitamin D and keeps all the gooey stuff inside together in a shape that is recognisable as human.
When the skin is healthy it can function so much better. If you suffer with eczema, rosacea, sensitive skin, acne, dry skin, or other signs of skin that is out of balance, then you need to look at your skin health.
How to detox for skin health
* Eat a healthy diet balanced diet.
This means lots of vegetables, and fruit (though limit fruit if you’re reactive to sugars). They are packed full of vitamins and minerals that help fight off free radicals.
Eat whole grains rather than refined grains because they are more nutritious.
Avoid processed foods, fried foods, sugary foods because we all know they might taste good but too much can unsettle our digestive and skin health.
* Drink water.
No your coffee doesn’t count! Drink plain H2O for maximum benefit in flushing out toxins (And you might lose a bit of weight too!).
Avoid sugary drinks including fruit juice.
Limit your caffeine intake.
Limit your alcohol intake.
If you suffer with rosacea in particular, caffeine and alcohol such as red wine are triggers to your skin flaring up.
* Treat your skin to some skin superfoods.
Look for products with skin health boosting properties. Skincare is essential and goes beyond a basic cleanse. Look for vitamin c, activated charcoal, and clays to help purify and brighten the skin.
