As the temperature dips below freezing during winter, not only does the air lose its humidity, but we also do, too.
Cold air holds less moisture, creating an externally dry environment that draws water out of our skin. And, when you combine that with our home heating systems that keep us warm and toasty during winter, it reduces indoor humidity as well.
This dry/cold and dry/heat combo can be a disaster for your skin.
So, if you’re skin has been feeling like an abrasive strip of sandpaper, that’s quite normal at this time of year.
But, I’ve a couple of simple remedies to keep you and your beautiful skin feeling more hydrated and less dry.
First and foremost, eat water-based foods to support internal lubrication and skin health. Water based foods include soups and stews that are especially hydrating during the cold dry months.
One of my favorites is a One Pot Winter Salmon Stew with Mushrooms.
You can certainly eat roasted or baked salmon (that’s totally delicious, too!), but when you roast or bake food you are actually adding more “dry-heat” into your body.
If you are feeling uncomfortably dry, most often go for the soups and stews instead of baked foods.
Drink hydrating beverages. This includes water with electrolytes and herbal tea. If you are drinking filtered or distilled water, you are not getting the mineral salts to keep fluids inside your cells, and you’re probably urinating a lot.
And, if you are drinking caffeinated beverages like coffee and black or green tea, those act as diuretics, and can keep you feeling dehydrated, too.
Instead, opt for non-caffeinated herbal tea to keep the body feeling moister. Here’s one of my favorite teas to support your skin – Hydrating Skin Support Tea.
This highly hydrating tea includes dried fruits and flowers that have been used as medicine for thousands of years to help moisturize the body. It includes longan fruit, goji berries, jujube dates, rose and calendula.
To learn more about why this tea works and how it benefits you, here’s the recipe: Hydrating Skin Support Tea
Stay hydrated and enjoy winter!
Andrea Beaman is an internationally renowned Holistic Health Coach, Natural Foods Chef, Speaker, Herbalist and best-selling author who helps people feel happier, healthier and in control of their health. She was named one of the top 100 Most Influential Health and Fitness Experts, is the recipient of the Natural Gourmet Institute’s Award for Excellence in Health-Supportive Education and a Health Leadership award from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Since 1999, Andrea has been teaching people how to harness their body’s own preventative and healing powers using food, herbal remedies and alternative medicine.
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