When you make that café pit-stop for your next blissful soy latte or chow down on a side of edamame with your sushi, consider the benefits of soy for your skin as well.
According to studies soy is an excellent source of protein and anti-oxidants which reduce the signs of aging in your sin.
Soy is a natural anti-inflammatory due to the hefty content of a plant compound present in soybean known as isoflavones.
Isoflavones have a two-prong benefit as both a collagen stimulant and an enzyme inhibitor.
If you choose non-organic skincare products, those pesky pesticides can find their way into your skin care products and onto that beautiful canvas that is your skin. You also want to avoid genetically modified soy products in both skin care and food products if you want the best soy for your health.
Applied topically to the skin, soy increases the elasticity and thickness of your skin, as it stimulates collagen and helps slow the early onset of wrinkles. Soy prevents the sagging of your skin by inhibiting enzymes that wear down the proteins necessary to maintain healthy skin structure. Revival Soy, a manufacturer of soy products, conducted a study with 40 post-menopausal women between ages 50-65. After taking 20g of soy over a 3 month period, the study found that 93 % of the women taking soy saw skin flaking and discoloration decrease. After 6 months wrinkles began to fade.
As a natural anti-inflammatory, soy has the inherent ability to ward off a variety of skin irritations including rashes and dry flaking skin.
While soy as a topical skin care product is still fairly new, there are a few heavenly products on the market that you can pamper your skin with. I look at my daily face wash made with soy beads and it has been one of the best facial cleansers I have ever rubbed two nickels together to purchase. It balances my usually oily skin in a way no cleanser ever has leaving it smooth to the touch. Then I glance at my soy milk and loofah fruit body polish and I think “polish is an understatement.” I kid you not, my skin has never been as soft as the day I was gifted this supreme body wash.
I attribute my healthier skin to these soy wonders. Be sure that you don’t have an allergy to soy before you invest in a skincare product. On the flip side of the discovered benefits of past studies, soy allergies can lead to acne breakouts, the last thing you want. Also keep in mind that organic skincare is always best when it comes to healthy skin and overall well being. Beware: If you choose non-organic skincare products, those pesky pesticides can find their way into your skin care products and onto that beautiful canvas that is your skin. You also want to avoid genetically modified soy products in both skin care and food products if you want the best soy for your health.
From the kitchen side of soy use: fermented varieties of soy like miso, tempeh and natto are the top choices. These soy foods aren’t nutrient blocking in the way that non-fermented soy products generally tend to be. To obtain healthy skin you need a nutrient rich diet that fermented soy foods can enhance.
Moderation is the key because overdoing soy may imbalance hormones like estrogen which is linked to breast cancer and fibroids in women. But that soy protein shake is choice for relieving menopausal symptoms, protecting against heart disease and promoting stronger bones. Couple that shake with a tofu puff and egg scramble with caramelized onions and peppers for a love supreme. Enjoy some soy!
Joanna Vargas is a graduate from the University of Chicago and is a celebrity facialist known for having the best facial in New York City. Her unique skincare treatments like her microcurrent facial, LED light therapy and oxygen facial have been the source of rave reviews from magazines such as Vogue, Allure and many others. Her organic skincare products will soon be available for purchase by spas and clients alike.