NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION FOR HAIR AND SKIN PROBLEMS

The skin not only mirrors our health but contributes to it. In fact, the skin has been called the largest organ of the body and makes up about 15 percent of our total body weight. Actually, what we call our skin is only the outer most layer which is called the epidermis. The epidermis is the thinnest layer of skin and acts as the immediate buffer to the outside world. It is self-renewing. Skin cells are continually growing from within and pushing their way to the outer layer .The epidermis contains no blood vessels and is completely dependent upon the small capillaries in the layers just beneath it, for its supply of water and nourishment. This layer is called the dermis or corium.

The epidermis can be composed of from two to four layers depending on its bodily location. While the dermis is two layers. Just below the dermis is a webbing of fibrous tissue which forms the last barrier between the skin and internal body. These layers contain the nerve endings, the smallest blood vessels, the roots of the hair, the sweat glands, the sebaceous glands, and the fat globules (the number of which depend on us).

The dermis contains two kinds of fibers which provide firmness and smoothness to the skin. These fibers are elastin and collagen. Both elastin and collagen are proteins. Elastin provides resilience to the skin. Elastin fibers have been likened to rubber bands because of their ability to stretch and retract. Collagen is one of the strongest proteins found in nature. Collagen fibers do not stretch but form a dense network that holds all the components of the skin together. We see optimum collagen and elastin function in the texture of a baby's skin. However, the beautiful glow also reflects the presence of moisture and the efficiency of the pores to breath in and out (skin respiration). It is generally agreed that dry skin outweighs any other factor as a cause of premature aging and wrinkling. The skin layers of a young person contain 70 % water, while those of an old person contain only 60% . Good skin respiration insures that the skin is ridding itself of toxins and bringing in oxygen. (You may recall that people have suffocated from painting their bodies.) It also insures that the complexion will have a healthy color.

Of course the scalp is an extension of our skin. Like all the hair on our bodies, the hair on our heads grows from roots (follicles) in the dermis. The hair draws its nutrition from the blood through the root. The visible part of the hair is called the hair shaft. This part of the hair is alive and will respond to care just as the skin does. Although dry, brittle, thinning hair is usually a sign of internal imbalance due to faulty nutrition, it can also be due to external conditions, including harsh chemical shampoos.

Many people who are worried about poor hair condition are also worried about baldness. Baldness can be genetic, but there are other causes. Men predominantly lose hair because of stress, because of protein deficiencies, and by letting their hair become too dry. These factors result in hair breakage as well as hair loss. Nutrition is of paramount importance to both skin and hair. It can encourage all the conditions necessary to provide for healthy, lustrous hair and beautiful, glowing skin. The following is a special vitamin-mineral formula for the hair and skin which is reinforced with other important and enriching nutrients.

 

The first and one of the primary component is unsaturated fatty acids. (Linoleic, and linolenic from unrefined germ oil and safflower seed oil). Vitamin C is crucially important to skin health. It is the vitamin that is directly involved with the synthesis of collagen. Large doses of vitamin C will insure that connective tissue, collagen, is strong.

Vitamin A protects against dry, rough and hard skin. It activates nourishment of skin helping to keep it properly moisturized and protected against skin infections.

 

 

Natural Steps to Perfect Skin

 

Your skin is more than just the outer wrapping of your body: it is a reflection of your state of your health. Skin can serve as an early warning indicator of nutritional deficiencies, which can lead to premature aging and wrinkles. Optimal nutrition is key to promoting youthful beautiful skin. Furthermore, it can significantly improve many skin problems, such as chronic dryness, eczema and acne.

The skin is not only your body’s largest organ but its largest endocrine gland, producing more hormones (called pheromones) than any other organ. Rather than being an inert sort of blanket, the skin actively protects and waterproofs us. It weighs about eight pounds and completely renews itself every 28 days.

 

OPTIMAL NUTRITION AND ELIMINATION ARE A MUST FOR BEAUTIFUL HEALTHY SKIN.

Elimination and Cleansing

Skin is an organ of elimination, along with the lungs, kidneys and bowel. This is why persistent body odor - even with the best hygienic practices – often indicates poor kidney or bowel elimination. Pimples may also be caused by faulty elimination, although they can result from factors such as bacterial contamination or excessive secretion of testosterone. Elimination problems are easily remedied by a cleansing diet, along with plenty of pure drinking water. Since water is constantly evaporating from your skin, it is important to compensate by drinking six to eight glasses of pure water daily.

Help for Dry Skin

Natural oils ooze from your skin continuously; if levels are low, however, you will experience problems with dryness. Chronically dry skin often indicates a dietary shortage of essential fatty acids(EFAs), which serve as oil “waterproofing” for the skin. EFA deficiency can cause dry itchy skin, especially, “alligator shins.” If it occurs on the scalp, dandruff results. Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs are most helpful for dry skin. Good sources include fish oils and linseed oil.

A 1988 double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of fish oil in psoriasis showed significant reduction in scalling, itching and redness. According to Japanese research, psoriasis also responds well to biologically active vitamin D3.

SERIOUS SKIN PROBLEMS MAY RESPOND BEAUTIFULLY TO REMOVING ALLERGENS FROM THE DIET.

Eczema and Food Allergies

Eczema is linked not only to EFA deficiency but to food allergies. It tends to clear up when offending foods are removed from the diet, especially dairy products, beef, sugar and eggs. It is also critical to supply the skin with specific nutrients: zinc, vitamin A, E and C, and EFAs.

 

Vitamins and Skin

Vitamin A deficiency can be readily recognized as permanent “goosebumps” on the back of the arms and thighs. Clinically, this is called follicular hyperkeratosis. Heavy callouses on the balls and soles of the feet are another sign of deficiency. Vitamin is ordinarily manufactured in the body from beta carotene – the yellow-orange pigment in fruits and vegetables. People with diabetes and underactive thyroid glands can not convert beta carotene into vitamin A efficiently and therefore may require vitamin supplements. An underactive thyroid causes skin to become thickened, rough and dry.

Vitamin C deficiency is related to premature wrinkles caused by cross-linking of collagen fibers. Lack of vitamin C inhibits collagen’s natural repair process. Since smoking increases the need for this nutrient, smokers who do not supplement their diet with extra vitamin C tend to wrinkle much earlier in life than non-smokers.

 

THE INGREDIENTS FOR RADIANT SKIN INCLUDE APPROPRIATE DIET AND SUPPLEMENTS, GOOD ELIMINATION, PROTECTION FROM POLLUTANTS, AND TOP-NOTCH SKIN CARE PRODUCTS.

 

Preventing Stretch Marks

 

Zinc is another skin related nutrient. Deficiencies show up as white spots on the fingernails. Since this mineral is needed to form elastin in the skin, stretch marks indicate zinc deficiency (especially when bright red). Although vitamin E has gotten more publicity concerning stretch marks, this problem is actually caused by scarring when skin is unable to form elastin due to zinc shortages.

Low production of stomach hydrochloric acid can cause low zinc or iron levels through malabsorption. Dark circles or bags under the eyes may indicate anemia or liver-bowel problems.

 

Protecting Your Skin

 

The skin must be nourished from the inside by dietary nutrients and/or high quality nutritional supplements. It must also be protected from external stressors. The face in particular is prone to environmental assault, as we do not wear protective clothing over this area. A moisturizer of natural ingredients that allows the skin to breath acts as extra protection – so important in our polluted, grimy cities.

Daily cleansing is must, using natural products free of alcohol. The pH balance of skin care products is critical, as the skin is naturally slightly acidic. Soap is an alkali; it can not only dry the skin but blanch it with repeated use.

Natural loofah or shower scrub can be used as an exfoliant – to remove the surface dead skin build-up. As you make the extra effort to take care of your skin, the rewards will come back to you many times over in terms of looking years younger than your age.

 

click tracking

click tracking