Produce, Not Pills, to Increase Physical Attractiveness

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Kale works better at boosting antioxidant levels in the skin than synthetic beta carotene, lutein, and mixed carotenoid supplements.

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If dietary carotenoids contribute to a normal healthy skin color, why not just go for the quick fix, and take a pill? Because, it doesn’t work. A paper published last year looked at how effective kale was at increasing carotenoid concentration in the skin. As you can see, compared to placebo, there was a significant rise in carotenoid concentration in both the forehead and the palm during kale supplementation. And you can see that they were still significantly above baseline even two weeks after they stopped the kale.

What if instead of the sugar pill, though, you compared kale to beta carotene pills, lutein pills, mixed carotenoid pills? They didn’t work. Here are the three carotenoid supplements each mixed in with the placebo—nothing happened. And here’s them mixed in with the samples of kale. The answer is produce, not pills.

They conclude: “The higher increase in the skin may possibly be caused by the fact that the antioxidant substances in the skin act as a network, protecting each other against degradation, caused by free radicals…[V]egetables, fruit, and natural extracts, which contain a cocktail of different carotenoids…protect tissues such as the skin more efficiently than high doses of single synthetic carotenoids…This indicates that the antioxidants in the skin protect each other in an antioxidative network.”

They all work together, in greens, to help keep your skin healthy and beautiful.

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by Dianne Moore.

Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.

Images thanks to woraput via iStock

If dietary carotenoids contribute to a normal healthy skin color, why not just go for the quick fix, and take a pill? Because, it doesn’t work. A paper published last year looked at how effective kale was at increasing carotenoid concentration in the skin. As you can see, compared to placebo, there was a significant rise in carotenoid concentration in both the forehead and the palm during kale supplementation. And you can see that they were still significantly above baseline even two weeks after they stopped the kale.

What if instead of the sugar pill, though, you compared kale to beta carotene pills, lutein pills, mixed carotenoid pills? They didn’t work. Here are the three carotenoid supplements each mixed in with the placebo—nothing happened. And here’s them mixed in with the samples of kale. The answer is produce, not pills.

They conclude: “The higher increase in the skin may possibly be caused by the fact that the antioxidant substances in the skin act as a network, protecting each other against degradation, caused by free radicals…[V]egetables, fruit, and natural extracts, which contain a cocktail of different carotenoids…protect tissues such as the skin more efficiently than high doses of single synthetic carotenoids…This indicates that the antioxidants in the skin protect each other in an antioxidative network.”

They all work together, in greens, to help keep your skin healthy and beautiful.

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by Dianne Moore.

Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.

Images thanks to woraput via iStock

Doctor's Note

For more on antioxidant dietary supplements, check out these videos:
Antioxidants and Depression
Enhanced Athletic Recovery Without Undermining Adaptation
Antioxidant-Rich Foods With Every Meal
Food Antioxidants and Cancer
Food Antioxidants, Stroke, and Heart Disease

And be sure to check out Golden Glow.

Also, check out my associated blog posts: Açai to Zucchini: antioxidant food rankingsPreserving Vision Through DietOptimum Nutrition RecommendationsThe Anti-Wrinkle DietTreating Sensitive Skin From the Inside OutDiet and Cellulite; and Improving Attractiveness in Six Weeks.

If you haven’t yet, you can subscribe to my videos for free by clicking here. Read our important information about translations here.

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