We all want beautiful, glowing, clear skin and there are a million products on the market that promise all that and then some. However, one of the best ways to get beautiful, clear skin is to take care of it from the inside out. What we put in our bodies has huge effects on not only our health, but on our skin too. Swap out those sugary coffee drinks and that soda for a few of these drinks that help promote beautiful, clear skin.
1. Water
Everyone knows that water is good for you. All the cells and organs in your body need water. It is necessary for proper kidney functions, for the digestive system to work properly, and for the body to maintain a healthy blood pressure – there really is not a body function that does not need water. When it comes to your skin, water helps protect it from skin disorders and wrinkling, both of which your skin is more susceptible to when you are dehydrated.
There is no universally agreed amount of water that should be consumed daily to promote clear skin. However, it is usually advised that an adult follow the 8 x 8 rule. That is, you should aim to drink eight eight-ounce glasses of water daily. If you are not used to drinking that much water, start small. Start by adding a glass or two into your daily routine and work from there.
It will not take long for you to see the difference in your skin. Adding water to your routine not only promotes clear skin, but it also makes your skin appear healthier and more supple.
2. Tea, Tea, and More Tea
A cup of hot tea is good for you for so many reasons. Different teas are supposed to have all kinds of health benefits from better sleep to healthier digestion and a number of things in between. There are numerous teas that help support healthier, clear skin.
Jasmine tea and Rooibus are both used to treat a number of skin conditions, most notably they are both used to help control eczema and acne. Black tea and green tea both contain antioxidants that are good for slowing the signs of aging. Black tea also has anti-inflammatory properties, as does ginger tea, which helps your skin look youthful and can help reduce redness and inflammation.
If you have problems with acne, look no further than spearmint tea. Studies have found that spearmint is a beast at killing bacteria and yeasts that cause skin diseases. In a study by the American Academy of Dermatology, two cups of spearmint tea daily reduced acne 25% after one month and by 51% after three months. It seems to go beyond clearing acne and actually helps promote that glowing, clear skin we are all after.
3. Matcha
Matcha is a type of green tea, but it is like green tea with superpowers. Matcha is made by grinding the whole tea leaf into a powder, which you then drink by dissolving it in water. So when you drink matcha, you consume the whole tea leaf rather than just parts of it like with other types of tea. Because you are consuming the entire leaf, matcha has 137 times the antioxidants of standard green tea. You would need to drink ten cups of brewed green tea to even come close to the benefits of a single serving of matcha.
Every time you drink a cup of matcha, you are flooding your body with antioxidants that are preventing free radicals from damaging your skin cells, helping to prevent premature aging.
4. Red Wine
It is pretty common knowledge that drinking a glass of red wine is heart-healthy, but you probably did not know that red wine is also good for your skin’s health. Red wine contains flavonoids, resveratrol, and tannins, which are antioxidants that have anti-aging benefits. These antioxidants help maintain collagen and the elasticity of your skin, which makes for younger-looking skin. These antioxidants, along with red wine’s anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, also help fight off free radicals and reduce inflammation and dark spots. They help cleanse the skin’s pores, resulting in clear skin and reducing the chance of future breakouts.
5. Green Juice
Kale is a superfood when it comes to your skin. It contains Vitamin A which is often found in anti-aging creams. It also promotes cell growth, helping to get rid of the older, dull skin cells and bring in new, vibrant skin cells. It is also rich in Vitamin C, which is the foundation of collage, keeping skin strong. So add that kale to some homemade green juice, which is all the craze now, and you will have beautiful, clear skin in no time.
To make green juice at home, juice kale, lemon, ginger, cucumber, granny smith apples, and celery. You can strain your juice through a sieve if you do not like pulp, or drink it as is. The extra benefit of green juice is that cucumbers are also good for your skin. They are full of potassium, magnesium, and silica, which give your skin a radiant glow.
For the full recipe for green juice, visit Show Me the Yummy.
6. Aloe Vera Juice
Not only is aloe vera good to put directly on your skin to treat sunburns and scrapes, but drinking aloe vera juice can help promote clear skin. Aloe vera juice is rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can help protect your skin. It can help reduce the frequency and appearance of acne and it can also help reduce flare-ups of certain skin conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis.
The compounds in aloe vera have also been shown to neutralize the effects of ultraviolet damage from the sun, repairing your skin and helping to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. So not only does aloe vera work from the outside when you put it on your skin, it works from the inside when you consume it!
Clear skin is easy to obtain if you take care of both what you put on your skin and in your body. From numerous types of tea to red wine and aloe vera juice, there are plenty of drinks besides water that promote beautiful, clear skin. You do not need to add all of these drinks into your daily routine, but adding a few into the mix each day can have huge effects on your skin’s health. Since there are a number of drinks that are good for your skin, you can even mix it up and include a few different ones each day. In a few months, your clear skin will thank you for it.
WANT TO READ MORE?
Check out this article on DIY Skin Care Ingredients You Should Never Use on Your Face.
Sources: Fifteen Benefits to Drinking Water, How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day?, 12 Easy DIY Hot Drink Recipes for Clear Skin, Seriously: Drinking This Twice a Day Cleared My Acne, Health Benefits of Matcha Tea, 5 Interesting Benefits of Red Wine for Skin, Hair, and Health, 9 Healthy Benefits of Drinking Aloe Vera Juice
