How to have HEALTHY Skin

  

People are paying so much attention on their looks because skin and complexion make up the first impression or common topic.  Hence, products that are linked to image and style with aesthetic value are much sought after, churning a multi-billion dollar industry.  Products like cosmetics and for beauty treatments (eg. botox jabs, spa) and health supplements for skin health fly off the shelves quickly if they can deliver desirable results.

Why skin deteriorates?

Age takes its toll on our skin, just as it does on other parts of our bodies. As our body’s outermost barrier and largest organ, our skin is continuously exposed to various sources of stress, including many environmental factors such as bacteria, viruses and other disease carriers. Two inevitable daily exposure to sunlight (for most people) and oxygen throughout our lifetime are sufficient to produce abundance of unstable molecules called free radicals, which cause inflammation, damaged skin cells and ultimately increase the risk of developing skin cancer. As much as it maintains and regulates body temperature and prevents dehydration, minimize impacts from external factors like smoking, pollution, weather and temperature condition can be a big challenge at times.

Although no magic pill can make you look 20 years younger, you can help your skin look as young as possible in a variety of ways. Some people use invasive techniques, such as chemical peels, botox, dermal fillers or surgery to prevent wrinkles, sagging and discoloration. Those efforts done from the outside do not yield long-lasting results and can be counterproductive at times. However, not many people understand how the body works to gain the most benefits. 


As the saying goes: WE ARE WHAT WE EAT, thus our skin is a manifestation of the health of the internal body condition and the associated nutritional status. Dieting can thus play a major role in determining our skin condition.

What is ‘good’ skin?

We rather speak of healthy skin free of any kind of skin disease, acne-free, clean, unbroken and un-belmished with thick collagen hidden beneath the epidermis layer and with enough water moisture to give the supple effect.  With such outstanding features, little or no make-up is necessary to look great.

How to have good skin?

How to achieve a standard that sounds impossible if you are not blessed with good genes?  To grasp this concept, we have to study the skin in conjunction with the internal systems of our body.  We are wired up with an extensive network of veins and arteries to circulate blood and oxygen to the 50 billion cells for their normal functioning.

For instance, our liver being the detoxification centre filters blood every 3 minutes and if it not operating at peak performance, the filtration is not complete, leaving much toxins accumulated in the blood.  Skin is the largest organ and a convenient channel for expulsion of waste products.  The result is skin problems in the form of rashes and blemishes.

+  Free radicals attack the DNA and RNA in our cell nucleus on both our skin and the internal body.  Again, the liver takes on the vital role of removing them from our body to prevent any harm.  In the event that the liver health is at stake, unpleasant consequence can take place, like in the worst scenario cells turn cancerous.  Damaged cells on the skin is frequently referred to as ‘liver spots’.

+  Moving along the digestive system, a lack of intestinal flora can lead to poor absorption of nutrients, resulting in bloating, gas and acid reflex.  A constipated bowel causes toxins to be re-circulated into the bloodstream and manifested as skin problem.

+  As for sun-lovers, sun-rays emit ultra-violet light that produces free radicals damaging skin cells, resulting in premature aging, wrinkling and even skin cancer.  Avoid the sun at its strongest between 10 am - 3 pm.  With the continuing depletion of the ozone layer, take necessary precaution to prevent skin cancer, like liberal use of sunscreens (against both UVA and UVB light) and other sun-protective measures.  Vitamin E is known to help to fight free radicals thus protecting the integrity of the skin against skin cancer.  Tanning salon is not a good option.  Equipment used there are thought to be safer than sun (more UVB light) but in actual fact, the UVA rays emitting is more cancer-causing.  UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin whereas UVB rays burn direct on the top layer of skin.

+  Smokers, beware nicotine found in cigarettes switches on a gene that is involved in destroying the skin’s collagen, leading to dryness and wrinkles.

+  Stress can also take its toll on our skin as well as emotions.

Recommendations


So, how to get the glowing flawless complexion as seen on commercial advertising featuring great looking models and performing artistes?

+  The general guideline is a diet high in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly those high in zinc, vitamin A, B, C and E.  Carotenoid-rich fruits and veggies such as cantaloupe, apricots, carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach that have deep green, yellow, orange and red hues make better choices for ingestion. Other plant-based extracts being studied for their positive effects on the skin such as rosemary, lycopene, coenzyme Q10, grape seed extract, pomegranate and soy can be applied topically or ingested. All these basic nutrients are packed with antioxidants that can rid free radicals responsible for cell damage and contribute towards maintaining healthy skin.

Healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids, help to produce the skin’s natural oil barrier, critical in keeping skin hydrated, plumper and youthful looking.  Regular intake of such nutrients can reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Minimize the intake of simple or high-glycemic-index carbohydrates like enriched bread or flour products, processed and refined foods, candy and soft drinks as they are low in nutrients and high in sugar. Opt for complex or low-glycemic-index carbs, such as legumes and whole-grain breads and cereals.

Research has found these potent antioxidants why applied on the skin can help to protect against sun damage and skin cancer, and can actually reverse some of the discoloration and wrinkles associated with aging and sun exposure. They work by speeding up the skin’s natural repair systems and directly inhibiting further damage.

Although you can find these nutrients in skin creams, the challenge with applying vitamins E and C to the skin is that the concentration in most creams tends to be low, and they can lose their effectiveness when exposed to air and light. Vitamin C enhances collagen production and diminishes the look of wrinkles but L-ascorbic acid present in it is unstable. Combining both vitamins give a five fold protection against ultraviolet rays as compared to a single agent alone.

Hence, those who are suffering from dry skin, oily skin and smokers have to switch to a healthy diet and add vitamins to reverse the downtrend.



+  Liver is so vital that it deserves all our attention.  Reinstate the depleting enzymes found in this organ by taking more leafy vegetables, herbs like milk thistle and turmeric.


+  Hydrate the body to moisturize your skin from the inside out. In this way, it helps to maintain its elasticity and suppleness to reduce dryness and damage.


+  Our digestive system can work better if more fibres are added to provide bulk and probiotics to re-populate the intestinal flora.  Those who are prone to food allergies and skin rashes should see a noticeable difference in skin condition and overcome their problem one day.

Conclusion

A strong foundation for our wellness and skin health is more important and lasting than those cosmetics and superficial facial products that merely cover up the problem.  Time and money well-spent can go a long way to put us in good stead and natural look for a long time.

Source:  Prescription to Natural Healing

VIVA corner:

VIVA vivashield has 4 important antioxidants namely vitamin A, C, E and selenium combined to offer strong protection to our cells to prevent oxidation, decrease free radicals and external damages (eg. air pollution, chemical substances, UV light) for a healthy skin and prevent skin disease. For those with skin diseases, step up the dosage to combat more free radicals on affected cells and prevent further spread to good ones.

VIVA Omega 3 helps to maintain healthy skin, prevent and lighten symptoms due to skin allergy.


VIVA Complex C for smokers to repair skin like loss of collagen and improves its elasticity. As our liver lacks the enzyme to synthesis Vitamin C, taking more do not cause any harm but has too many benefits, one of which is to decrease the formation of melanin to promote a fair complexion.

VIVA Cellpex with its main ingredient, milk thistle helps to improve liver function so that detoxification process can progress without hindrance problems.

VIVA Royal Jelly containing 10-HDA, helps to promote collagen formation and repair damaged skin. This is useful to women facing declining hormonal production.

VIVA Renew Protectant and Moisturizer has dual protective factors with SPF28 and PA+++ (the highest in UVA protection) for protection against both UVB and UVA ultraviolet lights and help the skin to express its nature shine and luster.


VIVA Floraguard has abundant friendly bacteria to rid the bad ones, help to strengthen the immune system and reduce the incidence of infection and skin.


VIVA Shine

One serving of this product contains 50% of the RDI of Vitamin C combined in a proprietary blend of skin supporting ingredients, has zero fat and is low in sugar.

• The best collagen for dermis layer - Type I&III from fish skin that is processed under strict quality standards with ISO and HAACP controls. Low molecular weight ensures greater bioavailability of the collagen.
• Vitamin C, which is absolutely necessary for collagen formation
• Royal Jelly yields clear and smooth complexion
• Horsetail extract to enhance collagen production and provide silica to strengthen connective tissue
• Green tea extract with polyphenol antioxidant activity to protect cellular structures from free-radical damage