The Effect of Food on the Skin
Modern scientific research has found that the fineness and smoothness of the skin are closely related to the content of hyaluronidase in the dermis, which in turn is closely related to the amount of estrogen secreted. Recently, scientists discovered that when the ovaries secrete more estrogen, the estrogen combines with specific receptors in the dermis, thereby promoting the formation of hyaluronidase. This enzyme promotes the skin's absorption of water, trace elements, vitamins, etc., thus ensuring that the skin is adequately supplied with moisture, trace elements, and vitamins, making it delicate and smooth. So, how can one achieve healthy and beautiful skin through diet?
(1) Drink an appropriate amount of water The water content in human tissue fluid reaches 72%, and the water content in the adult human body is 58%-67%. When the body's water decreases, the skin becomes dry, sebum secretion decreases, causing the skin to lose its elasticity and even develop wrinkles. To ensure adequate water intake, a young woman should drink about 1200 milliliters of water daily.
(2) Eat foods rich in vitamins Vitamins play an important role in preventing skin aging and keeping the skin delicate and moisturized. Japanese scholars have found that vitamin E plays a significant role in anti-aging for the skin. Because vitamin E can destroy the chemical activity of free radicals, thereby inhibiting aging. Vitamin E also prevents lipofuscin from accumulating in the skin. Scientists have found that the formation of lipofuscin is related to lipoperoxides. Foods rich in vitamin E include cabbage, sunflower seed oil, rapeseed oil, etc. Vitamins A and B2 are also indispensable substances for smooth, fine, and moisturized skin. When the body lacks vitamin A, the skin becomes dry, rough, and scaly; if there is a lack of vitamin B2, symptoms such as white corners of the mouth, cracked and peeling lip skin, and pigmentation may appear. Foods rich in vitamin A include animal liver, cod liver oil, milk, cream, poultry eggs, and orange-red vegetables and fruits. Foods rich in vitamin B2 include liver, kidney, heart, eggs, milk, etc.
(3) Eat more iron-rich foods For the skin to be glossy and rosy, an adequate blood supply is necessary. Iron is one of the main components of hemoglobin in the blood, so one should consume more iron-rich foods. Such as animal liver, egg yolk, kelp, seaweed, etc.
(4) Increase the intake of foods rich in collagen and elastin Collagen can plump up cells, making the skin full and reducing wrinkles; elastin can enhance the skin's elasticity, making it smooth and supple. Foods rich in collagen and elastin include pig's trotters, animal tendons, and pig skin.
(5) Pay attention to the intake of alkaline foods The fish, meat, poultry, eggs, grains, and cereals we eat in daily life are physiologically acidic. Excessive acidic foods will increase the content of lactic acid and uric acid in body fluids and blood. When organic acids cannot be excreted from the body in time, they will erode sensitive epidermal cells, causing the skin to lose its fineness and elasticity. To neutralize the acidic components in the body, one should eat physiologically alkaline foods such as apples, pears, citrus fruits, and vegetables.
Vitamins for Healthy Skin
Whitening, anti-aging, and wrinkle prevention are the biggest secrets for women's skin. There are all kinds of anti-aging and wrinkle-reducing cosmetics on the market (such as: fruit acids, salicylic acid, retinoic acid, fish protein, grape seed, etc.), but vitamins still hold a very important position in the modern skin health care. Among them, vitamins A, C, and E have the most significant effects for beautiful skin.
I. Vitamin A The content of vitamin A is quite abundant in yellow-green vegetables and fruits, internal organs, liver, egg yolk, margarine, milk, and cod liver oil. However, vitamin A must first undergo a conversion process in the body to become effective. For the skin, it can regulate the metabolism of the epidermis and stratum corneum, protect the epidermis and mucous membranes, making it difficult for bacteria to invade. Therefore, vitamin A is widely used clinically for anti-aging, wrinkle reduction, fading skin spots, smoothing and refining the skin, and preventing skin cancer. If vitamin A is taken in excess, it can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, and bone lesions; especially for pregnant women, it is necessary to pay special attention to the safe dosage to avoid birth defects.
II. Vitamin E Vitamin E is abundant in grains, wheat germ oil, cottonseed oil, green leafy vegetables, egg yolk, nuts, meat, and dairy products. The effects of vitamin E include reducing the oxidation of vitamin A and polyunsaturated fatty acids, controlling cell oxidation, promoting wound healing, and inhibiting skin sunburn reactions and cancer production. Generally speaking, if vitamin E and vitamin C are used together, they can complement each other and enhance their effects. Vitamin E is fat-soluble. If taken in excess of the safe dosage for a long time, it can cause side effects such as phlebitis, pulmonary embolism, and high blood lipids, so it should be taken with caution.
III. Vitamin C The whitening effect of vitamin C is mainly based on its anti-inflammatory effect; it can prevent sunburn and also promote wound healing. If deficient, it affects the function of connective tissue, making it susceptible to damage from free radicals and causing degeneration. However, vitamin C is an important antioxidant that repairs this damage. Therefore, it has been widely used recently for anti-aging and repairing sun damage.
The three vitamins have similar functions and complement each other, as they are all good antioxidants that can eliminate the harmful free radicals formed after improper sun exposure to the skin.
How Much Do You Know About Beauty Foods
Beauty is not only a spiritual need but also plays an important role in human health. To achieve a beautiful face, in addition to daily skin care, it is also very effective to regulate endocrine functions through appropriate foods and medicine. As women's beauty needs increase, many long-dormant beauty foods and medicines in our country are being continuously discovered. Here are some simple and recognized beauty food remedies by modern medicine for the reference of beauty enthusiasts.
Orange Honey Honey is praised as "the most perfect natural nutritional food" in nature and has the function of prolonging life. Because honey is comprehensive and rich in nutrition, regular consumption can make the skin white, tender, and smooth, and prevent skin from cracking. Regular consumption of honey can also increase the content of hemoglobin in the blood, making the face ruddy and shiny. Now, the beauty effect of pollen, the raw material of honey, has also received widespread attention around the world. Replacing beverages with honey water will bring infinite charm to your skin.
Red Goji Berbs The ancients said: "Goji berries can retain youthful beauty." In the "Compendium of Materia Medica" by the great Ming dynasty physician Li Shizhen, it is also mentioned that drinking goji berry wine for a long time can prevent aging and preserve a youthful appearance. Modern scientific research has found that goji berries contain a large amount of carotene, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, niacin, phosphorus, iron, and other nutrients that nourish, strengthen, and beautify the skin. As a simple beauty food remedy, goji berries can be soaked in wine, or made into a Goji Longan paste with longan meat rock sugar, and honey, or prepared into medicinal meals with other foods, such as goji berry and Chinese yam stewed with pig's brain, goji berries and red dates stewed with eggs, goji berry stewed chicken, goji berry stewed sheep's brain, etc.
Light Yellow Angelica Tyrosinase in the human body produces melanin that causes freckles, dark spots, and age spots. The higher its activity, the earlier and more numerous age spots appear. Modern scientific experiments have proven that the aqueous solution of angelica has a strong function in inhibiting tyrosinase activity, thus possessing anti-aging and beauty effects. After angelica is decocted in water to extract the medicinal juice, it can be fermented with rice or flour to make angelica wine. Angelica can be stewed with lamb, astragalus root, and Codonopsis pilosula to make Angelica Lamb Soup. Angelica can also be made into medicinal meals with other foods. For ordinary households, you can take about 5 grams of angelica daily, steep it in boiling water, and add a little honey as tea, which is very convenient.
Black Black Sesame Black sesame contains a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, which is very beneficial for delaying skin aging. Black sesame can be made into Heima Powder. Its preparation method is: mix black sesame seeds with warm water, steam in a pot, and remove from the heat when large steam rises, then dry it in the sun. Repeat this steaming and drying process several times, then grind into a fine powder. Take 10 grams on an empty stomach, mixed with warm water, before meals.
White Radish Traditional Chinese medicine believes that radish can "benefit the five organs, make the body light and energetic, and make the skin white and clean." Modern research has shown that white radish can have this function because it is rich in vitamin C, so regular consumption can inhibit the formation of melanin and reduce the deposition of skin pigment. Some scholars believe that if the intestines are not functioning properly, E. coli in the intestine will decompose proteins to produce toxic ammonia substances, which, after being absorbed into the blood, will have adverse effects on the body and accelerate aging. The beneficial effect of white radish on the intestines can counteract this unfavorable factor, thereby playing a role in nourishing the skin and benefiting the blood.
Bright Red Cherries The trace element iron in red cherries ranks first among all fruits, and regular consumption can increase hemoglobin in the blood, achieving a blood-enriching and face-beautifying effect.
Green Peas The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states that peas have the effect of "removing dark spots (facial dark spots, pigmentation spots) and making the face shiny." Modern research has found that peas are rich in vitamin A precursors, which can be converted into vitamin A in the body. The latter has a skin-moisturizing effect and, when obtained from general food, does not produce toxic side effects.