New Year’s Resolution to Eat Better and Reduce Weight – Offers Added Bonus for Skin

Posted by admin on January 20, 2009 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

Food Choices Affect Health and Well Being … Inside and Out

As resolutions in the new year have individuals reassessing their diet and exercise plan, we thought it would be a good time to introduce certain healthy food choices that have the added benefit of improving skin as well.

Soy
While soy is commonly used as a substitute for milk, popularized by soymilk in a morning cup of Starbuck’s latte, ISoy has soybean trupsin inhibitor (STI), which can lighten the skin. STI prevents melanin uptake in the skin.  Studies are finding that the larger proteins in soy offer a moisturizing effect, while the smaller proteins such as soybean trypsin inhibitor and Bowman-Birk inhibitor may work to inhibit skin pigmentation.

And fermented soy found in tofu and roasted soy nuts has phytoestrogens like genistein and diadzein (a natural alternative to estrogen replacement). When in the form of vitamin supplements, not only does it improve the symptoms of menopause, but it also improves the collagen in the skin.

Mangosteen
The mangosteen, also known as the “Queen of Fruit,” is a red fruit that is juiced and sold as an oral liquid supplement. It is high in antioxidants (polyphenols, xanthones within the rind). The drink has been applied to the skin and reports indicate that the appearance of the skin is improved as a result. Today, many moisturizing creams are adding mangosteen – claiming its antioxidant properties.

Green Tea
Green tea contains polyphenols such as epicatechin and epigallocatechin, both of which are antioxidants.  These antioxidants attack the “free radicals” in the body that are responsible for aging and creating environments conducive to disease.  In fact, health studies conducted with both humans and animals have found the catechins of green tea to reduce atherosclerotic plaques and carcinogenesis.  It is believed that as part of a healthy diet and exercise routine, they have the potential to reduce the risk of four of the major health problems:  stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes.

The green tea catechins have also shown to possess antibiotic properties.  And again with exercise, they have proven to decrease the oxidative stress contributing to the aging process.