What’s the logic behind the saying “you are what you eat”? Some of us may not realize it, but whatever we consume will ultimately show on our skin. The skin can be called a mirror of our lifestyle and our eating habits. The healthier our skin, the better we are living our life.

Nutritious food is not only for maintaining a healthy body and improving your resistance to diseases. A nourishing meal may also save you the trouble of going for acne treatments, expensive facial treatments and laser wrinkle removal treatments. Diet plays a big role in the maintenance of your youthful skin. If you eat wholesome foods with a lot of vitamins, nutrients and minerals, you can continue to enjoy a glowing complexion and smoother skin.

Here are some more tips on choosing the food you eat to make your skin more vibrant.

Eat foods with antioxidants. When people get exposed to pollution and stress, their skin suffers. That’s why there are antioxidants in our food to help us maintain our skin’s beauty even when stress or pollution is unavoidable. These antioxidants can be consumed naturally from raw fruits and vegetables. Some of the best sources are pomegranates, prunes, concord grape juice, blueberries, blackberries, purple cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, dried plums, kiwis, raspberries, strawberries, raw spinach, oranges, apples and watercress.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are polyunsaturated oils. You may already know of some EFAs like omega-3 and omega-6. These help reduce inflammation on skin, and help skin recover from damage. You can get your essential fatty acids from salmon, sardines, trout and flounder. Essential fatty acids are also available in some nuts like almonds, walnuts and flaxseed.

If you can, avoid eating pastries, sweetened bread and pasta. These are full of sugar, which can trigger a series of metabolic reactions that can lead to skin disorders. Choose the ‘lite’ variant for everything as these usually have lower sugar content.

Drink water more, especially if you drink alcohol. Socializing is unavoidable, but if you can, you should minimize alcohol intake. Drink more water so that your skin is frequently hydrated. Alcohol may dry your skin if taken in excess of one 4-ounce drink a day. Moreover, some dermatologists advocate that alcohol contributes to the dilation of fragile facial capillaries, which can cause rosacea.

Ascorbic acid is a good mineral to have in your daily diet. It’s also the easiest to obtain. You can get vitamin C from citrus, broccoli, cauliflower, cantaloupe, strawberries, tomatoes, red peppers and green peas. Ascorbic acid can help your skin glow by making your body healthier.

You know what’s worse than taking off your shoes and seeing your cracked heels? It’s the fact that others can see the horrible sight whenever you wear slippers. If you ever want to avoid the embarrassment of having to hide your feet whenever you go to a place where you need to wear slippers, it’s time to start taking care of your feet.

If your feet are unhealthy, you also need to deal with corns, bunions and blisters besides the cracked heels. For professional models, feet are the most important tools of their trade. Even if you’re not a model, you know that you cannot go on with these feet disorders. Besides being unsightly, you risk more diseases and more stress after a long day at work if you come home with foot sores and smelly feet.

A lot of foot problems are because of our inability to take care of our feet. Wearing the proper foot wear is one way to alleviate the pain. Proper scrubbing is also necessary, especially when you have foot sores. You should never break your blisters, but if they do break, you should try to avoid inflammation by immediately rinsing in water.

Use exfoliates to deal with corns. Also, treat your feet like you would treat your face. Use the gentlest ingredients, preferably products with moisturizers. If you can, soak your feet in a good soap solution at least twice a week to soften the tissues and make them more receptive to foot lotions and balms.

Air out your feet if they smell. If you use band-aid on foot sores, you should remove them to air out the wound when you get home. You should also avoid wearing restrictive foot gear when you’re home so that your feet can breathe.

Bunions can be healed by wearing shoes that have a wide toe box. Consult your podiatrist for more information on products you can use to heal your wounds. Diabetes patients also need to consult health practitioners for proper foot care.

Some women claim that good shoes cost a fortune. It cannot be denied that the most comfortable shoes are the expensive ones. Look for shoes that are comfortable and fashionable at the same time, even if they’re a bit pricey. Those inexpensive pointy toe shoes are cute and in-style but your feet might suffer greatly if you insist on wearing them.

Ensure that your feet are dry and clean before putting on your shoes. Remember, you will be wearing shoes the whole day, so you only have the mornings and the evenings to care for your bare feet. Putting on your shoes and socks when your feet are wet will make you prone to bacterial and fungal infections. Choose a hypoallergenic foot powder to keep your feet dry during the day.

If you have athlete’s foot, it is advisable to change your towel daily. Bacteria may stay on garments (especially those that are often wet) for up to four weeks. Medication and care for your feet will amount to nothing if the bacteria keep coming back. Also, never use someone else’s towel, as you may be spreading infection or you may be contracting another strain of bacteria that could cause foot sores.

If you choose to have your pedicure at home, always make sure you soak your feet in sea salt or water first so that you can soften your feet before treatment. Remove all traces of your old polish before you put on a new coat. Get a foot massage regularly so that the circulation of blood in your legs reach your feet properly.