Eat for better skin: your questions answered

I'm always reading about the latest ‘superfood’ that will do wonders for my skin and make me look years younger. I usually take this with a pinch of salt, but I was wondering if there was truth to it and, if so, which foods are best to take?

This is a very interesting question as it is important to sift the wheat from the chaff when it comes to miracle claims. There are a few nutrients that can certainly be called ‘super nutrients’, and foods that have these in high quantities can certainly be called ‘superfoods’ as they have been proven to be especially important for skin health.

One of these nutrients is Lycopene, found in tomatoes, more so in cooked tomatoes. Lycopene is a carotenoid that is depleted by ultra violet light, suggesting that it plays a role in protecting the skin from sun damage and associated health conditions. UV light can penetrate the skin and create ‘free-radical damage’ and may lead to wrinkling, so it is important for your topical skin creams to contain antioxidants so that they can help fight free radical damage. Free radicals are most often caused by excess sun, smoking, stress and obesity.
Isoflavones, found in soya beans, are also what I call a ‘super-nutrient’. Isolflavones are natural plant oestrogens that bind to oestrogen receptor cells in the body and mimic the hormone safely. As women’s oestrogen levels fall, eating more soya products along with seeds such as Omega 3 rich flaxseeds may well help reduce menopausal symptoms and improve the skin’s appearance. Along with pulses, seeds and nuts, soya products are a good protein replacement for vegetarians.