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Tomatoes - can they save your skin?

Recently, tomatoes were high profile in the press. Research has shown them to be effective in the fight against sun related skin damage. However, this isn’t surprising or new. Tomatoes are super nutritious, and their high content of lycopene is behind the apparent benefit. The claim suggests that pizzas and bolognese can help fight against sunburn and wrinkles.

Lycopene, a component of tomatoes is more concentrated when the fruit is cooked. So sauces, soups, purees, concentrates and ketchup are all excellent sources. Research already shows lycopene to be effective in the fight against some cancers such as those affecting the prostate, lungs, stomach, bladder, and uterus, but now research also shows it can provide some UV protection. Volunteers were given approx 55g of standard tomato paste (which is concentrated cooked tomatoes) and 10g olive oil daily. Tomatoes, eaten with healthier fats such as avocado or olive oil, enhances the bodys' absorption of the carotenoid phytochemicals in tomatoes by up to 15 times. Other volunteers were given only the 10g olive oil. After 3 months, skin samples were taken from the tomato group and showed they had 33% more protection against UV rays and much higher levels of procollegen (a protein that adds strength and support to many body tissues). This protection is the equivalent to a low factor sun cream and suggests possible reversal of the skin ageing process. However, this does not mean that we should see tomatoes as an alternative to sun creams. They are an extra antioxidant help in sun protection.

Tomatoes contain all four major carotenoids: alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene. They act in synergy to provide excellent health benefits, such as possible protection against cancers, heart disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Like many fruits and vegetables, concentrations of beneficial components lie just under the skins’ surface. As well as high concentrations of carotenoids, the tomato skin also holds most of the flavonols (another family of phytochemicals that includes quercetin and kaempferol). So never peel tomatoes if you want to maximise their health properties.

Tomatoes are also high in minerals such as iron and potassium and vitamins E and C. Lycopene, which is responsible for the rich colour of tomatoes works in a unique way with vitamin C enhancing its powerful, protecting properties.

Tomatoes are excellent additions to your skin care regime. Cleansing and rejuvenating, they help remove dead skin cells, unblock pores, and if the pulp is applied to the skin as a face pack, will leave it soft, and ph balanced.

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Is sugar ageing your skin?

The human body is designed to work efficiently on complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, vegetables, pulses and simpler carbohydrates such as fruit. These foods are designed to gradually release their energy and contain all the nutrients the body needs for digestion and metabolism and keeping the digestive system running.
However, humans enjoy the sweetness of carbohydrates and all forms of sugar whether it is white, brown, syrup or glucose are fast-releasing causing a rapid increase in blood sugar levels. When this sugar is not required by the body it is eventually stored as fat.

Sugar is also very toxic. As an oxidant it damages certain substances such as proteins. The toxic by-product of glucose is known as AGE (advanced glycosylation end products) and damages cells causing them to age faster, and impairs the ability of the body to remove unwanted cholesterol. It also damages collagen and elastin, the protein fibres that keep the skin firm and elastic. This damage results in dull, brittle dry skin leading to wrinkles and sagging. These ageing effects can start from the age of 35, after which they will increase rapidly.

A high sugar diet can even influence the type of collagen a skin has, a factor in how resistant skin is to ageing. The most common types of collagen in the skin are types I, II and III, with III being the most important and type I being the most fragile. Glycation turns type III into type I causing the skin to lose its suppleness. AGEs also leave your skin more vulnerable to sun damage. Diabetics are very susceptible to the damaging effects of sugar as they can suffer from high blood sugar levels for many years before diagnosis and often show signs of premature skin ageing.

However, all is not lost and with a little work, you can minimise future damage and regain some of your skins youth if you follow these simple steps:

• Of course, you must cut down on sugar and high sugar products. Whilst it is difficult to completely eliminate sugar, eating a nutritional, fresh diet will help keep intake minimal. It is easy to add sugar rich foods without thinking about it. For example, there are about 10 teaspoons of sugar in a can of coke, which amounts to 160 empty calories.
• Get to know your labels. Sugar can be hidden under aliases such as barley malt, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose or molasses.
• Protect your skin with antioxidant rich moisturisers which include vitamins C and E and green or white tea. Ensure your daytime protection contains at least SPF30. AGEs occur more significantly in sun exposed skin than in protected skin.
• Keep your blood sugar levels balanced. This is important if you want to maintain energy levels and weight. When the level of glucose in your blood drops you feel hungry, leading to feelings of tiredness, depression, sweating, headaches and migraines, poor concentration and digestive problems. When the levels are too high the body converts the excess to glycogen or fat, our long term energy reserve. It is becoming more and more common for people to have an impaired ability to keep blood sugar levels even. This will eventually result in fat and lethargy and even diabetes.
• Eating a wholesome balanced diet helps health and skin as the antioxidants keep sugar from attaching to proteins. Include foods which are high in complex carbohydrates and which release their sugar content gradually.
• Keep alcohol and stimulants such tea, coffee and fizzy drinks to a minimum. These substances stimulate the release of adrenalin that initiates the ’fight or flight’ response. This prepares our body for action by releasing sugar stores and raises blood sugar levels to give muscles and brain a boost of energy. However, we do not have the same physical stresses as our ancestors and our stresses are more likely to be of the emotional or mental variety. The body has to somehow cope with the excess of blood sugar by releasing hormones to take the glucose out of circulation. This vicious circle results in an inability to control blood sugar levels, which can lead to diabetes.

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Oaty goodness

Oats are very nutritious and are perhaps the most important grain after brown rice. They are one of the most important staple foods and as an unrefined grain, their natural nutritional benefits are retained. Oats are a rich source of linoleic acid, B vitamins, vitamin E, calcium, protein, magnesium, potassium and soluble fibre.

Oats help stabilise blood sugar making them excellent for those suffering from diabetes. They help slow the absorption of carbohydrate into the bloodstream which leads to smaller rises and falls in blood sugar, oats can also help reduce blood cholesterol, so are excellent for sufferers of circulatory and heart problems. Studies have shown that regular consumption can reduce LDL-type cholesterol by 14% after only 8 weeks.
Oats are an excellent food source for coeliacs and research has shown that most sufferers can consume products which contain oats (provided they are pure and not contaminated with any of the Triticeae cereals such as wheat, rye or barley).

Oats are a long standing and important ingredient in skin care products. Slightly acidic, oats are cleansing as they effectively absorb dirt without irritating the sensitive skin tissue. They also leave a protective film comprising of oat oil on the skin which helps relieve irritation and makes it an effective treatment for eczema, psoriasis, itching, acne, measles, chickenpox, pityreasis, rosecea and sunburn.

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Recipe: Oatmeal bath

Filling the bath with scented bubbles for a long soothing soak at the end of a long day may seem like a well earned treat. But it doesn’t help the skin. Foaming products contain moisture stripping SLSs, parabens and other artificial ingredients. Instead try therapeutic bath salts, moisturizing bath oil or an oatmeal bath to soothe and soften the skin naturally. Oats are naturally mild and very nutritious and therefore suitable for all skin types, particularly dry or itchy skin conditions.

• 1 small cup of natural brown sugar
• Half cup of vegetable oil such as sweet almond, sunflower or olive oil
• 2 tblsp of runny honey
• 1 tblsp powdered milk (optional)

Mix in the essential oils to the oatmeal and dried lavender. Place mixture in a cotton or muslin bag. Place the bag under running water. Either use the bag to wash the body or remove to be used again. Soak in the bath inhaling the aromas.

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Recipe: Baby oil

• 1 tblsp apricot kernel or peach kernel oil
• 1 tblsp virgin olive oil
• 1 tbl sp evening primrose oil
• 10 drops vitamin E oil (or 2 vitamin E capsules)
• 2 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

Simply blend the ingredients together and bottle and label. Store away from direct sunlight and use within a few weeks. Apricot kernel and peach kernel oils have similar properties.

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Puffy eyes

Puffy eyes (and facial puffiness) are often a symptom of something not quite right internally. Food allergies (wheat and dairy being the most common), lack of essential fatty acids (EFAs) or hormonal imbalance are the usual causes, but using rich facial creams or drinking too much coffee and alcohol can cause water retention and puffiness.

To help alleviate the problem try the following natural remedies:

• Ensure the diet is healthy and nutritious. Include plenty of seeds and their oils, lots of water and water-rich foods such as fruit and vegetables. Try supplementing the diet with flax seed oil, evening primrose, vitamin B6 and zinc.
• Do not use rich perfumed creams on the face (and especially around the eyes). They can promote puffiness and allergic reactions.
• Test for food allergy to ensure what you’re eating is not causing you problems. Common symptoms include puffiness and shadows under the eyes.
• Soak 2 chamomile teabags in lukewarm water. Remove teabags and squeeze excess water and place the bags on closed eyes. Relax for 15 minutes. Use the remaining chamomile infused water as a hair rinse to help condition and bring out fair highlights.
• Place a slice of cool cucumber or potato over each eye and relax for a few minutes.

If eyes get irritated or tired from dust, allergies or prolonged computer work try splashing the eyes several times with cold water. Then place a hot flannel over closed eyes gently pressing with fingertips. Follow this with cold water splashing. Finish by soaking 2 cotton wool pads in witch hazel or iced water and relax by lying on your back with feet slightly elevated. This will help refresh the eyes and calm puffiness.

Cold wet black tea bags are a well known remedy for puffy eyes. This is because tea contains polyphenols and tannins which act as astringents and mild stimulants and so have a slight tightening effect to reduce puffiness.

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