- Top Tips for Fantastic Skin
- Keep Young and Healthy from the Inside
Out
- By Penny Williams
When you meet people, what do
they see? Your face, your skin, that’s what. Your skin condition
can say a lot about your health and your lifestyle. Did you know
that your skin is the largest organ of your body? An adult human
skin weighs around 5kg (11lbs) and has a surface area of 2 sq.
metres (22 sq. feet), which is approximately the size of a double
bed. Even with your clothes on that’s a lot of target for
damage from the outside – injury, sunlight, cigarette smoke,
environmental pollution. So your skin can be damaged by what
it is exposed to, and at the same time, it reflects internal
emotions (e.g. when you sweat or blush) and conditions (especially
the health of your digestive system). The condition of your skin
is closely dependant on what you eat.
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Nutrition and Your Skin
Nutrition is fundamentally involved
at every stage of your skin development. Collagen makes up 70%
of your skin and depends on vitamin C. Dry, rough skin (caused
by the build up the protein keratin on the outer layers) can
be prevented by Vitamin A. The membranes of skin cells are made
from essential fats. Dry skin can be caused by a lack of these
fats. The flexibility of your skin is reduced as you get older
mainly because of oxidation damage caused by free radicals –
from pollution, cigarette smoke, fried and burnt foods, sunlight.
This damage can be limited by nutrients such as vitamins A, C,
E and selenium. Lack of zinc can lead to stretch marks and slow
wound healing, and is associated with a wide variety of skin
problems from acne to eczema. |
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Foods to Keep You Young and
Beautiful
Foods that can enhance your appearance
need to feature as many of the following as possible: antioxidants,
antibacterials, fibre to clear toxins, essential fats to support
skin and reduced levels of saturated fat and sugar.
The sorts of foods where you’ll
get this kind of combination are: fresh fruit and vegetables,
whole grains, fish, pulses, nuts and seeds.
So, to improve your skin,
include the following in your diet:
Apricots, cantaloupe melon, carrots,
eggs, liver, pumpkin, red peppers, watercress - contain Vitamin
A and beta carotene.
Blackcurrants, broccoli, citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, papaya, peppers,
potatoes, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and sprouted seeds –
contain Vitamin C.
Almonds, avocado, eggs, hazelnuts, olive oil, Sunflower seeds,
walnuts – contain Vitamin E.
Brazil nuts, cabbage, chicken, eggs, liver, molasses, mushrooms,
onions, seafood, tuna – contain Selenium.
Almonds, chicken, cauliflower, carrots, cucumber, eggs, oats,
potatoes, sardines, tuna – contain Zinc.
And reduce your intake of
these:
Alcohol
Coffee/tea (no more than 2 cups per day)
Sugar
Saturated fat (found in meat and dairy products).
And think about these other factors:
Avoid strong sunlight and use
a sun block (sunlight causes oxidative damage and speeds the
aging process of your skin).
Wash your skin with a gentle
oil-based cleanser, not soap, and consider what is in your skin
products such as your moisturizer (many cosmetics contains strong
petroleum/alcohol based substances – remember these are
absorbed through the skin).
Take regular exercise (it stimulates
blood flow, which will enhance delivery of oxygen and nutrients
to your skin cells).
Drink plenty of water (6-8 glasses
per day (1- 1½ litres)) to hydrate the skin. Too little
water can be a major factor in dry skin.
Consider taking some nutritional
supplements: a good quality multivitamin and mineral supplement;
vitamin C; an antioxidant blend (containing at least vitamins
A, C, E, zinc and selenium); and an essential fatty acid supplement
(linseed oil, fish oil or evening primrose oil or oil blend).
Remember supplements should be considered as an addition to a
good diet and healthy lifestyle, not a replacement for one.
Use a skin brush for your body
(upward strokes working from feet to torso) and an exfoliation
cream for your face. Exfoliation helps to clear blocked pores
and smooth away dead, dry skin.
If that sounds a lot to think
about, don’t let it put you off. You can have the skin you
deserve, the skin that reflects a healthier you. Just take it
step by step. First introduce apricots, cantaloupe melon etc
(the Vitamin A foods). Then when you’ve worked through introducing
the healthier range of foods, start reducing the alcohol and
sugar. In no time at all you’ll be on the road to better
health and better skin. |
Beauty Secrets of the World
