- It is sensible to take a broad spectrum Food State multivitamin and mineral as a wide range of nutrients that are often in short supply from the diet are available to be used for skin repair and growth. Minerals such as GTF Chromium, Molybdenum, Sulphur, Zinc, Iron and Selenium are concentrated in the skin and are involved with proper cell growth.
- The mineral Zinc is necessary for proper collagen formation and adequate Zinc is required to help reduce flaky and greasy skin. Zinc acts as a skin anti-oxidant. Some people choose to take an extra zinc supplement as this mineral is valuable as a nutrient for several skin health issues. When zinc is consumed to help particular skin issues it can take up to three months for a beneficial change to be seen as this mineral is also taken up by the immune system in general. Zinc has been found to be necessary for good healthy hair.
- The vitamin B group of nutrients are involved with skin growth and provide nutrients that are involved with “visual appearance of skin”. The skin requires these B vitamins to help reduce the appearance of aging.
- The balance of Essential Fatty Acids is important as these nutrients are associated with appearance of good skin condition. Pale skin can reflect an imbalance of these nutrients. Essential fatty acids are also involved in reducing the potential damage from ultra violet radiation to the skin.
- Anti-oxidants and Coenzyme Q10 is known to help reduce the appearance of aging as they are involved with the integrity of skin component function. Anti-oxidants are also involved with the repair and strengthening of skin tissue. Collagen synthesis within the skin requires anti-oxidants for proper function. Specific antioxidants are involved with the proper supply of blood to the skin and elimination of waste substances from the skin. Co-enzyme Q10 works as a special antioxidant and is a component of almost every cell and is required for energy production to help clear waste materials. This enzyme is known to be helpful with the cellular turnover of gums and periodontal good health.
- A regular course of Probiotics is sensible to consider much of our good health and skin condition is dependant in part of our ability to process foods in our GUT and the subsequent extraction and utilisation of nutrients. Probiotic bacteria are also known as friendly bacteria as it is the task of these friendly GUT bacteria to remove waste and promote good digestion and absorption of nutrients. The number of friendly bacteria is known to decline with the aging process we all experience. Garlic is also known to promote the growth of friendly GUT bacteria.
- Ginkgo Biloba is a herb that has traditionally been taken as it can help promote beneficial nutrients to the skin and help reduce inflammation.
Dietary Advice:
It is to be remembered that Fasting accelerates the elimination of toxins via the Skin.
Water
Consumption of six to eight glasses of Water daily facilities hydration of the Skin.
These Foods or Herbs are Beneficial for the Skin
Thymus Extract (cream applied topically) activates metabolism in the Skin, encourages the growth of Cells of the Skin and enhances the Immune function of the Skin.
Bee Products
Bee Pollen improves the appearance of the Skin and retards and possibly diminishes Wrinkles:
Some (scientifically dubious) studies conducted in Sweden have shown that Bee Pollen was found to deliver more blood to Skin Cells and to stimulate the growth of new Skin Tissue and smooth away shallow Wrinkles.
Propolis (applied topically) alleviates many types of Skin lesions.
Fruit
Bananas (pulp applied topically) cleanses the Skin.
Grape (juice) alleviates some Skin ailments.
Grapefruit reputedly improves the complexion of the Skin.
Papaya (ingested internally or applied topically) accelerates the replacement of old, cross-linked Collagen (due to its Papain enzyme content).
Pineapple (ingested internally or applied topically) accelerates the replacement of old, cross-linked Collagen (due to its Bromelain* enzymes content).
Herbs
Alfalfa (juice) regenerates the Skin (according to folklore and anecdotal reports).
Borage indirectly improves the Skin (due to the Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) content of Borage improving Blood Circulation) (according to folklore).
Chamomile alleviates various Skin ailments and improves the visual appearance of the Skin (due to the Levomenol content of Chamomile).
Dandelion (root) cleanses Skin blemishes (according to anecdotal reports).
Devil's Claw (ointment applied topically) exfoliates "dead" Skin.
Ginger (applied topically to the Skin as a component of Skin Creams) is claimed to stimulate Blood Circulation to the Skin (however this claim has not been clinically verified).
Gotu Kola (cream applied topically) is claimed (by cosmeceutical manufacturers) to alleviate puffiness of the Skin around the Eyes and to stimulate the production of Collagen in the Skin (according to manufacturer’s claims).
Green Tea (applied topically) reduces the damage to the Skin caused by exposure to the Ultra-Violet Radiation component of Sunlight (i.e. it helps to minimize photodamage).
Lemon Grass (tea) improves the general health of the Skin.
Marshmallow soothes irritated tissues of the Skin.
Red Clover (tea) cleanses the Skin.
Yarrow (extract derived from simmering flowers and leaves) suppresses skin inflammations, facilitates Skin cleansing, removes dead Cells from the skin, restricts Sebum secretion and helps to close the Pores of the Skin.
Oils - Dietary
Avocado Oil (applied topically) improves the visual appearance of the Skin.
Lard (although it is not especially beneficial to the Skin in itself) is easily absorbed by the Skin and is therefore used as a base in many cosmetic preparations.
Oils - Non Dietary
Jojoba Oil (applied topically) is readily absorbed by the Skin and imparts a temporary "velvety" softness to the Skin (by mimicking endogenous Sebum).
Lavender Oil (applied topically) is an ingredient in many Skin cleansers.
Processed Foods
Lecithin is an ingredient in several (topically applied) Skin preparations.
Seeds
Flax Seeds improve the condition of the Skin (due to their high content of Alpha-Linolenic Acid*).
Grape Seed (extract applied topically) maintains the integrity of the Skin's
Collagen and Elastin - by quenching the Xanthine Oxidase enzyme that catalyzes the production of the detrimental Collagenase and Elastase enzymes.
Vegetables
Cabbage (juice) reputedly clears various types of Skin eruptions (according to anecdotal reports).
Carrot (juice) alleviates blemishes of the Skin (according to anecdotal reports).
Cucumber is claimed to improve the complexion of the Skin and to improve the general health of the Skin (due to its high content of Silicon): research
- Cucumber (juice applied topically) reputedly tightens the Skin’s Pores and reduces puffiness of the area of the Skin around the Eyes (according to anecdotal reports and product manufacturers).
Garlic exerts youth-preserving, anti-aging, beneficial effects on the Skin’s Fibroblasts.
Lettuce (juice) is claimed to be beneficial for the Skin (according to anecdotal reports).
Potato (juice) alleviates blemishes of the Skin (according to anecdotal reports).
Tomato (juice) improves the health of the Skin (due to the Carotenoids in Tomato).