A good cosmetic routine and a rich and varied diet , which are essential for healthy and luminous skin , are sometimes not enough to combat blemishes , skin wrinkles and inflammation in general, in addition to better health with a stronger immune system .
And in that sense, mushrooms such as reishi , cordyceps or lion's mane , have become the great favorites of the biologist, mycologist and doctor in clinical oncology research at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Catalina Fernández de Ana Portela , also CEO of Hifas da Terra, a company that has been developing science-based supplements made from mushrooms and fungi for years and that are selling the most at Harrods. All of them, together with algae such as chlorella or spirulina, will help us achieve brighter skin , without blemishes , and more nourished and firm as they are one of the greatest sources of antioxidants and vitamins .
WHICH MUSHROOMS ARE MOST GOOD FOR THE SKIN AND HAVE THE MOST ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES?
Reishi is the most potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mushroom, and it also has healing properties and activates elastin synthesis, thus helping us achieve firmer skin . It also helps reduce lipofuscin deposits and works on age spots. Condyceps is also a very interesting mushroom for pro-aging because it increases the oxygen level in the blood of dermal cells and cellular ATP, which generates energy or muscle fibers. This helps maintain the facial muscle structure and prevents sagging. Therefore, both mushrooms work synergistically for the skin.
WHAT OTHER FOODS WOULD YOU COMBINE THESE MUSHROOMS WITH FOR BRIGHT, REJUVENATED SKIN?
I would combine mushrooms like reishi , lion's mane , and cordyceps with algae like spirulina and chrorella , which have been extensively studied on what we look for in our skin. For example, cleansing it of toxins. But also on an oxidative level because they help rejuvenate it and prevent it from oxidizing. With these nutrients, we prevent oxidation and also the signs of aging on the skin. The algae I mentioned are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant , and toxin-cleansing because the skin is the main receptor of toxins from the outside.
ANY OTHER INTERESTING NUTRIENTS FOR THE SKIN THAT WE SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT?
Saffron has been clinically proven to help us rest and sleep better because good sleep is also essential for the skin. I also like red berries for their richness in antioxidants, and for skin health and immunity, I like elderflower , a plant rich in flavonoids and terpenoids, which are very good antioxidants and very anti-inflammatory as they support the skin's immune system. Probiotics should also be considered for radiant skin because often when there are digestive problems, the reflection is seen in the skin. Rosacea comes from a digestive system that is struggling, and the body reflects this.
WHAT GOOD HABITS DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR GLOWING SKIN AT ANY AGE?
For luminous, elastic and vigorous skin, the most important thing is to sleep eight hours , drink two liters of water a day to properly cleanse the kidneys and intestines , detoxify the body and have a rich and varied diet , have the colors of the rainbow on your plate every day and focus on mushrooms, algae, probiotics, collagen , marine elastin, safflower and elderberry as botanical elements that provide a differentiating activity to our diet.
CAN WE TAKE VITAMIN-RICH MUSHROOM SUPPLEMENTS TO COMPLEMENT OUR DIET ALWAYS WITHOUT A MEDICAL PRESCRIPTION?
Yes, unless we have an intolerance or some type of hypervitaminosis or something that could cause us to react.
WHY IS IT SO INTERESTING TO INCORPORATE MUSHROOMS AND SEAWEED INTO OUR DIET?
Because no matter how much we follow a healthy and varied diet, the reality is that farmland isn't what it used to be. The sun doesn't ripen fruits and vegetables equally, allowing us to synthesize vitamins and absorb minerals from the soil. Let's just say it's a diet that won't provide us with everything we need, and we'll always need supplements, and they shouldn't contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals that border on hypervitaminosis. It's key that the supplement is well-balanced so that it provides us with a balanced, rather than excessive, daily intake.