What Foods Are High in Ceramides?

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It makes up about 16 percent of your total body weight and covers about 22 square feet of the average adult. Skin does much more than act as a covering to hold all your other parts - organs, blood vessels, bones, nerves, etc. As your body's first line of defense, the skin also keeps out harmful substances - bacteria and viruses, toxic chemicals and air pollutants.

As we age, our skin is one of the first signs. Wrinkles, discolored skin, skin as thin as wrinkled paper, sagging skin - these are all characteristics of aging skin. While the sun is the most important factor in aging skin, other factors can affect it as well. Did you know that blue light from screens (cell phones, laptops, TVs, tablets) can also contribute to skin aging?

This brings us to the central theme of the blog - plant extracts and how they can benefit your skin.

 Konjac Ceramide 

What are ceramides and why are they important?

Ceramides are the main component of the outer layer of the skin (the stratum corneum - the top layer of the epidermis), forming a protective barrier that prevents moisture from escaping as well as microbes and toxins from entering. They make up half of the fat (oil) content of the skin. Konjac ceramide supplements are also an important component of the cell membrane. By preventing water from evaporating from the skin, our natural ceramides help retain moisture and thus improve skin hydration.

However, exposure to sunlight, pollutants, and aging, in general, can reduce the natural production of ceramides. Skin conditions are also often characterized by reduced ceramide levels, which is why ceramides are often added to topical skin care products. However, they can also be taken orally to increase ceramide levels and improve skin hydration. * This helps prevent dry, flaky skin - well-hydrated skin is healthy skin.

Although the body produces ceramides, they are found naturally in food - the highest levels are found in eggs and dairy products. But there are also plant sources of ceramides (sometimes called phytoceramides), including soy (the highest plant source), wheat germ, sesame seeds, coconut, grape seeds, peanuts, spinach, potatoes/sweet potatoes, rice, millet, and some fruits. One fruit that contains natural ceramides is the peach - it has twice the number of ceramides as other fruits.

 Konjac Ceramide Supplement

But you have to eat a lot of these foods to get a lot of ceramides; therefore, a standardized extract - a concentrate - is needed that contains a certain amount of ceramides.

Phytoceramide has advantages that natural and safe synthetic ceramides do not have. The Phytoceramide on the market is extracted from rice bran, konjac flying powder, pineapple leaves, eucalyptus leaves, and other plants. Among them, the content of ceramide in konjac flour is the highest, reaching 0.15%-0.2%. It is more than ten times that of other plant materials.

Do ceramides help wrinkles?

Properly formulated (and correctly packaged) skincare products with ceramides help strengthen your skin's barrier and improve hydration. This results in smoother and firmer skin, reduced fine lines and wrinkles and less irritation. Phytoflavonoids can improve skin hydration, elasticity, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.

Several plant polyphenols (flavonoids) are known to support healthy skin.

Blackcurrant extract

Animal and test tube studies using human skin cells have shown that the anthocyanins (flavonoid compounds) in black currant increase important skin components - collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid - which are necessary for skin strength and elasticity.

                                    Blackcurrant Extracts

Red and black currant extracts

On the basis of this study, a combination of black and red currants called MitoHeal® was tested. In a study of 40 women ages 22-55, women taking red currant/black currant extract showed significant improvements in wrinkle severity, roughness, brown spots, and hair and nail quality in a photo evaluation by a board-certified dermatologist - versus women taking a placebo.

Lutein/Zeaxanthin

The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin - which are high in red and yellow fruits and vegetables - are known for protecting the eyes from high-energy light sources - UV and blue light. But these particular carotenoids can also protect the skin. * The protective effect of lutein and zeaxanthin is due to their aggregation in the macula of the eye and in the skin. * *

In a 12-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 46 men and women (18-45 years old) took lutein and zeaxanthin (LuteMax 2020® - 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin/endoxanthin) or a placebo daily. At the end of the study, those taking the carotenoid complex had an overall improvement in skin tone, brighter skin (which the researchers attributed to antioxidant effects), and resistance to sun damage as measured by the amount of UV light needed to cause skin reddening. 

Youbio Technology Co., Ltd. is a konjac ceramide supplier, committed to supplying natural, healthy and reliable materials for the food, pharmaceutical, dietary supplement, and cosmetics industries, the raw materials and extracts we produce have comprehensive certificates, as well as providing professional solution of active component screening, large-scale production, functional research and finish product design for the customers. For more information and consultation, contact us here!