Twenty-one year old Lydia Garcia faces an imminent dilemma- poverty or acne. Lydia religiously uses three herbs to keep her skin clear and she's always on the prowl for supplements to augment her health. Just last week she read that the Chinese herb astragalus enhances the immune system. And now, Lydia ponders, "I think I want to take dandelion root and ginseng to ease my menstrual cramps." Yet Lydia's salary as a receptionist barely covers her fanatical consumption of supplements.
You don't have to spend a fortune on supplements when food provides all the nutrients you need to have clear skin. Herbs and supplements that provide support for clean skin typically offer the following benefits:
Boost the immune system
Enhance stress management
Cleanse the blood and liver, and
Aid in skin repair
A well-chosen diet can prove just as advantageous as supplements and herbs.
Foods that boost the immune system
Vitamin C
Oranges, grapefruits, papaya, green peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, broccoli
Vitamin E
Almonds, sunflowers seeds
Zinc
Wheat germ, black-eyed peas, lean beef, crab, oysters
Foods that enhance stress management
Vitamin B6
Legumes, whole grains, chicken, pork, bananas
Foods that cleanse the blood and liver
Garlic, onions, turmeric, cayenne pepper, aloe vera juice, watermelon
Bulk-producing foods
Oatmeal, apples, oranges, bran cereals
Foods that aid in skin repair
Protein
Nonfat dairy, beans, meat, poultry, fish, nuts
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Sardines, herring, salmon, tuna, walnuts
Selenium
Onion, garlic
Although herbs and dietary supplements offer a broad spectrum of benefits to the skin, it's no fun looking fabulous if you can't afford to go anywhere. So, save some cash and eat you way to clear skin.
