My new book, "Feed Your Face," is a fun and easy guide to getting the best skin of your life - no expensive products or prescriptions required. In addition to the delicious 28-day meal plan it features, the book is packed with yummy, face-friendly snack ideas, a Restaurant Guide, and real-life stories (including those of some celebrity friends). Here are my top five tips:
1. Be sure to eat a good breakfast. This helps keeps your blood sugar stable the rest of the day, so you're better able to fight wrinkles, breakouts, and rashes. Plus, it also means your body will be less likely to store fat, so your clothes will fit better. But this doesn't mean you can have just anything for breakfast (so no, I'm not giving you permission to eat donuts and danishes). Instead, be sure to include protein. For example, add peanut butter to your toast or lox to your bagel. If you have time in the morning, scramble some eggs and slice a tomato on the side. For breakfast on the go, try Greek yogurt topped with berries (tastes like cheesecake!) or order an oatmeal topped with almonds at the coffee shop.
2. You can eat pizza! But not the greasy, deep dish kind piled high with bacon and sausage. Instead, ask for thin crust, preferably whole-wheat; get it light on the cheese, and add protein (like grilled chicken) as well as green and yellow veggies to fight crow's feet. For an extra dose of antioxidants, have a glass of red wine on the side.
3. For clear skin, stay away from dairy. Milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and other dairy products have been linked to acne breakouts. In recent years, research has shown that dairy is inflammatory, which means that it leads to redness, swelling, and pus-all of which can worsen pimples. Even if you choose organic milk products, which are made without bovine Growth Hormone, all milk products contain intrinsic cow proteins that can have a hormonal effect on your skin and lead to increased oil production and clogged pores. Try switching to soy milk or almond milk. If you do, just make sure you're getting your calcium another way.
4. Eat tomatoes every day to fight sun damage. Tomato paste has been shown to protect from sun burn and sun damage. This is because tomatoes contain a high concentration of a substance called lycopene, which is an antioxidant. This means it helps protect skin from the damaging effects of UV rays. Make them readily accessible by adding them to salads, sauces, and meats.
5. Steal this celebrity trick: Before a party or event where they'll be serving food, pre-eat before you leave so you won't be hungry for fattening, collagen-busting snacks upon your arrival. Some ladies carry baggies of snacks in their evening bag. I'm a fan of walnuts, baked green beans, and fruit with almond butter.
For more from Dr. Jessica Wu, visit DrJessicaWu.com
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