All You Need to Eat to Deal With 'Quarantine Skin'

All the skin-pampering sessions and going sans makeup during the lockdown may not give you the glow-up you were hoping for. 

You can blame stress and most importantly, your diet for just that. After all, you are what you eat. So, if you are looking to heal from withing to glow from outside, we spoke to nutritionist and lifestyle educator Karishma Chawla to know what you must eat for flawless skin.    

She says, "It is beneficial to have one or two spoons of fermented veggies such as cabbage, cauliflower and carrots that can be made like a home pickle. This can be had with meals to provide the body with beneficial bacteria. Also, you must also include the two herbs that help in liver detox and are truly beneficial for your skin - turmeric  and coriander."

Here's her holistic meal plan aka the glowing-skin diet:

Morning: Whip up a veg smoothie with a fruit such as an apple/berries/orange that help in liver detox. 

Breakfast: A bowl of oats helps in feeding the gut bacteria that in turn rids the body toxins and lowers inflammation. Add lean protein like eggs or protein shake for a complete meal – skin is made up of protein.

Mid-morning: A bowl of papaya, helps to prevent constipation

Lunch: Jowar roti + veggies – dark green ones such as spinach/ methi + 1 bowl of dal/pulse + 1 bowl salad - This makes a complete meal that enhances gut health leading to optimal skincare

Evening snack: Carrot sticks rolled in butter for better conversion of Vitamin A in the body OR tomato and asparagus sauteed in olive oil with rosemary sprinkled OR kale, avocado, protein- eggs/ protein shake/ paneer cutlet.

Dinner: Leek soup (prebiotic)/ broccoli (anti-cancer + thyroid health + healthy skin) + spinach soup + sauteed mushrooms (antioxidants + immunity) + grilled fish( lean protein + anti-inflammatory )

Fluids that help with digestion, aid gut health and enhance the immune system with good skin

- Plain water
- Fennel water
- Lime water
- Caraway seed water
- Apple cider vinegar in lukewarm water
- Cold-pressed coconut oil in lukewarm water
- Chamomile tea
- Green tea with dash lime
- Aloe vera
- Diluted vegetable juices
- Water infused with lime or slice of fruit