Make the Most of Your Skin Diet with Phytochemicals.
- Posted on: Jan 7 2013
The New Year is a good time to re-visit your overall health plan. Millions of people will set out to eat healthier and increase their physical activity this year. Achieving these goals will help you look and feel your best. Did you know that nutrition also plays an important part in the health and appearance of your skin?
Protein, Carbohydrates, Fats, Vitamins and Minerals are all categories you routinely hear about and look for on your food labels. Phytochemicals also play an important part in your skin health.
What is a phytochemical?
Phytochemicals
Translated, “phytochemicals” means plant chemicals. Phytochemicals represent non-nutritive plant chemicals that may contain protective, disease-preventing compounds. The research involving phytochemicals showing their beneficial effects is promising.
- Flavanoids or Bioflavanoids
Found in most fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, seeds, grains, and soy products, they are also present in tea, coffee and red wine. The flavonoids in red wines are phenolic compounds that have antioxidant properties. Both green and black tea contains polyphenols that are potent antioxidants, especially those found in green tea.
- Polyphenols
Recently been shown to be powerful antioxidants, a type of polyphenols is a group of compounds known as flavanoids or bioflavanoids which are found in green tea, most fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, seeds, grains and soy products. They are also in coffee and red wine. Studies have confirmed that flavanoids have the ability to counteract free radicals that are produced by sun exposure.
- Carotenoids
Nutrients that convert mostly to Vitamin A in the body. Beta carotene, lycopene, and lutein are examples and are found in tomatoes and peppers. Cooked tomatoes may have even a higher concentration of lycopene since heating may release more lycopene. See Table (below).
PHYTOCHEMICAL | FOUND IN |
Flavonoids
Carotenoids
Isoflavones
Lycopenes
Phenolic compounds |
Citrus, tomatoes, onions, berries, carrots, pumpkins, peppers, grapes, parsley, red wine, green teaCarrots, sweet potatoes, nectarines, mangoes, apricots
Soy products, whole grains, chickpeas
Tomatoes, peppers
Red wine, citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppers |
Try this recipe from The Beautiful Skin Diet for a light, skin healthy dinner.
Fish with Tomatoes and Grapes
Per serving | |
Calories | 380 |
Vit A IU | 830 |
Vit C mg | 53 |
Vit E mg | 3 |
Ingredients:
4 4-oz. white fish filets or steaks, preferably striped bass or halibut
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 cup white wine
3⁄4 cup peeled diced tomatoes with juice
1 tbsp. fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1 tsp. tomato paste
1 tbsp. onion, diced
1 cup tomato, diced
2 cups red seedless grapes, halved
1 lemon, sliced for garnish
1 tsp. lemon zest, minced
Black pepper
Salt and white pepper
Method:
Pour oil into a large, heavy bottom sauté pan over medium heat. Add cilantro, tomato paste, onion, black pepper to taste, tomato juice, and chopped tomato. Bring the mixture to a simmer and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Season with salt and white pepper to taste. Place fish in the simmering sauce. Cook fish for 8 minutes, turn, and cook for 8 minutes more. Add the grapes and cook until the fish is firm.
4 SERVINGS
Posted in: Blog Post