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Age Gracefully with Proper Nutrition

holistic health & nutrition home & body care Jul 20, 2011

Welcome my Guest Blogger today, Drew Nathan, founder of Vibrant Life. He is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist & Iridologist.

Want to know the secret to looking AND feeling younger than your age? Looking for that fountain of youth?

Consumers spend billions of dollars looking for any and every method of halting or reversing the aging process. Wrinkles, crow's feet, bags under the eyes, expression lines, sagging skin, age (liver) spots, dull, dry skin, etc. strike fear into the hearts of many people (maybe even you!). Global Industry Analysts estimate the global anti-aging product market will reach $291.9 billion by 2015.

From moisturizers to cosmetic surgery to injections to hormone therapy, we've all seen what price celebrities are willing to pay to look younger. Is Sylvester Stallone's face made of any real human tissue anymore?? Joan Rivers is a walking wax mannequin. Each treatment promises to be "revolutionary" or "ground breaking", the cost of which consumers will pay copious amounts of money for. Is it worth it?

The real secret the anti-aging "experts" don't want you to know is that healthy looking skin is largely built from the inside-out, not from the outside-in with creams, lotions, injections, and other band-aid damage control methods. The anti-aging industry has obviously caught on to consumer awareness about the importance of antioxidants. Antioxidants are free radical scavengers that mop up oxidative damage to cells and prevent cells from breaking down. But, most skincare products contain a paltry amount of these antioxidants, are filled with toxic fillers, impede the skin's ability to "breathe," and require recurring purchases.

What's your best hedge against aging? Good nutrition!

What makes up our skin? Vitamin A forms the base layer of human skin. Rich sources of beta-carotene (precursors to vitamin A) are found in carrots, cabbage, broccoli, cantaloupe, spinach, kale, cayenne, squash, and many other foods.

Vitamin E is a tremendous antioxidant which protects the skin against ultraviolet radiation. Sunflower seeds, blueberries, almonds, Swiss chard, spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, papaya, kiwi, and collard greens are some of the richest forms of vitamin E.

Every wonder why cucumber is used traditionally under the eyes? In addition to being rich in the skin-supporting mineral silica, it is also very high in vitamin C (which holds collagen together) and caffeic acid, two compounds which prevent water retention.

Every skin cell is also comprised of fat. Which fat are we giving it? The metabolically active essential fatty acids from coldwater fish, nuts, and seeds, or the rancid, free radical-forming trans fats from margarine, processed foods, baked goods, and cooking oils?

Do we have enough water to lubricate our skin cells and flush waste products? The skin is 70-75% water. In a dehydrated state, skin cells shrink and become weakened.

Our skin is an elimination organ, removing toxic waste products circulating in the bloodstream. It's nearly impossible to have great looking skin with a dirty bowel and nearly impossible to have a clean liver with a dirty bowel. So if you're concerned about aging, start cleaning your bowel!

If you want a cheap and effective topical treatment, buy yourself a jar of extra virgin coconut oil and give your skin a healthy bath of this antioxidant-rich, antimicrobial oil for optimal skin benefits?

So what do we know about nutrition and skin health? It's EVERYTHING! Graceful aging does not come in the form of a cabinet full of creams, potions, and lotions. You have to eat anyway to live, so why not help your skin out in the process?

Until next time...

Yours in health,

Drew

Looking to source quality foods, supplements, and nontoxic home products? This vetted list put together by Beyond Vitality can help!

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