Eight skin super-foods for radiant complexion ….. GUARDIAN

But, instead of focusing on what you slather on your skin, a team of experts are urging women, and men alike, to rather concentrate on what they are putting in their bodies.Forget a fancy new moisturiser, they proclaim.And instead embrace the notion that beautiful skin starts on your plate.

Shona Wilkinson, head nutritionist at www.NutriCentre.com, a natural health retailer, said: “Many people don’t make a link between the foods they eat and their skin.

“But, like any other part of the body, our skin is kept healthy by the food and nutrients that we consume.“So while a poor diet can quickly lead to sallow or dry skin, blemishes or acne, a healthy diet based on whole foods including a variety of vegetables and fruit, nuts and seeds, beans, fish and whole grains are an excellent basis for glowing, youthful skin.

“The following foods are particularly good sources of helpful nutrients and great skin boosters.”
KEEP IT ORANGE

Vegetables such as carrots, squash, pumpkin and sweet potatoes contain particularly high levels of beta-carotene, and other carotenoids, which give them their orange colour.

“Beta carotene converts to vitamin A in our body, which is one of the most important nutrients for skin integrity – meaning the skin that is firm, resists damage and can heal quickly,” Ms. Wilkinson said.

“Beta carotene itself may also help to prevent free radical damage to our cells that can result in ageing, as it works as an antioxidant.

“The orange vegetables are delicious as a basis for stews and soups in the winter, or roasted with other vegetables such as peppers, red onions and beetroot.”

BEAUTIFUL BERRIES
Berries such as blueberries, raspberries and blackcurrants are excellent sources of vitamin C.Nutritionist Cassandra Barns said: “This vitamin is vital for the formation of collagen, which gives our skin structure and elasticity.”Furthermore, she explained, vitamin C is also an antioxidant, “protecting our cells from damage.”

“Berries also contain many other plant nutrients that may work as antioxidants in the body, such as the quercetin, catechins and resveratrol,” she said.

“Another advantage of berries over most other fruits is that they are lower in sugar – a diet high in sugary foods can speed up skin ageing.

“Berries are great added to plain yoghurt, with some chopped nuts – an ideal snack or breakfast option.”Barns said it could be beneficial to take a supplement packed with antioxidants and resveratrol, such as Nature’s Plus AgeLoss Skin Support.

Oily fish, including sardines, mackerel, salmon, and trout, are packed with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.Barns said: “It has been found that Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids play an essential role in skin structure and appearance.

“They are incorporated into cell membranes in the epidermis, the outermost layer of cells in the skin, and help to maintain the skin’s barrier function and prevent moisture loss.

“They are also thought to have a role in the dermis, the lower layer of the skin, by controlling inflammation and minimising collagen damage from UV rays.”

For those people who are not a fan of fish, Ms. Barns said a good fish oil supplement, such as Quest Vitamins’ Omega-3 can prove a good addition to their daily diet.

Avocado is a good source of vitamin E, which is thought to have several roles in skin health. Like vitamin C, it works as an antioxidant so may protect the skin cells against damage from free radicals.

It is also thought to help protect the skin from UV rays, and have anti-inflammatory activity in the skin – inflammation is involved in skin rashes, blemishes and acne.

Nutritionist Dr. Marilyn Glenville, author of The Natural Health Bible For Women, said: “Although avocado is relatively high in fat, the majority of this is healthy monounsaturated fat like that found in olive oil, and the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid.

“As we have already seen, omega-6 fats are helpful for preventing moisture loss from the skin; and monounsaturated fats may also have this benefit.

“On top of this, avocadoes also contain good levels of carotenoids, those same antioxidants that are found in the orange vegetables.”

PUMPKIN SEEDS FOR PROBLEM SKIN
These nutritional gems are excellent sources of zinc, one of the most important minerals for maintaining healthy, happy skin.
Wilkinson said: “It is thought that as much as 20 per cent of the body’s zinc is stored in the skin, and it has a major role in growth and healing.”

Deficiency in this mineral is linked with acne, dry skin, dermatitis and poor wound healing, she explained.Pumpkin seeds, like avocadoes, nuts and other seeds, also contain the omega-6 fat linoleic acid.

“Other seeds and nuts are also good sources of zinc, as well as biotin, a vitamin that is known to contribute to healthy skin and hair,” added Wilkinson.

A GREEN JUICE BOOST
Juices made with lots of fresh green vegetables are concentrated sources of nutrients, including many that can be beneficial to our skin, Barns said.

“They contain minerals like calcium, magnesium and alkaloids, which help to alkalise the body, preventing it from becoming too acidic,” she said.

“Our body generally keeps a fairly stable acid-alkaline balance, but a slight over-acidity may be linked to skin eruptions or problems like eczema.

“Green juices are also rich in vitamin C, beta carotene and other antioxidants including chlorophyll, the substance that produces the green pigment in plants. If you do not own a juicer, the just eat lots of green vegetables.”

It can also be beneficial to add a supplement to your green smoothie, Barns said. She recommends Nature’s Plus Green Lightning, a nutritional powder that includes chlorella, spirulina, wheatgrass and Pacific kelp to ‘purify the skin’.
OATY GOODNESS
Oats are a particularly rich source of biotin, a vitamin that is well known for its role in the health of our skin and hair.

“Oats are also high in gentle fibre, which helps to maintain a healthy digestive tract and bowel function,” said Wilkinson.Healthy digestion is vital for our skin for two main reasons, she said.

“Firstly, we need to digest foods properly for all those skin-loving nutrients to get into our body; and secondly, if we are not eliminating waste properly then excess toxins can circulate in the blood and may come out through the skin, in the sweat and sebum,” she said. “The result may be skin rashes and other skin problems.”

“They contain lots of sulphur compounds, which can support detoxification in the liver (adequate liver detoxification is just as important as healthy bowel for getting rid of toxins),” said Barns.CABBAGE PATCH DOLL
Cruciferous vegetables are the ‘cabbage-family’ – vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower, kale, red and green cabbage, chard, watercress and Brussels sprouts.

“They may also be supportive for hormone balancing, especially in women, because they contain a substance called indole-3-carbinol that has been found to balance oestrogen levels.

“Therefore, if you are a woman who is prone to skin breakouts around your period, you may find it helpful to eat one to two portions a day of these vegetables – but make sure you vary your choice so you don’t get bored.

“But if you are a man, don’t think they won’t help you: cruciferous vegetables are highly nutritious and good for all of us.”