Most people don’t even think of skin as an organ, yet your skin is the largest organ in your body. Your skin mirrors what’s going on in the rest of your body and is a good indicator of overall health and well-being.
The Skinny on Your Skin
Your whole body is covered with it. On average for an adult, it covers about 3000 square inches and weighs about 6 pounds.
It grows as you grow. It contracts as you get slim. It regenerates and repairs itself after most injuries to it.
Your skin is an important organ for releasing toxins from the body, through what many people prefer not to talk about — sweat. The skin also absorbs substances directly — topical remedies, environmental toxins, components of the water you soak in.
Your skin protects vital organs, aids in regulating body temperature, and gives you information through touch or sensations.
People spend thousands of dollars on skin preparations to make their skin look a certain way, for example, younger or more radiant. Many of these products introduce chemicals into the body. Healthy facial products are also available for sale.
Raw Foods on Your Skin
Many health food advocates know the value of placing certain organic raw or living foods directly on the skin. Avocado, coconut oil, raw honey, aloe vera, raw apple cider vinegar, are among the popular favorites.
Cucumber slices soothe the eyes when you close your eyes, lie down, and put slices on your eyes. Raw honey soothes burns and heals abrasions. Raw apple cider vinegar acts as an astringent and fast facial cleanser.
We use a lot of aloe vera, directly from the plant leaf. We cut pieces for smoothies, raw soups, and salad dressings and then rub the rest on our faces. Topical application of aloe vera takes the discomfort and discoloration from a bruise.
Eating Raw Foods for Your Skin
When you start to eat raw foods after a long time of eating highly processed foods, you can have a healing reaction that shows on your skin. Acne, rashes, or other conditions can show that you are releasing toxins. When all your other releasing organs are working at maximum capacity, this is minor or non existent.
When your body is finished with its cleansing, though, you will see changes in the texture, tone, and vitality of your skin. Your skin will radiate. It will be well worth the discomfort (which you may not even experience).
Organic, living, raw foods provide you with the vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and amino acids your body needs for your skin. Raw foods are filled with water, so that you add moisture to your skin, from the inside out.
When your systems and organs are fed the nutrition they need to function properly, your skin advertises your health. When you get your nutrients and moisture from foods like leafy greens and apples and sprouts, you will know the real meaning of phrases like "inner beauty" and "inner glow."
When your body and skin are getting their nutrition with organic, raw, living foods, you’ll look and feel your best, naturally. Show the world your health with the glow of your skin!
Thanks for this information. I have been struggling the past couple of years in an attempt to figure out what it is my body wants me to eat, since it seems I easily break out from most precessed foods or any food containing large amounts of fat or sugar. Do you have any specific advice for someone like myself seeking CLEAR skin from the inside and OUT!!?
Hi Stephanie,
I think that most of your answer is contained in your question … your body is definitely telling you what NOT to eat. Processed foods and large amounts of fats and sugar clog your system. A clogged system often shows itself with skin outbreaks.
If you have not already, I suggest you read two previous articles at this blog, “Drink Your Greens ” and “Now I Crave Dark Green Leafy Vegetables .” If you eat more greens, you will definitely notice the difference on your face. Watch the Video and/or purchase the book mentioned in the “Drink Your Greens ” article. Try one quart of Green smoothies (Victoria Boutenko style) per day.
Give it a few weeks after you’ve added more greens to your diet. Then ask your body. I’d love to hear your experiences and what your body tells you.
I hope that helps.
Joyfully.
Joy
I would like to start eating more healthy and am overwhelmed with all the information. I am interested in eating more raw and need to know more about it like reciepies and so on. so can you please tell me where to start?
Tricia,
First of all, you have to start where you are. If you eat no raw foods at all, start by adding more into each meal. Recipes are nice, but truly if you just eat more and more raw foods, you will make a difference in your life. There’s no need to make it complicated.
I’ve written many articles at this web site that are aimed at those who are starting to eat raw foods. You might want to check the categories or pick some of the articles from the Alphabetical list of articles, http://joyfulchoices.com/alpha-list-of-articles
There’s a lot to read here alone, including books on the navigation bar. And a wealth of information beyond this site, easily accessible on the Internet. If I were going to choose one book, I’d choose “Rawsome.”
Joyfully,
Joy
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Hi,
Thank you for the article. Nice job presenting everything so clearly. Your article mentions that honey does wonders for the skin. I used it for a zit or blemish. It cleared up in three days.Apple cidar vingar works too.
I definitely know the benefits of eating raw foods and know what it does for the body I am not a 100 per cent raw fooder but I am becoming a raw fooder all the way thanks for your motivation
Thanks for the great info on the benefits of raw food. I had my first raw food experience at a restaurant in NYC a year ago and loved it. At my age – anything to help me skin look better is a good thing. Can you recommend any great raw food cook books that have easy to prepare recipes? Thanks
Loved this post. I have done a raw foods diet a couple of times, for short periods. I honestly never felt better. I’d like to incorporate raw foods into at least 75% of my diet gradually. I know I’d feel fantastic. I do like to eat out, though, so that part would be tough.
What about processed foods like healthy choice, kashi and others. I only buy that stuff plus others from Sprouts whole foods etc. I also dont eat fast food (1 year fast food free) and watch for anything artificial and presevatives (unless its a natural like citric acid which is helpful) are those ok to eat. I just turned 19 so im still young and able to be healthy earlier. Am I doing good? I only eat Kashi and Healthy Choice meals pretty much otherwise I eat fruits and dark chocolate pure with no oils or anythings. I eat salmon and chicken and eggs only no other meats. I only have a problem with sugar how can I cut back on it. I have a 6 pack and lots of muslce because I am a body builder but I think the sugar is making me breakout more on my face (acne)? what you suggest on cutting back on sugar. Its ok to eat like 15g or 40 a day because i mean a little sugar is ok but I go overboard sometimes and eat 100grams which is crazy on my blood sugar. Thanks!
Oh yeah Is honey a great way to get your sugar craving since its already digested? i just want to know and maybe i can fix my sugar problem let me know thanks. I am a heavyweight on my way to a body builder so im not in danger because sugar actually helps me more than most people but I just dont want that much sugar in my body.
Everyone is so different. I think that generally the best approach is a moderate amount of a wide variety of foods you like, as close to their natural state as possible.
Some people do very well on honey; others do not. We don’t care for honey in our family (we keep some around for burns and for company) simply because it is too sweet. Our tastes have moved away from sweetness and we have no cravings.
Sugar cravings are generally best not fed by sugar, but by whole foods like dark leafy vegetables because then the cravings disappear. Feeding sugar cravings with sugar keeps the cravings alive.
Be healthy,
Joy