Did You Know - Nutrients For Healthy Skin Include Omega 3 Fish Oil
You could even go a little crazy and do both.
Here's a look at what the nourishing supplements and creams available today can do for your skin's health and appearance.
Numerous studies have been conducted concerning benefits like improved firmness and structure.
Different nutritional formulas have been tested by a variety of researchers, both in and out of the dermatological field.
From the evidence available today, it seems that the most beneficial formulas for dietary supplementation are soy protein, omega-3 fish oil, astaxanthin, lycopene and coenzyme Q10.
Soy protein would need to be purchased and taken separately.
The benefits seen in studies included an improvement in the skin's structure and smoothness.
You might not see the benefits if you are currently getting enough protein in your diet.
Protein contains the building blocks for all life forms.
Those building blocks are called amino acids.
The body combines them and uses them to make collagen fibers.
The cells of the skin's outer layers are composed of amino acids, too.
So there is no doubt that protein is one of the important nutrients for healthy skin.
You just might not need to take a soy protein supplement.
Omega-3 fish oil is beneficial whether or not you frequently eat fish.
If nothing else, there is an anti-inflammatory benefit.
In some studies, taking the supplement has improved the skin's firmness by 10% after three months.
You can purchase an omega-3 fish oil supplement that also contains astaxanthin, lycopene and coenzyme Q10.
The last three are antioxidants.
They have been shown to help protect against sun damage and may help reverse what has already occurred.
While a fish oil supplement containing the antioxidants might be more expensive, it would end up being less than the cost of buying all of the supplements separately.
That brings us to topically applied nutrients for healthy skin.
Coenzyme Q10 is still at the top of the list.
Other antioxidants have not been as well studied.
Any antioxidants could be beneficial.
Some studies support the use of vitamin E.
Others suggest the use of natural compounds containing vitamin A carotenoids, such as Shea butter and avocado.
There is at least one nourishing night cream containing coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, Shea butter and avocado extract.
The benefits of antioxidants have to do with preventing and repairing free radical damage.
Free radical molecules are naturally occurring within the skin, but their numbers and activity grow during sun exposure, making sun exposure the number one cause of visible aging; wrinkles, age spots, etc.
Another nourishing compound called Functional Keratin has been shown to increase the skin's antioxidant content and stimulate cell growth.
It is a protein formula, similar to that normally found in the skin's cells.
Other nutrients for healthy skin include moisture balancing minerals like sodium and potassium.
Those can be found in kelp and algae extracts.
Some of the best anti-aging moisturizers for the face and body contain everything you need to protect your skin's health for life.