Nutrients for Healthy Skin

Healthy_SkinJacquieIconBy Jacquie Eubanks
BSN, RN
 
 

The combination of a nutritious diet and the right dietary supplements can help to give your skin a radiant, healthy and more youthful glow. Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals obtained from good food and high quality supplements play an integral role in skin health and make an important difference in the overall look and feel of your skin. Many of us may slather our skin with expensive lotions and potions in pursuit of healthy looking skin without thinking about nutrition. While there are many very good personal skin care products for external application, it’s important to nourish your skin from the inside out if you really want to have the healthiest skin possible. To put your best face forward, fill your shopping cart with powerhouse foods that provide the nutrients your skin needs to fight age-related damage and look its best at every age.

For the healthiest skin, a combination of strategies, including diet, supplements, moisturizers, sunscreens, and healthy lifestyle habits, is necessary. Excessive sunlight exposure, smoking and environmental pollutants all contribute to photodamage, wrinkles and poor skin texture. Concentration on a healthy diet that includes a variety of antioxidant rich foods can provide valuable skin protection, as research shows antioxidant vitamins help support collagen and elastin and protect against DNA and sun damage. Conversely, limiting unhealthy processed foods and oils helps to reduce the negative effects of aging that contribute to unhealthy looking skin. A well rounded diet of healthy fats, sufficient protein and lots of nutrient rich fruit and vegetables is a recipe for a beautiful complexion.

Truth holds that we are what we eat, as studies have shown that people with poor diets, high in sugar and refined ingredients, are likely to have more wrinkles, less elasticity and more collagen loss. Diets rich in the nutrients that hinder inflammation help keep skin supple, provide natural sun protection and increase skin elasticity. Chronic skin conditions, such as acne or premature aging, are linked to chronic inflammation. Reducing inflammation by boosting immune function through good nutrition, detoxification and hormonal balance can significantly soothe and improve the skin.

Some might say that skin is a great communicator, as skin is often the first area where visible signs of aging are noticed. It pays to look inward to understand what’s going on with your health, as eventually health problems will show up on the skin. Apparently, beauty is not just skin deep, as skin health is linked to major functions of the immune, respiratory, circulatory and lymphatic systems. Paying attention to the health of your skin is one of the easiest ways to see how well your body is functioning. To ensure optimal skin and support overall health, make sure to feed your body the nutrition it requires and deserves including vitamins C, E, A, K and B complex, minerals such as zinc and selenium and omega-3 essential fatty acids.  

Moisturizers, such as those that contain antioxidant vitamins C and E, are great for overly dry or itchy skin. Topical applications of micronutrients in addition to dietary consumption can help feed the skin and maintain and strengthen the skin’s protective barrier. Be sure to hydrate your body and your skin daily by drinking enough water to satisfy your thirst. Drinking a glass of water with each meal, one between meals and one before and after exercise is a good rule of thumb for sufficient hydration. While gravity and genetics may play a role, to maintain healthy skin as you age pay close attention to what you feed it. A balanced diet augmented with nutritional supplements and a healthy lifestyle may just be the best approach for overall health and lovely skin.

Supplement recommendations for vibrant and healthy skin include:

Skin Assist™Skin Assist™ by Vitanica – This product promotes healthy skin with supportive antioxidant nutrients along with B vitamins, minerals and herbs. These ingredients support physiological functions of the skin and balanced hormonal effect on the sebaceous glands in support of blemish-free skin. Wheat, dairy and sugar free vegetarian formula.
 
 
 
MSM powderMSM powder by Pure Encapsulations – This highly recommended product provides 34% bioavailable elemental sulfur necessary for maintaining connective tissue health, particularly collagen and keratin. MSM has anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties that help to benefit and strengthen the skin’s support matrix.
 
 
BioSil® Skin, Hair, Nails
 
BioSil® Skin, Hair, Nails by Natural Factors – BioSil® helps to increase skin elasticity by providing natural and safe ingredients that support the body’s own natural collagen production. Gluten, soy and dairy free formula.
 
 
 
Ultra HNS (201345)
Ultra HNS (201345) by Douglas Laboratories – This product is designed to support healthy skin aging as well as improve the strength and appearance of the skin, hair and nails. Ultra HNS provides high dose biotin, zinc and vitamin C along with patented, solubilized keratin for skin structural support.
 
 
 
MSM Liposome Lotion
 
MSM® Liposome Lotion by Now Foods – Manufactured to contain the purest level of MSM, this lotion uses liposome technology for superior topical penetration and absorption to promote healthy skin and maintain skin elasticity. ON SALE!  30% OFF  Shop Now
 
 
References:
Micronutrients and Skin Health. 
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/skin.html
Nutrients for Healthy Skin: Inside and Out. 
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50505
Wrinkles In-Depth Report. 
http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/wrinkles/print.html

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