Welp… it wasn’t just your Mom trying to make you feel good after all (thanks Mom!). It seems that old adage “Beauty starts from the inside out” is absolutely, positively true – if your diet consists of greasy fried foods (i.e. sauerkraut balls) and over-processed meat products (i.e. hotdogs), your complexion will start to resemble a greasy minefield of unmentionable blemishes and unsightly red marks and dry scales. In a word: Ew.

But in this season of New Year resolve, where we’re all swearing to eat better or maybe change our entire food lifestyles, it’s sometimes hard to weigh the differences between the vast array of diets out there and just what effect each diet will have on your skin.

Which is why I give a big, awesome high-five to Health Magazine’s Jan./Feb. 2011 issue, which covers this conundrum exactly in an article by Cara Birnbaum entitled “Is Your Diet Good For Your Skin?” (I’m pretty sure I can shamefully answer right now, Ms. Birnbaum. – no research required.)

The Mediterranean Diet, which most closely resembles mine (selfish) when I’m not binging on hotdogs and sauerkraut balls – consists mainly of fish, leafy greens, olive oil and fruit and is a noted heart-healthy and slimming way to eat. There are all sorts of studies and books on this topic – a fancy Italian study even claims that adhering to such a diet protects against melanoma (Yay!) The Skin Pro’s are pretty vast: fish’s omega-3 fatty acids help maintain elasticity in the skin cells, while antioxidant filled greens, olive oil and red wine (Rapture! Joy!) help battle the evils of ultraviolet light and other environmental assaults that can leave a gal looking more Wicked Witch than Cinderella.



The painfully obvious rub, according to Miami Beach’s Baumann Cosmetic and Research Institute chief executive officer, Dr. Leslie Baumann, MD, is maintaining ‘moderation’ in the red wine department – if you rock too much of the vino, you risk undo-ing most of the benefits with the dreaded D-word (dehydration), which breaks down skin’s precious collagen and could eventually cause a mine-field of (*gasp!) wrinkles. (NOTE TO SELF: Moderation.)

And while we’re already hitting a low-note with that pesky moderation thing, let’s talk about that 1990’s diet wonder, the High Protein – Low Carb diets (think South Beach and Atkins.) While it’s lost some of its previous popularity there are still benefits to be had… if the diet itself is taken in m–o-d-e-r-a-t-i-o-n. The Skin Pros: cutting back on white bread, pasta and refined sugar can lower the secretion of cortisol (yep… that cortisol – the stress hormone. Sign me up.), this, according to Manhattan dermie Francesca Fusco, MD, can minimize breakouts. The Cons: “eating too much animal fat can result in an increased production of free radicals, which are thought to interfere with normal cellular processing,” according to NYC-based aesthetic dermatologist, Dr. Doom… I mean Lisa Airan, MD, “This may cause premature cell death,” (*Screech!*) which means saggy, baggy skin. If you must adhere hardcore to the High Protein – Low Carb diets drink lots and lots of water to keep your skin all nice and hydrated. And, hey… why not throw in some fish and leafy greens and other lean proteins instead of subsisting solely on saturated fat-laden red meats… just an idea.

Speaking of the virtues of leafy greenie goodness, let’s take a peek at how Vegetarian/Vegan Diets measure up, shall we? Despite my obsession with hotdogs and sauerkraut balls, I’m a huge fan of vegetables, always have been. I was the weird kid who always ate the veggies and sometimes slipped the main course to my amazing trash-picking-dog-wonder, Buffy.



Regardless of your reason for avoiding meat and other animal products, you’re more than likely eating more fresh produce and whole grains as a result – and your skin thanks you! Skin Pro: Famed MD and author of Forever Young: The Science of Nutrigenomics for Glowing, Wrinkle-Free Skin and Radiant Health at Every Age claims that the antioxidants in our leafy/grainy friends neutralize the free radicals that help cause wrinkles, brown spots and other uncool things associated with aging. Skin Super-Pro: Some plant-based protein sources have super-hero benefits. For example: beans contain zit-battling zinc and decrease inflammation – a main cause of redness, pimples and premature wrinkles. Cons: Some fancy studies suggest that dairy contributes to acne (no bigs, people – Dr. Baumann suggests simply choosing another protein source if that’s your issue. Easy-peasy.) The good doctor also suggests incorporating ground flaxseeds and olive and safflower oils to help your skin retain water, since veggie diets tend to be low in fat.

(To see coverage on Low-Fat, Raw and CarbLovers diets as well as those I rambled on about above, check out the 2011 Jan./Feb. issue of Health Magazine on newsstands now. It’s super fancy, so a wise purchase in all regards!)

And lastly, can someone please explain to me why every single time I wrote the word FRIED in this blog – I misspelled it F-R-E-I-N-D? Sad.



'til Next Time!