She divides vitamin and mineral characteristics into three categories: Outstanding Sources, Skin Care Benefits, and Deficiency Symptoms. For the purpose of this study I selected what I considered the most critical item or a food that I would be willing to eat. For more detail, please get her book.
Essential Vitamins
Powerhouse vitamins provide the antioxidants and healing agents that gives our skin a healthy glow.
- Vitamin A is essential for skin cell growth and maintenance; it boosts immunity and helps prevent dry, rough skin; found in fish liver oil, squashes, greens, or tomatoes;
- B-Complex vitamins are good for anti-stress as well as aiding in cell growth and development; found in lean beef, chicken, egg yolks, liver,milk whole grains, green leafy vegetables or beans;
- Vitamin C helps produce collagen in connective tissue; found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, apples, green leafy vegetables or papayas;
- Vitamin D when combined with vitamin A aids in healing skin impurities; found in herring, mackerel, salmon, milk, egg yolks, and sunshine; and
- Vitamin E oxygenates tissues and helps skin retain vitamin A; found in whole grains, eggs, nuts and green leafy vegetables.
Building blocks of healthy skin, Four particular minerals are essential in building healthy skin:
- iodine increases oxygen consumption and metabolic rate; found in fish and salt;
- silicon aids in collagen formation; found in beets, onions, eggs, almonds, peanuts or grapes;
- sulfur helps keep skin clear and smooth; found in onions, cabbage, garlic and kale; and
- zinc boosts immunity; found in pumpkin/sunflower seeds, milk, eggs, green leafy vegetables, onions or nuts.
Fat is critical to our skin's health, well-being, nourishment, and shape. It is composed of three fatty acids substances: saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, each offer its special value.
- Saturated fatty acids are solid at room temperature; manufactured by your body excess saturated fatty acids can lead to a risk of high cholesterol or heart disease; found in animal fats;
- Monounsaturated fatty acids are liquid at room temperature are beneficial to your heart because they do not elevate your cholesterol and may even reduce it; found in plant and fish fats;
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids are also liquid at room temperature but have a different molecular structure; and
- have been associated with increased risk of certain types of cancer; found in nuts and fish.
Two particular EFAs affect our skin:
- Omega-3 found in fish and seeds, aid in healing wounds and
- Omega-6 found in evening primrose, borage, black current oils and blue-green algae; promotes smooth, moisturized skin.
Whole food supplements will be discussed in my next message.
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