The end of hot days is right around the corner and you may have noticed the hot days environment has been affecting your skin. The hot weather often makes people sweat which can increase acne, air conditioning dries out the skin, and prolonged sun exposure can lead to sunburn and skin damage. There’s a lot of good advice available on how to keep your skin healthy and looking great by wearing sunscreen, staying hydrated, and moisturizing – but what many people don’t know is that nutrition also plays an important role in skin health. Check out these surprising secrets to help you turn back time and protect your skin from the inside out!
Carotenoids
Carotenoids are a group of fat-soluble plant pigments that are responsible for the bright red, orange, and yellow colors in plants, fruits and vegetables. A wide variety of carotenoids exist, and research has linked diets high in carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables with various health benefits like reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and eye diseases.1 Carotenoids have antioxidant properties, meaning they protect your cells against damage by free radicals. When enough ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun’s rays hits our skin, free radicals called reactive oxygen species are created and they damage the skin, contributing to a leathery appearance with coarse wrinkles and uneven pigmentation.2 Studies have shown that ingesting carotenoids can help provide protection against UV-induced skin damage, leading to significant improvements in skin radiance and overall appearance.2 One study focused on supplementing with three dietary carotenoids: lutein, beta-carotene, and lycopene; researchers found that the three provided significant protection against stress-induced free radical formation. The authors concluded that dietary carotenoid supplementation could help avoid premature skin aging.2
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant with a number of health benefits and also plays an essential role in cellular energy production. It is found in both our skin cells and the lipid layer coating our skin, acting as an antioxidant.3 CoQ10 is a vitamin-like compound that is found in dietary sources including fatty fish like salmon and tuna, nuts and seeds, and some vegetables like broccoli. It is also produced naturally in our bodies, but production levels decrease with age and with certain medications like cholesterol-lowering statins.3 A double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment had volunteers take either a placebo, 50 mg, or 150 mg of CoQ10 a day for 12 weeks. Researchers found that those who supplemented with CoQ10 showed several anti-aging effects: reduced wrinkles, improved skin smoothness and skin firmness.3 Though both groups showed improvement in wrinkle assessment, the group with the higher CoQ10 dose revealed a stronger positive effect.3
Trusted Sources of Carotenoids & CoQ10
NeoLife has a 60+ year track record of producing high-quality, whole food-based nutritional supplements formulated with the input of the highly renowned NeoLife Scientific Advisory Board.
Carotenoid Complex
provides a full spectrum of 15 powerful carotenoids, including lutein, beta-carotene, and lycopene, from whole food sources including carrots, tomatoes, spinach, strawberries, and more. Carotenoid Complex has been clinically tested and proven to boost overall immune function by 37% in just 20 days.*
CoQ10
is an essential antioxidant for energy production and our body’s natural production of CoQ10 decreases with age, often by over 50% by age 50.* NeoLife CoQ10 provides 100 mg of naturally sourced, highly bioavailable CoQ10 in each serving along with a proprietary Polyphenol Blend and Mitogenic Phyto-lipid & Sterol Blend.*
NeoLife also offers a proprietary certified organic skin care line called Nutriance Organic. Click here to learn more.
- Krinsky NI, Johnson EJ. Carotenoid actions and their relation to health and disease. Mol Aspects Med. 2005 Dec; 26(6): 459-516.
- Shamloul N, et al. The role of vitamins and supplements on skin appearance. Cutis. 2019 Oct; 104(4): 220-4.
- Zmitek K, et al. The effect of dietary intake of coenzyme Q10 on skin parameters and condition: Results of a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Biofactors. 2017 Jan; 43(1): 132-40.