Indian women prefer snacking on almonds to achieve better skin health: YouGov Survey

In this fast-paced world and with the growing influx of information, women across the country are aware of how nutrition is closely associated with skin health. The food we eat is as important as the products for our skin, as healthy glowing skin is hard to achieve on a poor diet even with the strictest skincare regime. This is evident in the survey that highlights a shift in consumers’ preferences towards a healthy lifestyle and natural alternatives for daily diet.

According to a recent survey conducted between 7th to 22nd December by YouGov, a research consulting firm, 72% of women in India find healthy dietary changes as an important step for beautiful looking skin.

The quantitative survey by YouGov aimed to assess the correlation between beauty and snacking, and understand women’s snacking patterns for beauty benefits. The survey was conducted amongst a sample size of 3,959
women in cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Indore, Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Chennai.

As per the survey results, it is important to note that 80% of women in India are of the opinion that beauty shines through by being healthy rather than using topical skincare products. Majority of the respondents feel that having a
healthy diet along with relaxing when needed and exercising are key to a balanced lifestyle which thereby results into achieving a healthy skin.

Talking specifically in terms of maintaining a healthy diet, most women see a consequent benefit of achieving beautiful looking skin with home meals, a fibre-rich diet and snacking on nuts like almonds. Almonds have emerged as a top choice amongst Indian women as they associate Vitamin E with better skin health. Almonds are a rich source of Vitamin E 1 – thus, almonds are ranked highest on this aspect amongst all nuts. Besides, the survey highlights the fact that 59% of women consume almonds on a daily basis, mostly soaked or raw. This makes almonds the most regularly consumed nut.

Females of the age group 30-39 and Millennials rate almonds highly on aspects such as wrinkle reduction, skin glow and skin protection. Whereas Gen X highly associates consumption of almonds with reduction of wrinkles. This assessment is reinforced by their personal experience as they report having observed positive effects on skin after eating almonds. In fact, those who have been consuming almonds for over 6 months report positive impacts such as skin glow and younger looking skin more than those who started consuming almonds lately.

Commenting on the results of the survey Dr. Geetika Mittal Gupta, Skin Expert and Cosmetologist said “The popular notion of ‘health from the inside out’ holds true. This can be very well-understood from the survey results which indicate towards a growing awareness amongst Indian women around the relationship between proper nutrition and skin health. I have always stressed upon the need for healthy dietary choices in addition to the topical application of skincare products. For instance, eating a handful of almonds every day can up the Vitamin E intake and other antioxidants which help protect cells – including skin cells – from oxidative damage and are thought to be extremely beneficial for skin.

Almonds also provide essential fatty acids and polyphenols thought to help fight the effects of aging on skin. Recent studies suggest, eating almonds daily in place of a typical calorie-matched snack may be an effective means of improving the appearance of facial wrinkles and skin tone 2 3 among postmenopausal women. My recommendation to women across India would be to take cognizance of these benefits and to add consumption of a handful of almonds to their daily skincare routine., to support their skin’s overall health.”

Commenting on the results of the survey, Sheela Krishnaswamy, Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, said, “It is great to see survey results indicating stronger adoption of the idea that a healthy lifestyle, including healthy snacking, can elevate one’s skin health. Almonds are known to be a rich source of antioxidant vitamin E and deliver essential fatty acids and polyphenols, which make them a great choice 4.

A recent study suggests that almonds can help improve facial wrinkles and skin tone, 5 a finding that supports the belief that almonds promote skin health among survey participants. I encourage women to include them in their daily diet, to support healthier skin.”