America has gone crazy this past decade following low-fat and no-fat diets. As a dermatologist, this concerns me because the negative effects of these food fads show first in the face. And as a physician, I can assure you that these diets are not the road to health or beauty. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Fats, particularly the essential fatty acids such as the Omega-3’s and the Omega-6’s, are essential to the "Perricone Prescription."
As the "essential" in their name implies, these substances are necessary to build cells and also to support the body's anti-inflammatory response. They are the "good" polyunsaturated fats that help prevent heart disease and stroke when substituted for the saturated and trans fats so common in our diets. For a variety of reasons, eating cold water fish like salmon, which is loaded with Omega-3 essential fatty acids will ensure that your skin has an unmatched radiance and glow.
Remember that the Omega-3 fatty acids need to be balanced with Omega-6 fatty acids in a ratio of 1:2. A superior source of Omega-6 essential fatty acids is borage oil, which is readily available in supplement form.
Other very important sources of the fats proven to promote both beauty and health include extra virgin olive oil (not the highly processed "pure" or "virgin" types), which contains powerful anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory compounds known as polyphenols. (Olive oil from Spain has very high concentrations of these polyphenols.)
In conjunction with high-quality protein, low-glycemic carbohydrates, and 8 – 10 glasses of water each day, these fats will help the skin stay plumped up, moist and radiant. Nuts, including hazelnuts and almonds, are also a great source of healthy essential fatty acids, protein, and fiber.
We now know that beautiful skin comes from within, and the Perricone Prescription is designed to show you how to stay young looking, vibrant and energetic, regardless of your chronological years.
Egg on your face?
No, I don't recommend putting egg on your face, but something in eggs does relate to the Perricone Prescription. You'll recall that the first tier of the Prescription, nutrition, calls for eating extra virgin olive oil and foods high in essential fatty acids (e.g., salmon, nuts, flax), because they are essential for beautiful skin and hair. Our second tier includes targeted supplements such as fish, flax and borage oils. Are there certain fats that we should actually be applying to our skin to complete the third tier of the Program?
The answer is a resounding yes. The main moisturizing agents in skin are phospholipids so it is no surprise that our topical fat comes in a phospholipid form —a remarkable substance known as polyenylphosphatidyl choline, which I call PPC for short. My discovery of this transformative food for the skin was motivated in part by a patient who suffered from very dry and sensitive skin. No matter what treatment she tried, including "hypo-allergenic" products, her skin reacted. Although only 28 years of age, her skin was already thinning and losing elasticity. I needed a targeted substance that could offer protection to the cell membrane.
Found naturally in lecithin--a natural constituent of eggs, soy, and certain other foods--PPC contains nutrients that offer a wide range of benefits, including the alleviation of dry skin conditions, enhanced liver function and increased brain activity. Because of its unique molecular makeup, the natural emollient characteristics of PPCs s help soften dry skin and heal dry, chapped, and inflamed skin.
Putting it all together
Keep your meal planning on track with a healthy amount of the right fats and supplement with borage for Omega-6 and flax and fish oils for Omega-3 essential fatty acids. Eat plenty of cold water fish, including salmon, sardines, herring, albacore tuna, bluefin tuna, and mackerel. I prefer wild Alaskan salmon, as it may have fewer PCB contaminants than farm-raised salmon (which can pose a great risk to the coastal environment), and more Omega-3 fats.
Drink your 8 – 10 glasses of water. Include brightly colored fruits and vegetables for their anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory benefits. And remember to feed your face and body with topical PPC for the look of a beautifully hydrated and moisture-laden complexion all year round.
