Nutrition & The Skin

Skin reflects nutritional deficiencies
What you eat ends up in skin
Digestion is intimately connected to skin
It is important for skin care professionals to recognize how nutrition affects the skin
Nutrition is the Cake
Topical skin care is the Icing

Skin is our Digestive System Inside Out
Your skin eats. It’s favorite foods are Fatty Vitamins D, E, A, K &C, also known as antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that inhibit oxidation or reactions promoted by oxygen or peroxides.

Vitamin C is water soluble and not a fatty Vitamin.

AND: Essential Fatty Acids Omega 3 & Omega 6 (Fish oils, flaxseed oil, hempseed oils, Karlen’s or Nordic Naturals (lemon flavor) or Udo’s Choice, Barline)

Take one to two tablespoons of Omega 3’s and 3 more of Omega 6’s!

Do not use essential fatty acids externally or cook with them for the sun/heat and oxygen combined will turn it into a carcinogenic compound. Also take lots of antioxygens with your essential fatty acids.

Essential Fatty Acids
Provide fluidity in skin cells & master hormones synthesis (menstrual cramps often are caused by EFA defieciencies)
Dry Skin is a sign of fat deficiency
Needs increase with pregnancy
Hormonal fats come from EFA’s
When deficient or out of balance, skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis & dermatitis result and other inflammatory diseases such as arthritis

Proteins
70%-80% of our body is made up of protein. Sulfur proteins like eggs & whey, hemp protein & soy protein are the best for our body.
Other sources: Beans, fish, dairy

Carbohydrates
The only food group that is NOT essential
Fast burning fuel
Elevates insulin – accelerates aging
Body has tendency to store carbohydrates
Stores as FAT

Get Carbohydrates From Starchy Fruits & Veggies
Grains, breads, pastas are PROBLEM carbs
Be careful of cereal & fruit juices
Increase need for B-vitamis, magnesium, zinc, chromium & vanadium
Requires alkaline enzymes – pancrease supplement
Weight gain
Carbohydrate metabolism begins in saliva – chew well
Prime stimulator of insulin – main cause of aging
Serotonin connection (comfort foods)
Beta Glucan – sun protectant & anti – aging
Beta sugars are great for your immune system, they act like hormones; signaling factors, they are found in herbs primarily in seeds, mushrooms like shitake
Arabinogalactan – immune stimulant, exfoliant & anti – aging

We only need one teaspoon of sugar day. Insulin is a aging hormone and excess sugar can make you look old. It will caramalize your protein. Sugar withdraws calcium from your bones.
EXCESS CHOLESTEROL COMES FROM EATING TOO MUCH SUGAR!

Fiber
Indigestable carbohydrates
4 tablespoons a day
Important to the skin because fiber helps cleanse the body – detoxification properties
Helps remove toxicity from the body
Improves elimination
Energy source for large intestine
Clears excess estrogen
Lowers cholesterol, improves cardio, blood pressure
Improves nutrient absorption, slows sugar release
Psyllium, flax, fruits, vegetables & beans

Water
Important for Energy
Water will spread digestive enzymes
Cold water increases metabolic rate
2/3 of the body is made up of water
Important for skin hydration
Required for cellular growth, digestion, circulatory system
Pain, energy, cancer, weight loss
Aids detoxification
Pain, arthritis, heartburn
Washing with tap water may accelerate skin aging