Against wrinkles and for a more toned and elastic skin? Eat… one avocado a day! Yes, because avocado is not only an excellent food with fat-burning and neuroprotective properties, but it is also a real cosmetic with a rejuvenating action, even if taken by mouth. This is what emerges from a very recent scientific research performed by a team of scientists from the University of California at Los Angeles and published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (Henning et al, JCD, 2022).
Cosmetics taken by mouth
For the beauty of the skin we use creams and masks, which are certainly very useful in preserving hydration and nourishing the tissues, slowing down skin aging, counteracting wrinkles and blemishes, but also helping to regulate the production of sebum thus keeping away acne and greasy skin. But beauty treatments shouldn't just stop at topical applications. In fact, some types of fruit and vegetables that eat can become precious cosmetics, as they provide antioxidants and fatty acids that act from the inside, plumping the skin and with an anti-aging action. Previous scientific studies had already observed that the intake of carotenoids slows down skin aging. Avocado provides carotenoids, but, despite this, to date, no studies had investigated the possible beneficial effect on skin health of taking one avocado a day.
The health properties of avocado
Avocados are a precious source of carotenoids, substances with an antioxidant action responsible for the light green color of the pulp of this fruit. Carotenoids show anticancer properties, very similar to those of broccoli, provide fiber, for proper intestinal functioning, are a source of unsaturated fatty acids that, in addition to having an anti-inflammatory action, also help the absorption of other nutrients, such as fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E and K. Finally, avocado is neuroprotective and is rich in potassium, which is useful for controlling blood pressure. In short, eating avocado is good for the whole body. Therefore, the scientists of the research we are talking about today have wondered whether regular intake of avocado could also be beneficial for the skin, as an effect of antioxidant, anti-aging but also anti-inflammatory and protective action on different organs, such as the intestine and heart.
Younger, suppler skin by eating one avocado a day
To answer this question, Californian researchers developed a study recruiting 39 women, aged between 27 and 73. The volunteers were divided into two groups. The first group was asked to take an avocado every day for 2 months. The second group, on the other hand, had to follow the usual diet without adding avocado. At the beginning and at the end of the experiment, the scientists measured, both on the forehead and in the area under the eyes, the elasticity and tone of the skin. Well, what emerged is that those who consumed one avocado a day showed an improvement in both the degree of elasticity and tone of the skin. Not only that, by subjecting the skin to stresses such as aspiration and pulling, in those who had consumed an avocado a day, the skin returned more easily to its original condition without deforming.
Conclusions
The study is still in its infancy but is very promising. Men will also be tested over the next few months to evaluate the skin benefits of eating one avocado a day. However, it is believed that avocado may have the same rejuvenating action observed in women. The same research team also observed that almonds and pomegranate juice have an anti-aging action on the skin, protecting it from damage from UV rays and oxidative stress.
