top of page
Writer's picturebarry home

Choosing Nuts and Seeds for Skin Health

Updated: Mar 27, 2023

When you think of better skin, do you think of creams, powders, laser-treatments or masks? Most people do, but those are treatments that only focus on the exterior of the skin. If you want your skin to look and feel great, it's important to keep it clean, protect it from the sun, and keep it moist while avoiding irritating things. But have you thought about how you can improve your skin from within?

There are more ways to improve the health of your skin than just using things outside. By eating the right foods, you can give your body the building blocks it needs to form healthy skin from the inside out. Your skin is a complicated organ that requires proteins, oils, vitamins, and minerals to look its best. It is important to keep an eye on the levels of hydration, cell pigments, fatty acid-based cell membranes, collagen, and elastin (the fibers that give skin its snap-back quality). Adding tasty nuts and seeds to the menu can make the process easier, despite the fact that it may appear difficult.




What are anti-oxidants and how do they help your skin?

You need substances called antioxidants to shield yourself from damage caused by free radicals. Consuming foods rich in antioxidants is the most effective method. Since you truly "are what you eat," the right foods provide a lot of antioxidants that fight free radicals. You need to know: How do free radicals work?

The normal metabolism may produce these harmful molecules as a byproduct. Exposure to pollutants in your food or drink, as well as those in your environment, can also cause damage to free radicals. Your skin protects you from all kinds of threats throughout the day because it acts as a barrier between you and the outside world. Free radicals are a part of everyday life for everyone, so it's important to understand what they do and how to avoid them.

Free radicals are produced when an unpaired electron causes a molecule to become unstable. An unstable molecule will steal an electron from the nearest object it encounters. Typically, a cell in your body.) The removed molecule then transforms into a free radical looking for an additional electron to use to restore its stability. Because they can cause damage to almost anything they come into contact with, the immune system sometimes creates them and uses them as a weapon against invaders it deems harmful. Free radicals can start chain reactions by stealing electrons from the molecules that make up your cells. This can cause inflammation, damage to cells, and early signs of aging. Antioxidants are a good idea to use to fight free radicals.

Omega 3 Oil: Omega 3 is the oil that is typically associated with heart health and cold-water fish. Be that as it may, on the off chance that you could do without fish or are stressed over contaminations, the uplifting news is you can get it from plants as well. Because they don't taste like anything, chia seeds are the best and easiest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids. Chia, in contrast to sesame or poppy seeds, provides omega-3 fatty acids without altering the flavor of any food. This is especially important because you should try to get some omega-3 fatty acids every day. Using chia helps keep you from getting bored or giving up because it goes well with so many different foods. Flax seeds and pecans are additionally an extraordinary hotspot for omega 3s, however you'll need to like their flavor.

What benefits does omega 3 provide?

ALA, the simplest of the omega 3s (which your body can't make, so you have to eat it), has been shown to help skin retain moisture and reduce redness, both of which help get rid of fine lines. Cell membranes, which the cell uses to hold in the appropriate amount of water, require this oil, which is crucial to their function. Sound layers equivalent solid dampness levels in your cells. You've seen all the lotion ads, presently you can soak your skin from the inside.

Vitamin E: Your body can't make this vitamin, so you have to get it from food. Free radicals are fought by vitamin E. Although there are supplements available, synthetic E should be avoided for health reasons. Natural E, which can be found in popular foods like mangoes, nuts, chia seeds, avocados, sweet potatoes, and even spinach, is your best option. When you need vitamin E, the almond is your best choice. You only need about 15 mg per day for healthy skin, which you can easily get from food.

Almonds are the most common, but if you don't like them, you can also eat apples, tomatoes, and hazelnuts (yes, your favorite hazelnut-chocolate spread may also have vitamin E!) are also viable choices. also include E. Vitamin E dissolves in fat. This suggests that the body can only absorb it if the food contains some beneficial fat. At the point when you eat a tomato, spinach, yam, or apple, it's really smart to ensure there's a sound fat in there. Because the other items on the list, like avocados, almonds, and peanuts, already provide their own healthy plant fats, you don't need to add anything else to get your vitamin E. Despite the fact that excessive inflammation is bad for the skin, it has been demonstrated that zinc helps to accelerate the renewal of damaged skin cells. Because external factors like UV rays from the sun and air pollution can harm or irritate the skin, this is important for how the skin looks. Additionally, zinc increases the number of T-cells in the immune system, which guard your skin against viruses and bacteria. When the body has enough zinc, it has been shown to speed up the healing process, which can help with acne and other skin problems as a whole.

The majority of plants' zinc is difficult for the body to use. There is a lot of fish and red meat in it, but what about vegetarians? It can also be found in eggs, fortified milk, and some cereals. Pumpkin seeds, chia, sesame, cashews, lentils (beans are also seeds), and quinoa all contain zinc that comes from plants. Keep in mind that the bioavailability of zinc in plant foods is lower than that of zinc in red meat, fish, shellfish, and shrimp. However, the possibility of increasing zinc bioavailability by soaking seeds is being investigated. If you want to treat a skin condition, you should always ask your doctor if you should take zinc vitamins, which are small and inexpensive.

Fiber: You are aware that fiber aids in digestion and lowers cholesterol levels, but did you know that it can also be beneficial to the skin? Fiber, particularly soluble fiber, slows down the body's process of converting carbohydrates into sugars. As a result, insulin spikes are less frequent, which lowers inflammation. Inflammation—more specifically, prolonged bouts of it—has an impact on the majority of skin conditions and the aging process. By reducing inflammation, you can keep your skin looking young.

White flour is one of the foods that raise insulin levels because it is a starch that is immediately transformed into sugar during digestion. Sugars are another. White flour and sugar-rich foods typically lack fiber or have very little fiber. At every meal, eat foods high in fiber to keep insulin levels even, which will reduce inflammation and give you consistent energy. Despite the fact that beans are a type of seed, no one needs split peas or dark beans for breakfast. Oatmeal and bran are both good choices for breakfast when you consider all of the fun, new, and quick ways to make oatmeal taste good. What about yogurt? juices from fruits? The two types of fiber found in chia seeds can be beneficial to you: insoluble and solvent. Without altering the flavor, chia turns low-fiber yogurt into a high-fiber snack.

Magnesium - Magnesium works with two different minerals to improve skin health and general well-being. It facilitates the absorption of calcium by the body when combined with the trace mineral boron. The chia seed contains all three of these minerals in a single, tiny package. Magnesium is required for enzymes that are responsible for repairing the DNA of skin cells and for regulating the appropriate amount of fatty acids in order to aid in the creation of healthy cell walls. Additionally, it may lessen histamine-induced skin allergies.

Although magnesium-rich foods can easily be incorporated into a healthy diet if you want your body to naturally absorb this beneficial mineral, magnesium supplements are available. Dark leafy greens contain the most magnesium, but Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, and lentils are also good sources. Sunflower seeds can add a great crunch to salads, lentils are great in soups and stews, and tahini, a paste made from sesame seeds, is a fun way to spice up recipes. Brazil nuts aren't very common.

Protein: Although most people think protein is good for building muscle, improving exercise, or losing weight, it is essential for healthy skin that looks younger. There are twenty amino acids that are necessary for good health. Your body can make all of them, with the exception of 9. These nine food-derived essential amino acids are the source of the term "complete protein." Your body transforms the amino acids into proteins, resulting in faster, healthier nail growth, robust hair follicles, and resilient skin. Collagen and elastin are protein-based fibers that give skin its bounce-back elastic quality, giving it a more youthful appearance.

Spirulina, wild or non-wild black beans with rice, quinoa, which is a grain, and chia, which has complete protein like meat, peanut butter, hemp seeds, soy (but watch out for plant estrogens), are all protein-rich foods. Naturally, it is also present in meat, eggs, and milk. Protein, which is slowly metabolized, can aid in the reduction of eye bags and maintenance of healthy blood sugar levels.

Your skin and medical advantage from a fluctuated diet wealthy in brilliant, nutritious plant food sources, yet did you see that one seed contains every one of the supplements important for sound skin? Only the chia seed is near the top of each category. It is also the only product without a distinct flavor. Chia is useful because it doesn't change the flavor of almost any food you already like. The tiny, unobtrusive seed can be used to improve your skin and overall health at every meal.


4 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page