All the creams, remedies and massages in the previous sections will be for nothing if you don’t help make them work by taking care of your diet.
A healthy diet is crucial for healthy skin, just in case you have forgotten. Here are some of the essential nutrients that need to be a regular part of your diet:
Zinc
You need zinc in order to produce collagen. Collagen is the tissue, which keeps your skin together. Zinc is also crucial for some body enzymes, which help repair skin injuries.
Copper
As for copper, it helps produce elastin, a mineral which boosts the skin’s ability to recover from stretching.
Meats such as beef, pork, and salmon are very good sources of zinc and copper. Other sources include:
•Nuts and seeds (sunflower, cashew, and almonds)
•Shellfish such as oysters and crab
•Fortified cereals such as whole grain and bran
Protein
Again, meat is a good source of this. Other sources include eggs and soybeans (especially in concentrated powder form). Protein helps in the prevention of stretch marks, and it can also improve the overall quality of your skin.
Vitamins
Many kinds of vitamins help in your recovery against stretch marks because they help keep your skin healthy in general. A vitamin deficiency can be very detrimental to your treatment efforts, so
make sure that you have the daily recommended dosages of the following:
•Vitamin A is crucial if you want your skin to remain healthy and to help increase its ability to heal itself from injuries. You can get sufficient levels of vitamin A from most fruits and vegetables.
•Vitamin B (biotin) is crucial to encourage the production, recovery, and growth of your skin cells. You can get biotin from rice, bananas, and eggs.
Vitamin B (niacin) helps your skin keep its moisture, and together with biotin it can lessen the severity of stretch marks. You can get your daily niacin requirements from most meats and fish, as well as nuts and seeds.
•Vitamin C or ascorbic acid helps keep your skin healthy and strong because it boosts collagen production. Citrus fruits such as oranges are great sources of ascorbic acid, as are sweet potatoes and broccoli.
•Vitamin E can be absorbed deep into the skin tissues, and it helps in keeping the skin elastic and healthy. You can get your vitamin E from most leafy vegetables as well as from many kinds of fruits. Personally, I consume papaya, avocado, and mango to get my Vitamin E requirements.
If for some reason you can’t get enough of one or more of these nutrients, you may be able to get what you need from supplement products. Just make sure you take only what you need.
Water
You won’t be able to maintain your required production of collagen, and your skin may not remain elastic for long, if you are constantly dehydrated. Make sure that you get enough water during the day, and about eight to ten 8-ounce glasses should be enough.
