They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and our skin can make a lasting impression. The largest organ in the body is also one of the least taken care of, as we expose it to all sorts of chemicals, the harmful rays of the sun, and other harsh elements. What we consume also plays a big role in skin health, as it can cause acne breakouts, skin rashes, and premature aging.
Here are three of the best superfoods you can take to get your skin back in top shape.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom
It has many names – hericium erinaceus, hou tou gu, and yamabushitake – and there is no denying that the Lion’s Mane mushroom possess amazing medicinal properties. Chinese and Japanese people have long used these plants as a tonic or natural remedy to ailments. The mushroom is white and large, and appears to be shaggy, easily remembling (you guessed it) a lion’s mane. Asia countries like Korea, China, Japan, and India are no strangers to this fungus, adding it extensively to different dishes. It can be enjoyed raw, cooked, dried, and steeped in hot water to make tea. Supplements in capsule and tablet forms are already available in the market.
Nutritional Profile
Lion’s mane is loaded with many nutrients, including potassium, zinc, magnesium, selenium, iron, phosphorus, beta-glucan polysaccharides, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid, hericerins, erinacines, sterols, glycoproteins, and some phenolic compounds.
How it Affects the Skin
When the skin begins to sag, look dull and lackluster, and you feel unattractive whenever you look at yourself in the mirror, the process of aging has begun. There are factors that heighten this process like genetics, free radical, and bad skin care habits. Polysaccharides in lion’s mane mushrooms can boost collagen production in the body. Collagen can help repair and renew cells and this is good news for those who are looking to appear youthful.
Polysaccharides also aid in flushing out metabolic toxins in the body, which can affect the skin’s overall appearance and condition in the long run. It also improves the activity of antioxidant enzymes whose role is to protect the skin from the effects of oxidative stress, stress that is usually stemmed from an unhealthy lifestyle, exposure to harmful environmental factors, and poor nutrition.
Pine Pollen
Believe it or not, pine pollen has been hailed as a superfood way before we did. Ancient Chinese civilization has long revered this herb, easily making it a plant worth trying. It aids in healing and is very rich in nutrients, making it an attractive plant to learn more about in the modern world. Pine pollen is derived from the male spores from pine trees and is usually cultivated during spring time.
Nutritional Profile
Pine pollen contains a lot of important nutrients, some of which are vitamins (A, B complex, C, D2, D3, and E), minerals (zinc, selenium, iron, copper, and magnesium), amino acids (glycine, valine, glutamic acid, and arginine) phytochemicals, polysaccharides, omega 3 fatty acids, fibre, live enzymes, nucleic acid, flavonoids, and methylsulfonylmethane. Don’t be fooled by the way it looks; this dust-like superfood might just be what your body needs.
How it Affects the Skin
Collagen and elastin are key components that help keep the skin smooth, supple, and youthful. Pine pollen contains androgen which can affect the degeneration of collagen and elastin, slowing down this aging process. Phytochemicals, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals in pine pollen also affect the basic building blocks of our bodies – cells – in such a way that it helps rejuvenate, protect, and repair them.
Skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema, and impetigo can be treated with a daily dosage of pine pollen. Do you want a smooth complexion that has a glow from within? Do you want to look fresh all the time? Take pine pollen! It has methylsulfonylmethane, a beautifying component.
Chaga
If a wild mushroom has been nicknamed “The Mushroom of Immortality,” “The King of Mushrooms,” and “A Gift from God”, then you know that it is one of the most potent and powerful fungus out there. Its scientific name is inonotus obliquus and is also known as the birch mushroom, the chaga has been around for centuries and is produced in the cold, harsh weather of Siberia. The mushroom sprouts on all species of Birch trees, and is a dark,tough mass resembling coal. Like other superfoods in this list, the chaga mushroom is used for its medicinal properties and is already gaining traction in today’s society.
Nutritional Profile
The chaga mushroom is jam packed full of amino acids, vitamin B-complex, vitamin D, superoxide dismutase, triterpenoids, beta-glucan, plant-based polyphenols, iron, potassium, cesium, rubidium, copper, zinc, selenium, magnesium, manganese, and fibre.
How it Affects the Skin
Being that the skin is the physical barrier that protects other vital organs, the chaga mushroom is known to make the skin strong and healthy. The chaga mushroom is so full of antioxidants that it surpasses acai berries, blueberries, and pomegranates in terms of antioxidant content. This is good news for those who aim to look youthful — the the chaga mushroom can help diminish the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, and acne breakouts.
Betulonic acid in the mushroom helps in cell regeneration, which in turn can help the body get rid of free radicals easily. Riboflavanoids is an anti-inflammatory that can positively affect skin conditions. If you are craving for a brighter skin, chaga mushroom inhibits the activity of the tyrosinase enzyme, known to make the skin radiant.
A Final Word
There are many natural remedies that may help our skin restore its vitality and youthfulness. Aside from taking these Superfoods, a healthy and balanced diet, along with an ample amount of exercise can help keep those wrinkles at bay.
Salman is a prolific environmental writer, and has authored more than 500 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management, sustainability and conservation all over the world.
Salman can be reached on salman@cleantechloops.com
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