Most people know of tofu as a useful meat replacement, but did you know it actually has some excellent health benefits too? Tofu is an incredibly healthy food, and it’s worth adding it to your cooking repertoire whether you’re vegan or not!
Not only is tofu a super healthy product that can help you lose weight, reduce the chance of certain cancers, and keep your heart healthy, but it can also make your skin glow. In this article, we’ll look at some of the amazing health benefits that tofu can give your skin!
What is tofu?
Tofu is a food product from Asia; it is eaten commonly in East Asian and South-East Asian cultures. It is made from fermented soybeans.
It has always been popular amongst Asian communities in the USA but has become even more popular in recent years as veganism and vegetarianism have become more prevalent, and people have realized that it is an excellent meat replacement.
Tofu comes in a range of different forms: silken, firm, and extra firm. You will use all of these for various purposes – silken is better in smoothies and desserts, whereas firm and extra firm are better in savory dishes as a meat replacement – but they all have extraordinary benefits for your skin!
Tofu Contains Vitamin E
Tofu contains vitamin E, which is a vital nutrient when it comes to flawless skin. Vitamin E helps to hydrate and moisturize skin while reducing dead skin cells, which will make your skin glow.
Vitamin E is also renowned for improving our eyesight, strengthening our immune system, and fighting off any viruses or infections.
Tofu is anti-aging
Do you feel like you’re getting a few wrinkles? Tofu can help you with that! Soy is an anti-aging ingredient that will have your skin looking ten years younger.
Soy encourages collagen production, which naturally improves the elasticity of our skin. It also boosts cell turnover levels and stabilizes the skin’s structures. This all results in wrinkle-free skin!
Tofu will hydrate you
Most tofu recipes will have you squeezing the water out with a tofu press. Indeed, this is an essential step if you are cooking with firm tofu – check out the collection over at TofuBud if you haven’t already got one.
However, because tofu is stored in water, it locks away some H20 for you – even after you’ve pressed it! Silken tofu, which is used to make some recipes creamier and doesn’t need to be pressed, is also great for hydration.
We know what hydration means – naturally better skin. Make sure that you’re still drinking your eight glasses of water a day, but eating tofu could be another tool to help you achieve a flawless complexion!
Wait – doesn’t soy cause acne?
A lot of people are concerned about eating tofu because they think that it will give them acne. Let’s debunk this; tofu is made from fermented soybeans, but that doesn’t mean eating tofu naturally gives you acne.
Soy usually only causes adverse effects on people if they eat a lot of it. This means consuming soy in some form for every single meal. If you eat tofu once a day, you will only notice any ill effects if you have a soy intolerance.
Plus, soy is generally only linked to acne in people prone to it, and it only triggers in particular people. It’s the same as how some people have a dairy intolerance, but others don’t.
So, soy can cause acne in some people – but in many others, it gives them glowing, bright skin!
If you struggle with acne and notice that it gets worse when you eat soy, you may want to investigate this further.
Can I eat tofu every day?
It is healthy for most people to eat tofu every day, although too much – for example, tofu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week – can cause issues, just like too much of any food product can cause trouble!
However, if a doctor has advised you to avoid or limit soy, whether that be because your skin is sensitive toward the food or for another health condition, follow their instructions about how much you can eat tofu.
Tofu is a fabulous food with many health benefits. Not only is it really versatile, but it can help protect you against diseases and make you look and feel fantastic! There are some great health benefits of tofu for your skin, from the fact that it’s full of vitamin E to the way it encourages collagen production. Start eating tofu today and see the benefits!