NutritionFacts.org
Browsing: Home / Videos / Produce, Not Pills to Increase Physical Attractiveness

Health Topics

Browse through 1,577 different health topics
from A-Z!
  1. #
  2. A
  3. B
  4. C
  5. D
  6. E
  7. F
  8. G
  9. H
  10. I
  11. J
  12. K
  13. L
  14. M
  15. N
  16. O
  17. P
  18. Q
  19. R
  20. S
  21. T
  22. U
  23. V
  24. W
  25. X
  26. Y
  27. Z
Browse All Topics

Produce, Not Pills to Increase Physical Attractiveness

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

September 13, 2011 |
GD Star Rating
loading...
FavoriteLoadingAdd to My Playlist

Topics

Supplementary Info

Produce, Not Pills to Increase Physical Attractiveness, 4.7 out of 5 based on 3 ratings

Sources Cited

Meinke MC, Darvin ME, Vollert H, Lademann J. Bioavailability of natural carotenoids in human skin compared to blood. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2010 Oct;76(2):269-74.

Acknowledgements

Images thanks to woraput.

Transcript

 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 tried beta carotene pills, leutein pills, mixed carotenoid pills.  They didn’t work. Here are the three carotoid supplements each mixed in with the placebo—nothing happened. And  here’s them mixed in with the samples of kale.

 They conclude that “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.  Vegetables, 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.

To help out on the site please email volunteer@nutritionfacts.org

Dr. Michael Greger

Doctor's Note

Please feel free to post any ask-the-doctor type questions here in the comments section and I’d be happy to try to answer them. And be sure to check out Golden Glow as well as the corresponding blog post Optimum Nutrition Recommendations. Also, there are 1,449 subjects covered in my other videos--please feel free to explore them as well!

Also, check out my associated blog posts: Acai to Zucchini: antioxidant food rankings, Preserving Vision Through Diet, Optimum Nutrition Recommendations, and The Anti-Wrinkle Diet

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/mgreger/ Michael Greger M.D.

    Please feel free to post any ask-the-doctor type questions here in the comments section and I’d be happy to try to answer them. And be sure to check out Golden Glow as well as the corresponding blog post Optimum Nutrition Recommendations. Also, there are 1,449 subjects covered in my other videos–please feel free to explore them as well!

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/BenjaminStone/ Benjamin Stone

    I have found this to be personally true in my own observations. In addition to eating copious greens throughout the day, we make a daily green smoothie with the following ingredients (one could add fruit, but we do not want the extra fructose as we eat fruit separately):

    Green Smoothie Recipe

    -spinach (1/2 cup)
    -kale (1 cup)
    -parsley (1/4 cup)
    -cilantro (1/4 cup)
    -watercress (1 cup)
    -lemon juice (1/2 lemon)
    -orange zest (1 orange)
    -avocado (1/2)
    -red cabbage (1/4 cup)
    -almond milk (1 cup)
    -matcha green tea powder (1 t)
    -ginger (one small piece)

    • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/mgreger/ Michael Greger M.D.

      Anyone else have any glow-ful recipes to share?

    • WholeFoodChomper

      Wow! That’s a SUPER Green Smoothie! I’m interested in trying it but do not have one of those fancy-schmancy super blenders to make this workable in my blender (really just 1 cup of fluid and a bit of lemon juice will blend all of this into a smoothie?). Reading the ingredients, though, I know I’d be tempted to add some sort of fruit to sweeten it up (and to ensure that others in my household would even try it).

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/BenjaminStone/ Benjamin Stone

    In addition to the above, we have a daily green juice (no fiber) before breakfast. We do not juice any hi-glycemic index veg or fruit (i.e. carrots, apples). The green juice ingredients are:

    Green Juice Recipe

    Black kale, 2 cups
    Red cabbage, 1/4 cup
    Parsley, 1/4 cup
    Cilantro, 1/4 cup
    Romaine lettuce, 4-6 leaves
    Endive,1 small head
    Watercress, 1/2 cup
    Escarole, 1/2 cup
    Flax seeds, 1 T
    Green pepper, 1/4
    Ginger (small piece)
    Lemon (1/2)

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/darrellwlmsmail-utexas-edu/ darrellwlms@mail.utexas.edu

    Michael, I am having trouble understanding your voice on many of the video. There is too much resonance or something. Can you check this and see if electronically your voice can come through more clearly? its like you are speaking too close to the microphone.

    • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/mgreger/ Michael Greger M.D.

      Thank you for your feedback Darrell! Was it like this on this video for you? I know there’s some problems with the older (volume 1) ones. Took me awhile to get it right. I’m hoping to be able to go back and rerecord some of the oldies-but-goodies, but I’ve just been so overwhelmed putting together new content (a new video a day is quite the challenge I’m finding!) that it may be awhile :(

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/bpcveg/ BPC

    Dear Dr. Greger,

    Is there is any evidence that an effective natural skin cream can be made out of dark green vegetables? Or would absorption be an issue?

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/MarkCoster/ Mark Coster

    Apart from attractiveness, are there any other outcomes associated with higher carotenoid levels in the skin? It would make sense that they should act against UV damage, and therefore reduce skin cancer risk?

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/louisef/ LouiseF

    I love juicing with kale. A few handfuls of kale, a little bit of apple sauce (to cut bitterness of kale), half a banana, stalk of celery, flax meal and sometimes some frozen mango pieces. It’s great!

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/HeidiWoodruff/ Heidi Woodruff

    Thanks for the great recipes! I have only been using baby spinach in my green smoothies with apple and banana, I will try some of yours.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/dante/ Dante

    What is the best way to eat kale? Raw or cooked?

    • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/paul3917/ paul3917

      raw kale can be goitrogenic- better to lightly steam it, especially if you have a thyroid issue or marginal energy at times.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/darrellwlmsmail-utexas-edu/ darrellwlms@mail.utexas.edu

    Michael, The sound on this video is quite understandable. It is a little “thick” and it reminded me of earlier ones more “thickly fuzzy”, and I was just using this opportunity to give you a heads up. Actually, the earlier items were understandable and I managed the information easily by listening two or three times.

    So, I don’t think any video needs to be remade, especially in view of your looming tasks. I turn 80 in a few months and am in very good health but, since singly managing my life with limited resources and energy, I regret that I can contribute only well-wishes to your enterprise. I am a thankful beneficiary, big time.

    NO REPLY DESIRED.

    Darrell

  • Michael Greger M.D.

    Also be sure to check out my associated blog post Optimum nutrition recommendations!

  • http://www.facebook.com/jefflswanson Jeff Swanson

    I’d like to see this topic covered in a more functional way. Example: I take acai and amla in pill form as well as blend smoothies, eat salads etc.
    This study only tested synthetic carotenoids which implies undesirable stereoisomers and no mix of natural phyto chemicals.
    Let’s see what natural, standardized supplements offer compared to the whole-food standard.

  • Kman

    At 0:55 you say “the answer is produce not pills”. Why didn’t you comment on the additive effect of taking supplementation with produce? This seems especially interesting given that supplementation alone was no better than placebo.

©2012 NutritionFacts.org - All Rights Reserved | In partnership with the Jesse & Julie Rasch Foundation
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact Us