From Hispanic PR Wire: Almonds have long been lauded for their beauty benefits. From ancient Egypt to the Victorian Age to modern times, they’re a popular ingredient in lotions and potions that cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize and nourish.
Lately the approach to healthy skin is changing fundamentally. Skincare experts emphasize that not only topical applications such as cleansers and lotions, but also dietary choices can affect the skin’s moisture level, youthful appearance and general health. This is good news for the multi-tasking almond which is a common ingredient in some of today’s most popular skin-care products and an ever-increasingly popular snack for women seeking healthy alternatives.
“With new beauty products as well as new research about certain foods, consumers are hearing a lot about treating beauty both inside and out,” says Connie Gutterson, PhD, RD, author of the New York Times best-selling book, The Sonoma Diet (Meredith, 2005). “Research indicates natural antioxidants from foods may help the skin, working from the inside. At the same time, more beauty products are featuring natural, nutritious foods like almonds and berries to apply to the skin.”
Exfoliation Gone Nutty – The granular texture of finely ground almonds or almond flour can be used as a natural, gentle way to exfoliate, rubbing away dead skin cells and freshening the complexion. Try making a homemade exfoliating scrub by combining 1 tablespoon almond flour or meal, 1 tablespoon honey and 1 teaspoon lemon juice, stirring into a paste. Rub gently on the face and rinse. Exfoliation is ideal just one to two times per week; otherwise, it may lead to
irritation or flaky skin. Find almond flour in some supermarkets, or make it by processing blanched whole or slivered almonds in small batches in a clean coffee grinder or blender, just until finely ground.
Cracking into Moisture – Victorian women were right to love the oil of almonds. It contains linoleic acid, a fatty acid that helps soften and moisturize the skin. After exfoliating, it’s the perfect time to moisturize. Look for almond oil in many high-end and everyday moisturizing lotions, creams, balms and masks.
Nourishing and Protecting – Some research indicates that skincare products containing vitamin E – a key antioxidant in almonds – may help fight off the signs of aging by helping protect your skin against the damage caused by ultraviolet rays. And less sun damage can lead to a younger-looking appearance.
But, what about eating more almonds? Almonds from the Inside Research shows that eating foods high in certain vitamins, minerals and other nutrients is important to the health of your skin. In particular, antioxidants and healthy fats are proving to be “skin-tastic” – and almonds contain both. Although you may not typically think about eating a handful of almonds when you want to get your antioxidants for the day, research is showing you should. A recent analysis conducted at Tufts University showed that a handful of almonds contain levels of flavonoid antioxidants on par with broccoli and green tea.
In addition, almonds are an excellent source of the skin-loving antioxidant vitamin E, providing 35 percent of the Daily Value (DV). In a review of antioxidants found in skin tissue, alpha tocopherol vitamin E – one of the vitamin’s many forms, and the form found in almonds – was discovered as the major antioxidant in human epidermal tissue. Other antioxidants in your diet include vitamins A and C, and selenium. Almonds can be paired with a variety of other foods to help increase overall antioxidant intake.
In fact, research shows that vitamin E and vitamin C work better together when it comes to protecting the skin. Thus, almonds paired with leafy greens or other fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C can make a beautiful combination. You can read more about about the benefits of almonds for beauty inside and out at Hispanic PR Wire.
