RealAge Tip of the Week: A Unique Protein Source that Wipes Out Wrinkles

Ahhh, soy. It's a love-it-or-hate-it kind of food. But maybe you would grow to adore tofu, tempeh, and edamame if you knew this: It could help you look younger.

Yep. Eating lean, nutritious soy foods may help smooth fine wrinkles and buoy your skin's snap-back qualities, according to recent research. Those are two big victories for face freshness.

It's All About Aglycone
Soy is packed with a special isoflavone called aglycone, and it appears to be the source of the youth-boosting magic. In a study of middle-aged women, those who took a daily 40 milligram supplement of aglycone noticed diminishment in the fine wrinkles (better known as crow's feet) around their eyes. The women also enjoyed a smoother complexion and a big jump in elasticity. (Add these other foods to your list of elastin- and collagen-boosting edibles.)

Wrinkle Weapons
Aglycone is among several plant estrogens found in soy. Soy estrogens may help counter age- and menopause-related changes in skin by hindering collagen depletion and boosting the production of connective tissue cells in the skin. But soy is not without its drawbacks. Get the YOU Docs' take on all the conflicting information about soy.

Are topical estrogen creams a good idea? Find out whether they can help stymie menopause-induced skin changes.

Ready to fall in love with tempeh? Then check out this Smothered Tempeh Sandwich recipe.

RealAge Benefit:

Training your taste buds to love foods that thwart aging can make your RealAge at least 3 years younger.

References Published on 07/06/2010 Oral intake of soy isoflavone aglycone improves the aged skin of adult women. Izumi, T. et al., Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology (Tokyo) 2007 Feb;53(1):57-62.