Everyone knows that nutrition is important for skin health and that it’s important to prevent nutritional deficiencies. But what do nutrients actually do?

Well, they’re needed for many important processes! If do don’t get enough nutrients from our diet, the body can’t do it’s job properly.

Here are some examples of essential functions and processes that nutrients are needed for:

The enzymatic processes responsible for forming structures like collagen and new skin cells require nutrients like vitamin C, zinc, and copper. These vitamins and minerals enable important enzymes to carry out these processes.

Certain nutrients, including vitamin A and C and phytonutrients, activate genes that are involved in collagen formation. And we want this!!

Many nutrients work as antioxidants and play a vital role in protecting the cells and tissues in the skin, from free radicals and oxidative stress. A few examples are vitamin A, C and E, phytonutrients, selenium and many more.

Cells need nutrients to convert food into energy, a process essential for their survival, including skin cells.

Nutrients, like omega-3-fatty acids, vitamin D, zinc and curcumin have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. They help regulate inflammation by signalling to the immune cells to increase or decrease inflammatory chemicals.

Nutrients are needed for maintenance and repair processes, such as DNA repair, restoration of damaged cells and structures. Magnesium is one crucial example. Insufficient magnesium levels prioritize immidiate survival processes, compromising repair processes needed for long-term survival.

Nutrients, such as fatty acids and protein, are used as structural building blocks for skin cells, collagen and other skin proteins. Did you know that all cell membranes in the body are made up by fatty acids?

Fiber and phytonutrients act as fuel for the gut microbiome. A healthy gut is essential for healthy skin.

There’s no wonder then, that a poor diet and nutritional deficencies can affect our health and appearance! If these important nutrients are lacking, the body can’t do it’s job properly. This can result in poor skin health and other, some more serious, symptoms.

Make sure you get anough nutrients to support your skin and your general health!

Eating healthy made easy: Download my FREE guide to Nutrients & Foods to support your Skin Health.