Know cucumbers benefits for skin? I also have 3 other botanicals to eat with skin benefits too!
Often times when we hear the words botanical and skin together we think of the botanicals used in skin care products to be used topically, but botanical refers to a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, therapeutic, flavor, or scent properties. What botanicals should we ingest as we get ready to close out this winter season and emerge fresh as a daisy for spring? I’ve made a list of my three favorite skin-loving botanicals to add to your grocery cart.
Cucumbers Benefits for Skin
They are so versatile – cucumbers benefits for skin are vast.
Cucumber water, cucumber in salads (even though it’s really a fruit), cute little cucumber sandwiches, so many options, and don’t even get me started on the pickling/fermenting train! They are mostly water and so they are very hydrating. Please don’t peel them so that you can reap their full botanical benefits including vitamins C and K as well as the minerals magnesium, potassium, and manganese.
Cucumbers benefits for the skin – fight free radicals because they contain flavonoids and tannins. These bioactive nutrients yield benefits beyond just basic nutrition, they enhance our cellular health and reduce our risk of chronic disease. And just in case that wasn’t enough, several animal studies have shown that they may help reduce blood sugar levels.
Cucumbers benefits for the skin help reduce inflammation. When blood sugar spikes all kinds of things happen that are not ideal but in the interest of keeping this article a quick read, one of the most detrimental is inflammation. Then it becomes chronic inflammation which leads to much bigger problems. Lastly, they contain soluble fiber (pectin). The pectin combined with their high water content helps to facilitate regular bowel movements and the pectin also feeds the good resident bacteria, supporting our microbiome.
Stinging Nettle Benefits For The Skin
It sounds like it might be a bit of a nuisance to forage for, but lucky for us in these modern times we can just trundle down to the grocery store and purchase some perfectly packaged nettle tea bags. Using Nettle goes as far back to the Ancient Egyptians and Romans for ailments like arthritis and back pain but modern science tells us that it is very nutrient-rich. It contains vitamins A, C, K, and several B’s, minerals, fats like linoleic acid, all of the essential amino acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, and pigments (beta-carotene and lutein).
In addition to Nettle’s numerous antioxidants, it contains many compounds to reduce inflammation and you guys know how I feel about inflammation! Systemically it wreaks havoc and our poor body is trying all its tricks to make the inflammation subside. Since this is an article on skin health and beauty it’s important to understand that whatever is going on inside the body will be reflected in the skin.
I’ll keep going with the benefits. Hayfever! As we approach allergy season research has shown that nettle extract can inhibit the inflammation that can trigger seasonal allergies by blocking histamine receptors and halting immune cells from releasing chemicals that trigger allergy symptoms. I could go on for quite a while but just a couple more benefits; stinging nettle is also thought to aid in controlling blood sugar, it is known to support liver health, as a natural diuretic it could help lower blood pressure and topically is known to support wound and burn healing. You don’t just have to drink it as a tea either, once cooked the sting is disarmed. You could use it in place of spinach, or throw some in your veggie pasta, or favorite spring stew!
Contribution by Rachel Miller LPN, CAE
Rachel Miller is a licensed nurse and an advanced esthetician and a nationally accredited phlebotomist. She has decades of experience working in the medical profession with a focus on a holistic approach. She is a graduate of Cornell University’s Nutrition program. Her knowledge on nutrition from Cornell and self-study make her a reliable resource for credible information on nutrition and the skin.
Berries Benefits For The Skin
This one. So predictable. They are inescapable and that is because they are just so stellar for our bodies and our skin. They are absolutely loaded with antioxidants and we can never get enough because of the oxidative assault our bodies face every day. They contain a specific antioxidant called ellagic acid which specifically helps decrease wrinkles and other signs of aging due to sun exposure. Berries help regulate our blood sugar levels and provide soluble fiber as well as vitamin C and K. They also contain manganese, copper, and folate. As you may have guessed, they fight inflammation! Lastly, they support our endothelial cells which enhances the health of our blood vessels which supports good circulation, and offsets some damage to our vessels caused by inflammation. In all honesty, I really saved the best for last. I could’ve written another three pages on how stellar berries are for our skin health-eat them every day!
Veggies Benefits For The Skin
We all know that we need to eat a plethora of veggies and fruit for optimal health. Eat a wide variety and eat them often. Picture your fridge like your medicine cabinet knowing that what you eat plays a very important role in how your skin will look. You truly can glow from the inside out and you have all the power. I’m thinking we start with putting some cucumber slices in some iced nettle tea and a beautiful berry parfait…just remember not to peel those cucumbers!
