Blog
Fat - Skin friend not skin Foe
Tuesday 13th June 2017
As we come into the Summer months, simply mention the word fat and you are likely to silence a room.
So what if we were to tell you that there are in fact lots of health benefits and more importantly, skin benefits to incorporating heathy fats into your diet.
It is widely accepted that unsaturated fats such as those found in avocados, oily fish and nuts have a protective effect on our health.
Research shows that regular nut eaters tended to be slimmer, and benefitted from a significant reduction in heart disease and cancer.
In addition to this, a large European study called PREDIMED demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet which is characteristically high in olive oil and healthy fats reduces cardiovascular disease and death risks by 30% compared to a standard low fat diet.
So what does this mean for your skin
People who follow a very low fat diet, will often suffer from dry, dehydrated skin which lines easily and lacks lustre.
Director of education at the IIAA Tracy Tamaris states
"A cell membrane is made up of fats. It's semi permeable allowing nutrients to flow into the cell and waste to be excreted.
If your diet is poor in essential fatty acids, than cell membranes cannot function normally and it will be difficult for the right nutrients (such as fat soluble vitamin A) to enter the skin and keep it healthy.
A lack of fatty acids could also mean that our stratum corneum is unable to protect the skin, resulting transepidermal water loss and dry skin conditions such as eczema. "
Having enough essential fatty acids in your diet is a key to healthy, radiant looking skin. Although these can be found in oily fish, a great way to ensure you consume enough every day is to take them in supplement form.
Skin Omegas from The Advanced Nutrition Programme ensure optimum levels of fatty acids are maintained within your skin, and help to give it an extra boost. Great from Summer when skin can start to feel dry and dehydrated from sun exposure.