Skin - The Body's Barometer

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Skin - The Body's Barometer

 

 

Skin problems such as eczema, dermatitis, acne, dry or oily skin, and wrinkly

skin are a good indication that you are not eating optimally and/or are exposing

your skin to something it doesn't like. Nutrient deficiencies can often first be

noticed in the skin. And when the body is over taxed it is again the skin that

will be the classic indicator when enough is enough and relief must be sought.

 

What is Skin?

 

The skin has two layers. The lower layer of the skin is called the dermis. This

contains dermal cells from which all skin cells originate, plus a network of

blood vessels, glands and nerve endings. The upper layer of the skin is called

the epidermis, consisting of dermal cells in a protein called keratin.

 

The dermis consists largely of collagen, a kind of intercellular glue, which

gives the skin strength and structure. Woven within elastin fibers, which give

the skin elasticity. Collagen makes up 20% of the entire body and 70% of the

skin.

 

Elimination- The colon.

 

The first stage of skin health is a healthy colon and digestive process. When

eliminating correctly our skin is more likely to heal quickly and glow with

vitality. When the colon becomes blocked or restricted due to inadequate

elimination this can result in the overload of the liver and skin conditions can

arise as the body attempts to find other avenues for elimination.

 

 

We are what we eat.

 

Nutrition is fundamentally involved at every stage of skin development. Starting

with the dermis, collagen is made by the action of vitamin C converting the

amino acid proline into hydroxyproline. No vitamin C, no collagen. The

flexibility of collagen and elastin fibers reduces in time due to damage caused

by free radicals. This damage is limited by antioxidants A, C, E, selenium and

powerful phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables. Vitamin A helps control

the amount of keratin accumulation in the skin. A lack can result in

over-keratinisation causing dry, rough skin. The membranes of the cells are made

from essential fats. A lack of essential fatty acids leads directly to skin

cells drying out too quickly, resulting in dry skin and excessive need for

moisturizers. The health of skin cells depends on sufficient zinc, which is

needed for accurate production of new generations of skin cells. A lack leads to

stretch marks and poor healing and is associated with a wide variety of

skin problems from acne to eczema. Skin cells also produce a chemical, which,

in the presence of sunlight, is converted to vitamin D, which is needed to

maintain the calcium balance of the body.

 

A cleansing diet and supplement routine can also be very helpful. Traditionally

cleansing diets include 3-5 day fruit and vegetable fasts or weekly 1-day fruit

fasts; these should always be done during restful and stress-free times.

Alternatively a diet that increases nutritional intake while reducing toxic

intake will have beneficial results - see last months No-Crash Diet.

 

General Guidelines

 

There are many common nutritional factors in a wide variety of skin problems. To

help prevent these problems and maintain healthy skin here are the key diet and

supplement guidelines to keep your skin beautiful.

 

Diet

· Limit alcohol, caffeine, chemical additives, salt, saturated fats, smoking and

sugar.

· Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, preferably organic.

· Eat some seeds, nuts or other cold-pressed oil every day.

· Drink at least a liter of water a day, neat or in herb teas and juices.

 

Supplements

· Take a complete full spectrum high potency vitamin and mineral supplement.

Because nutrients work synergistically (depending on the other for optimum

function) a multi-vitamin/mineral makes sure all your bases are covered

regardless of your food intake.

· Take additional antioxidants in the form of flavonoids. These are chemicals

found in plants that have been identified to have up to 10 times the antioxidant

activity of vitamins A, C and E. They also give vitamin C a power boost.

· If you are prone to dry skin or skin inflammation supplementing borage oil or

primrose oil to give the equivalent of 200mg of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) can

be beneficial

· Fiber - Fiber helps to keep your colon healthy creating bulk for more complete

elimination as well as absorbing fats and toxins.

· " Friendly " bacteria - The " Friendly " bacteria that are found in the colon

helps break down food we can't digest and produces vitamins such as B and K.

Most importantly it keeps the " bad " bacteria under control.

 

Other

· Exercise - Sufficient exercise helps get toxins out through sweat as well as

through circulation of blood. It also stimulates the colon and aids in

elimination.

· Dry skin brushing - Skin brushing stimulates the lymphatic system to drain

toxic matter into the colon.

 

 

 

 

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