44 | December 2012 www.womanthismonth.com Wellbeing Your diet Our expert: Remy Sleiman, head dietician at Carlton Nutrition Center. Just as the products we use externally aid us, so does what we intake internally. “Your diet is key in determining the quality of your skin and hair,” Remy explains. “It has to be healthy, covering all nutrients that your body needs. A non-healthy diet causes deficiencies in vitamins and minerals that will harm the skin and hair, causing all varieties of problems.” Winter diet adjustments There is not one food that you can consume to improve your appearance. “Instead, you need to incorporate a complex of healthy food choices into your daily eating habits,” the dietician explains. Make sure to eat plenty of fish, raw nuts and seeds. “These are rich in Omega 3 and will help repair any damage to the skin,” Remy continues. “Egg, ginger and oats are rich in zinc — another component in maintaining healthy skin.” Other foods the dietician recommends include sweet potato, citrus fruits, berries, green leafy vegetables, garlic, onions and coloured vegetables. “The mentioned items contain antioxidants, vitamins (A, C and E) and minerals (zinc, silica and selenium) to maintain the vitality of your skin,” adds Remy. Constant hydration Water should be the most crucial element of your diet. “There are many underlying causes to dry skin, usually resulting in lack of water in your system. You must drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day to ensure that there is enough to hydrate your hair and skin,” she explains. “It remains the best beverage ever.”
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