Beauty Nutrition Update – Study shows that fruit & veggie consumption brings out glowing skin!

If you haven’t heard yet, the connection between what you consume and how you look is getting stronger (thanks to a growing number of nutrition clinical studies.) One of the most recent studies published in the Journal of Evolution and Human Behaviour, Researchers from the University of Nottingham found that people who consumed more portions of deep colored fruits and vegetables, had a more golden skin colour and were considered more healthy and attractive over those with the traditional suntan.  The reason for this? Most deep coloured fruits and vegetables such as carrots, tomatos or watermelon contain carotenoids. This family of fat soluble antioxidants, particularly lycopene, are an integral component of healthy skin cells. In addition to supporting the structural health and tone of the skin, they have also been shown to help control the permanent cellular damage (skin aging) caused by sun exposure. When the skin is chronically to the sun, it initiates the production of damaging free radicals that have the ability to permanently damage healthy skin cells and accelerate the skin aging process.

Where can we find Carotenoid rich foods?

The orange-colored fruits and vegetables including carrots ,apricots , mangoes, squash, and sweet potatos contain significant amounts of beta-carotene. Green vegetables, especially spinach, kale , and collard greens , also contain beta-carotene, and are the best sources of lutein. Lycopene is found in tomatos , watermelon and pink grapefruit. Cooking may also improve the availability of carotenoids in foods. For example, the availability of lycopene from tomato products is increased when the foods are processed at high temperatures. As a result, your body absorbs the lycopene in canned, pasteurized tomato juice more easily than the lycopene in a fresh tomato. In addition, lightly steaming carrots and spinach improves your body's ability to absorb the carotenoids in these foods. To increase absorption into the body, try to eat these foods with a source of healthy fats/oils.

As most nutrients are absorbed best in synergy, it is always good to start with a balanced diet. If however, you are concerned you are not getting enough from diet, there are nutritional beauty supplements available that may help to bridge the gap between dietary deficiencies and optimal health and beauty!

Yours in Health & Beauty,

Paula Simpson