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Paleo? Whole30? Here’s How These Popular Diets Affect Your Skin – Greatist

Posted: August 30, 2017 at 1:41 pm

What it is: Otherwise known as the caveman diet, Paleo is a popular diet plan in which followers eat only foods that our hunter-gatherer ancestors would have consumed. Founder Loren Cordain, Ph.D., says that because Paleo is more in line with what our genetic ancestors ate, the lifestyle helps people minimize their risk of diseases and lose weight. A Paleo diet is rich in meats, fruits, vegetables, seafood, and nutsbut low in grains; dairy; added salt; and legumes such as peanuts, beans, lentils, and soybeans. (Want to know more? Check out our beginner's guide to going Paleo.)

What that means for your skin: Lets just say theres a reason many beauty supplements contain protein-rich formulas: Proteins are essential for healthy skin. [They] are broken down into amino acids, which are the building blocks for all of the proteins found in the skin, hair, and nails, as well as in the rest of the body, explains Hadley King, M.D., dermatologist at SKINNEY Medspa in New York City. So just as protein is the key to building muscle, its also necessary for building up collagen for healthy, elastic, strong skin.

But protein isnt the only dietary staple a Paleo-rich diet can provide. Sufficient healthy fats are necessary for the barrier function of our skin, King says. Translation: Healthy fats from foods such as olive oil and avocados can help your skin stay hydrated and protected from the elements.

Of course, one thing to keep in mind when you're eating a protein-rich diet is the type of meat. Theres still some concern around hormone-treated poultry, explains S. Manjula Jegasothy, M.D., CEO and founder of Miami Skin Institute. Foods that are high in exogenous [external] hormones, such as those extra-large, nonorganic chicken breasts and other animal proteins that have been treated with hormones on the farm, have been linked to higher overall cortisol levels, she says. Higher cortisol levels can mean higher testosterone and estrogen or progesterone levels, which potentially lead to acne, she explains.

Ultimately though, as long as your dietary restrictions dont result in a deficiency of any particular vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients, then following a Paleo diet will actually be good for your skin, King says, adding that avoiding added salt might also lead to decreased puffiness (a.k.a. no under-eye bags from that late night out).

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Paleo? Whole30? Here's How These Popular Diets Affect Your Skin - Greatist


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