Mala McAlpin Give some added value to your skin and wellness offerings
With diet and nutrition playing an irrefutable role in overall skin health, it is now common practice for spas and clinics to incorporate this aspect into their services in some capacity, whether it be actual in-house health and/or nutritional services, or having a list of local nutrition experts at the ready to refer to clients in need. If you don’t have either of these up your sleeve, you may be behind the eight ball!
In order to add value to your growing numbers of clients seeking nutritional advice regarding their skin health, we sought the help of a skin-specialising nutritionist to share with us exactly which foods may improve various skin conditions, bringing you tangible tips and advice to share with your knowledge-hungry clients. SPA+CLINIC chatted to Stephanie Gobbo, a Clinical Naturopath and Nutritionist. Stephanie specialises in all digestive disorders and autoimmune diseases, with a keen interest in skin health and anti-ageing. She consults from Melbourne’s Willow Urban Retreat and Skin Angel clinic, complementing clients’ topical treatments with therapeutic natural remedies to further support clear skin from within.
Here are Stephanie’s tips on how to address these common skin conditions through dietary changes:
Dullness
Consuming a diet rich in carotenoids; ie. the red, yellow and orange pigments found in fruit and vegetables, will enhance skin glow. These include Lycopene, which can be found in tomatoes and red capsicum, and Beta-carotene, which is found in carrots and leafy greens.
Berries – rich in antioxidants that brighten the skin. Add a cup of mixed berries into an acai smoothie.
Papaya – rich in Vitamin C which enhances collagen production and brightness. Add to smoothies or enjoy fresh with a squeeze of lime juice.
Walnuts – rich in essential fatty acids that hydrate and brighten skin. Enjoy a small handful daily or add on top of salads.
Dehydration
Good hydration is essential to skin health, ridding toxins and promoting skin elasticity.
Aloe vera – very water-dense and filled with antioxidants to support healthy skin. Drinking Aloe juice each morning is a great way to cleanse the body or add the fresh plant gel into a smoothie.
Salmon – a rich source of Vitamin A and Omega 3 fatty acids which help to hydrate the skin and protect and strengthen the skin barrier. A salmon nicoise is a skin-loving salad as it is filled with EFAs from the salmon, eggs, olives, anchovies and olive oil.
Acne
Pumpkin seeds – rich in Zinc which enhances healing while also having anti-bacterial properties that fight acne. Sprinkle on top of salads.
Turmeric – a powerful anti-inflammatory herb that can lessen acne damage. Enjoy freshly grated turmeric root in a herbal tea, smoothie, or cooking.
Coconut oil – rich in caprylic acid which is a natural anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal which helps to treat acne. Add 1 tablespoon to smoothies.
Pigmentation
Berries – rich in Vitamin C which can help brighten and even skin tone. Add to your favourite smoothie recipes.
Cruciferous vegetables – enhance liver detoxification which is important for pigmentation treatment. Enjoy in your favourite stir-fry or salad.
Papaya – rich in beta-carotene which helps brighten skin and even skin tone.
Inflammation
Essential fatty acids keep skin hydrated, reduce inflammation and improve collagen and elastin formation.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – rich in healthy fats that have inflammation actions within the body. Enjoy on top of salads and for cooking and baking.
Turmeric – helps to block inflammation pathways within the body therefore promoting skin healing.
Chia seeds – rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids that help reduce inflammation. Enjoy a chia pudding or add a tablespoon to smoothies or on top of salads.
