Meet Dr. Fabian Lopez, Anti-Aging Expert.

“Dr. Fab” is a high profile physician, speaker and noted anti-aging and wellness expert based in Miami's South Beach. Dr. Fab has a private practice and multi-specialty aesthetics clinics that host quite an A-list of VIP clientele.

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Recently, I appeared on the ABC morning show in West Palm Beach to talk about skin care and share some of my medical insights.  For this issue’s column, instead of answering questions from our readers as usual, I thought I would elaborate on some of the points we discussed on the show about the healing properties of fruits, vegetables and other foods. Don’t worry; I’ll be back again next issue to field all of your medical questions.   


Effects of Antioxidants from Food

The pigments that give fruits and veggies their bright color are actually powerful antioxidants. Foods like pomegranates and chocolate are full of pigments called flavonoids, while citrus fruits contain other equally important pigments, called carotenoids.  

These antioxidants serve several purposes. They clean up free radicals that are produced by environmental pollutants, UV rays from the sun and as a byproduct of oxidation. Antioxidants also serve as anti-inflammatory agents, and, amazingly enough, they posses antibiotic properties as well! All these properties combine to protect the skin from unnecessary damage, assist in proper repair, and therefore help prevent premature aging and skin cancer.


Moisture-Rich Fruits

The sugars, alpha hydroxy acids and enzymes in various fruits have been shown to "trap" moisture in the skin when used as masks or scrubs. Avocado and banana have been used for centuries to keep skin soft and smooth because of avocado’s high content of fat and their skin-nourishing vitamins. This essential phenomenon keeps the skin well-hydrated, evens out unwanted lines and wrinkles, and ultimately gives the skin a healthier, younger look.


Peel Away Years

Fruits and different types of food can also serve another aspect of facial skin care: basic mechanical abrasion, or exfoliation. This sounds harsh. However, in the medical realm we speak of gentle, careful abrasion. This is essential to remove the layer of excess dead skin that can build up over time, as well as to unclog pores. This exposes the healthier, more vibrant layers of skin, stimulates collagen production and enhances blood flow. Gritty, grainy foods like sea salt or crushed nuts serve well as great exfoliants. In addition, the alpha hydroxy acids in certain fruits like pineapple and citrus are believed to serve as natural "chemical" exfoliants, dissolving dead skin cells and unclogging pores.

There are many exfoliating products out there that make use of fruits’ natural physical and chemical properties to help gently exfoliate skin and reveal a glowing new layer of skin beneath, so sample a few to find the treatment that’s right for your skin.


Dr. Fab’s Grocery List for Better Skin & Health

Apricots
These fruits are rich in tannins, substances that have shown to be effective anti-inflammatory agents if used externally. They may help with conditions such as sunburn and eczema.

Lemons, limes, oranges
Citrus fruits have bleaching properties that topically may reduce the appearance of unwanted blemishes. They also can function as skin deodorants and scalp toners.

Cherries, peppermint, spearmint
These fruits and herbs belong to a group of foods that contain a substance called perillyl alcohol within their essential oils. Perillyl alcohol has been shown to be effective against certain cancer cells. It is therefore believed that they may have a preventative effect against skin cancer!

Apples
Eating an apple a day may actually keep me away!!!  Apples have been shown to have inhibiting effects against blood clotting, a major mechanism involved in heart disease.