Awhile back I had the chance to speak with founder of Envision Beauty and Living Foods Expert Kimberly Snyder about raw food, healthy lifestyles, and her face care product The Solution. She had so many interesting things to say that I turned to her once again for some advice! Below you'll find some wonderful tips that Kimberly Snyder put together exclusively for Beauty Snob! They're 5 Diet Tips to Prevent Peeling and Flaking Skin during the hard winter months!
1. Bump up your consumption of Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
Omega 3 fatty acids will prevent peeling and flaking, and promote youthful, smooth and radiant skin by keeping skin cells hydrated and strong. Omega 3 fatty acids maintain the structure and fluidity of cell membranes, facilitating the inflow of nutrients and the outflow of waste products. A great source of Omega 3 fats is the Açai berry, which is native to the Amazon forest but has recently started to appear in health stores and even some supermarkets. Açai has a hefty serving of Omega 3, 6 and 9, as well as fiber, amino acids, minerals and key vitamins. Other great sources of Omega 3 include flaxseed and flax oil and walnuts.
2. Get familiar with hemp seeds.
Hemp seeds contain gamma-linolenic fatty acids, a powerful type of anti-inflammatory Omega 6, which can specifically help keep your skin hydrated and prevent flaking. Hemp seeds, which are extremely mineral-rich and also pack 11 grams of protein in just 3 Tbs., can be purchased in any health food store and are a great addition to salads and winter soups.
More of Kimberly Snyder's Tips after the Jump!
3. Use coconut oil in smoothies, deserts, on salads, and to cook with (if you must cook!).
Coconut oil is composed of medium chain fatty acids and is cholesterol-free. Consuming coconut oil is great for the weight- conscious by stabilizing sugar levels and stimulating thyroid function. It will also keep scaly, flaky skin at bay by moisturizing it from within. Coconut oil will reverse the drying process in the skin by providing fat-soluble vitamins, minerals and supernutrition factors directly to the dry skin.
4. Increase your content of zinc-rich, beautifying foods.
Zinc is a major contributor to beautiful, hydrated skin. It is a key component of the enzymes that help maintain collagen, which is the main contributor to skin strength and elasticity. Without a steady supply of zinc, the enzymes responsible for collagen renewal cannot function properly. Consuming zinc consistently helps prevent visible signs of skin aging like wrinkles, as well as excessive dryness. Great sources of zinc include raw pumpkin seeds, pecans, cashews, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, cucumbers and coconuts.
5. Snack on olives.
The beneficial omega fats in olives are particularly soothing for damaged and dry winter skin. Olives are also high in polyphenols, magnesium, calcium, amino acids, and vitamins A and E. I try to have at least 5 olives a day all winter long!
hi, i have heard coconute oil is very high in saturated fat, please advise?
That's a fascinating tip on olives! I'm a big fan of green ones stuffed with pimentos in martinis and black ones (the oil cured kind) with wine and cheese. But I never realized they were so good for me! That's for a great post.
Hi Morgan,
Thanks so much for your comment! This is Kimberly Snyder, founder of Envision Beauty. Okay, you asked for it! :)
Coconut oil is a saturated fat, but consists primarily of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA's) of 8-12 carbon atoms in length. Saturated fat from meat can be up to 24 carbon atoms in length.
The shorter MCFA chains require fewer enzymes and energy to digest. There has been a lot of misinformation thrown around about saturated fat. The majority of arterial plaque, which is has commonly been associated with, can actually be attributed to cooked, processed unsaturated fat and foreign cholesterol.
Coconut oil contains no cholesterol, and actually helps lower cholesterol levels. It even outperforms cold-pressed olive oil. The cholesterol-lowering properties of coconut oil are a direct result of its ability to stimulate thyroid function. In the presence of adequate thyroid hormone, cholesterol (specifically LDL-cholesterol) is converted by enzymatic processes to necessary anti-aging steroids, progesterone, DHEA, and pregnenolone. These substances are required to help prevent obesity, heart disease, and other degenerative diseases.
Furthermore, coconut oil helps regulate our blood sugar levels, can help increase the metabolic rate, and is amazing for the skin! I try to consume it every day, and use it in a ton of recipes.
Hope this helps! For more info, check out my blog: www.kimberlysnyder.net.
All my best Morgan,
Kimberly Snyder
You call yourself a nutritionist. Do you have the credentials to back that claim? Are you a Registered Dietitian?