You have beautiful skin, but according to your book The Healthy Skin Diet you used to have skin problems… What was it that made you realise that your eating habits weren’t helping your skin?
In my mid twenties I studied nutrition because I was tired and couldn’t concentrate and it was affecting my work. But it wasn’t until my daughter developed eczema that I found research which was specific for skin health. I cleared up my child’s eczema and then it dawned on me that I could also control how good my skin looked. Before this time I was under the misguided notion that anything from a health food shop was ‘healthy’ but I was eating processed ‘organic’ cornflakes for breakfast and drinking a litre of milk each day and then wondering why my skin looked bumpy and dry. Then I changed my diet to include ‘beauty’ foods and my skin has never looked better.

A lot of people suffer from acne. What can we eat or supplement our body with to help clear breakouts?
As people with acne have sebaceous glands that produce too much oil, it’s vital to firstly decrease the amount of saturated fat and junk food they consume in their diet. Without this step, no amount of supplementing will work effectively. For great results, have no more than two lean red meat meals per week, avoid pastries, sugar and fatty bacon and sausages, and avoid dairy products until the acne has cleared up. Also eat lots of leafy green salads, fish and other seafood, especially zinc-rich oysters as zinc and omega-3 from seafood helps to regulate oil gland production. A zinc supplement may also be necessary.

What do you see as the most common mistake that women make with their eating habits and how would you advise them?
Skipping meals to stay in shape is a huge (and common) misconception as it does not assist with long-term and sustained weight loss. Skipping meals slows down your metabolism, making weight gain more likely as you get older (this is why some people say they diet but they never lose weight). It’s vital to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and an afternoon snack to help with energy, and if these meals include ‘beauty’ foods then you can have great skin too.

What are your thoughts on sugar? It’s so hard not to succumb to cravings… is there a way to get our blood sugar levels under control?
Sugar is, unfortunately, highly addictive and artificial sweeteners are not a healthy substitute as they can cause skin rashes in sensitive people. However, the good news is, you can make your salads and desserts taste sweet and delicious if you choose nutritious sweeteners such as honey. Yellow box and red gum honeys, in particular, have a low glycemic index which means they won’t affect your blood sugar levels in a negative way. I use healthy sweeteners in my recipes all the time as they make nutritious food taste delicious.

Speaking of sugar – it seems that a lack of sugar, as well as an overdose of it can leave us feeling low. Are there foods that can make us feel satisfied and positive?
Honey, as mentioned, not only satisfies the sweet tooth it also has a calming effect and is a natural antibiotic according to the research. Real maple syrup is the best choice for people with eczema as it won’t cause flare ups. And fruit is ‘nature’s candy’ so if you have a junk food craving reach for your favourite piece of fruit first – go for vitamin C rich mango, apricots, strawberries or blueberries – because you just may be craving sweet tasting vitamin C.