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Rev Up Your Digestion for Better Skin

8 Mar

Did you know that your skin is a reflection of your overall health? Good skin is a reflection of a good digestive system. People with acne, rosacea, and psoriasis often suffer from constipation, imbalanced “good bacteria” levels, and other digestive conditions. The two most common culprits for this are:

  • Culprit #1: Not Enough Water Water bathes cells and eliminates waste products, preventing constipation. Keep a water bottle on you at all times and make sure you are drinking consistently throughout the day.
  • Culprit #2: Not Enough Fiber Most people lack fiber in their diets – the average person eats only 10-12g of fiber a day, whereas we should be eating more than double that– 25-30g/day! .

    To clear up your skin, make a conscious effort to increase for fiber intake. Here are some suggestions:

  • Add Whole Grains - Choose whole grain products over refined. Have brown rice instead of white or make your own 50:50 combination.
  • An Apple a Day - Have an apple, skin on, as a snack.
  • Eat high-fiber snacks - Snack on nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, such as dates, figs, and prunes.
  • Eat Beans and Legumes - Open a can of your favorite beans or legumes. Rinse them well and add them to your meal.
  • Ground Flaxseeds - For any easy fiber boost, sprinkle ground flaxseeds (available at health food stores) on rice, salads, oatmeal, or any other meal. Store flaxseeds in the fridge

Once you make the above dietary changes you will notice your skin start to improve in as little as two weeks!

 

Source: WebMd

Foods That Boost Your Skin’s Collagen

19 Jul

As we age our skin’s natural store of collagen starts to decline. Why is collagen important? Becuase collagen gives structure to the skin and provides the foundation for elastin and hyaluronic acid. Elastin helps the skin maintain shape and hyaluronic acid cushions and lubricates the skin, keeping it moist and supple.

By replenishing your body’s store of collagen internally with the collagen-boosting foods listed below you can retain and restore your skin’s vibrancy. Continue reading →

The Delicious Summer Food that May be Breaking You Out

7 Jun

Every year, without fail, we see an uptick in our clients breaking out during the summer months. Why is this? Because summer also happens to be the time when fruit consumption – particularly berry consumption – goes way up. While these high sugar, high acid fruits are plentiful (and delicious) in the summer months, you should also know that they cause a rapid increase your blood sugar, which spikes your insulin levels…. leading to acne growth.

But because berries are natural, most people forget the fact that they are still very high in sugar and eat them in large quantities.

Natural Sugar is Still Sugar!

Although berries are one of the most healthy ways to get a good boost in energy or satisfy a craving for something sweet, their quick absorption and high sugar content also creates spikes in blood sugar.Whether consumed through whole foods (like fruits) or in processed foods (like store-bought cereals), both natural and refined sugar stimulate the same initial response in the body. Insulin is released to help ensure that blood sugar—or blood glucose—levels are evenly regulated. Unfortunately, insulin also stimulates your skin to make those nasty, embarrassing pimples. Read more about the clinical proof of the link between sugar, dairy and acne here.

So, what’s the solution?

This summer, aim to eat fruits that are lowest in sugar and are more steadily absorbed into the bloodstream. Tomatoes, avocados, and green apples are all good options. If you do want some berries, try not to eat more than a handful every few days (especially if you are acne prone).

I want to be clear – having a few berries every once in a while will not break you out. Going on regular berry binges, however, will. So, unless you want that strawberry coming back as a juicy, red pimple on your nose, we recommend cutting back on your berry intake!

Glowing Skin vs. Greasy Skin: The Secrets to Achieving the Perfect Glow

26 May

For those with oily skin, there tends to be a fine line between greasy and glowing skin. Greasy skin is typically the result of excess oil and incorrect skin management (using products that make oily skin worse rather than better).  So, to achieve the perfect glow with none of the grease, here are the four most important  principles to follow:

Continue reading →

Why are You Breaking Out? The 10 Most Common Causes of Acne

11 Apr

Understanding the most common factors that may be causing your breakouts is the first and most critical step to targeting your acne at its source, and thus combating it for good. Based on my 30+ years of experience, here are the top 10 most common causes of acne breakouts:

Acne Factor #1: Touching Your Face

This may come as a surprise, but subconsciously touching your face all day makes it quickly become the dirtiest part of your body. This is something most of us do without even being aware of it, and is the common cause of breakout around your chin and jawline. Make a conscious effort to not touch your face during the day. Also, be sure to clean your cell phone often or use an ear piece (recommended), as holding your cell phone to your face can also be causing bacteria to spread and giving you breakouts on your cheeks.

Acne Factor #2: Dairy and Sugar Consumption

If you are devolping breakouts on your chin, jaw line and neck area, it might be a sign that you’re getting more dairy or sugar in your diet than your body can tolerate. Your skin acts as an excretory system to get rid of things that your body is not in agreement with, so when you get too much dairy or sugar, it is by nature harder to digest and can come out in the form of cystic blemishes in the lower area of the face. READ: It’s Proven: Sugar and Dairy Cause Acne

Continue reading →

Is Your Diet Making Your Skin Look Old?

2 Mar

Your skin is 75% collagen.

Collagen is the body’s major structural protein. It makes up 33% of the protein found in your body. It supports tissues and organs and attaches muscles to bones. In fact, your bones are made up of a combination of collagen and various minerals such as calcium and phosphorous.

So, what does that have to do with keeping your skin wrinkle free?

Like I said, collagen makes up 75% of your skin. But what I didn’t say is that the smooth, plump appearance of young, healthy skin is due in large part to the presence of healthy collagen levels.

This is why beauty seekers around the world search for new ways to boost collagen levels and repair past collagen damage—some go so far as to inject collagen proteins into the skin to plump wrinkles and add volume to the lips.

This is where it gets interesting.

It has always been believed that the breakdown of healthy collagen and the decline in collagen production was a natural and unavoidable side effect of aging. Because of that, we are doomed to wrinkles, age spots and thin, drooping skin.

Maybe Not

Continue reading →

What Your Breakouts are Telling You

7 Feb

Did you know that where you are breaking out on your face can reveal congestion or imbalances in your organs? Below, see my guide that will show you how your face can provide vital clues about what is going on inside your body.

Forehead – Breakouts or blackheads in this zone are indicative of digestive imbalance and poor detoxification. Red and dry or flaky skin on the forehead is an indication of lack of fluids in the digestive tract.
Continue reading →

Vitamin Supplements for Radiant Skin

19 Oct

Many of my clients ask me what vitamin supplements they can take to complement their skin care regime and give them glowing skin. Here are my recommendations for supplements that will help you achieve the best results with your skin care.

Supplements for Aging Skin and General Skin Radiance

-        Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is extremely effective as an antioxidant, your natural defense against free radicals, which are unstable molecules that age the skin, resulting from environmental pollutants, smoking, or excess sun exposure. Vitamin C neutralizes volatile reactions caused by free radicals that damage skin and will help prevent and reduce wrinkles. Take 1000 mg/day.

-        Vitamin E is a key anti-aging vitamin that protects the skin and other cell structures in your body from free radical damage. Some researchers believe that vitamin E is the most important of all the anti aging antioxidants – the master vitamin. Nutritionists estimate that over 95% of Americans have a diet providing below the recommended dieatary level of vitamin E. I recommend taking 100 mg/day.

-       High strength Omega 3. Omega 3 is vital for younger looking skin as you get older and works with vitamin C and E to boost collagen and moisturize your skin from within. Take 500-1000 mg/day.

Supplements for Acne Prone Skin

-        Vitamin A helps to regulate the skin’s sebum (oil) production, which helps decrease acne. Note – vitamin A can be toxic in high doses, so do not exceed recommended dose. Take 10,000 IU/day.

-        Zinc inhibits conversion of DHT, which stimulates oil production. Be sure to take with food. Take 50 mg/day.

-        Flax seed oil or fish oil. The omega-3 fatty acids in flax seed and fish oils have both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Take in capsule form or add flaxseed oil to smoothies or yogurt. Take 500-1000 mg/day.

There are many vitamin supplements on the market – my advice is to go for the best you can afford.  Cheaper usually means inferior vitamin content and less absorption into the body.  Check the small print to make sure you’re getting the highest levels of each vitamin or mineral for your money. I shop for my vitamins at whole foods to ensure high quality.

In addition to supplements, I also recommend using mineral drops daily with water or juice. I use Concentrace Mineral drops that contain magnesium, chloride and potassium. These drops will help alkalize your body and increase its absorption of vitamins and minerals.

Natural and Effective Remedies for Treating Psoriasis, Part 2

30 Sep

The second part of my natural and effective treatments for treating psoriasis relates to maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, which both have an impact on psoriasis flare ups. While these tips are directed at those with psoriasis, they also apply to those with eczema and dry skin as well.

Exercise, eat right, and maintain a healthy weight:
People with psoriasis regardless on age should eat a well-balanced diet, high in fruits and vegetables. Reduce processed sugar and decrease gluten intake. Fish oils (the omega-3′s) in supplement form have been helpful in doses of 6 g. daily. Exercise may also help, by reducing stress and improving your mood. Excess weight can worsen psoriasis symptoms, so maintaining a healthy weight may prevent flare-ups.

Continue reading →

How to Get Rid of Under Eye Bags and Dark Circles

22 Sep

When people talk to you, they look at your face (hence the importance of good skin!). But more often than not, they are looking at your eyes – which makes dark circles and under eye bags a very visible and frustrating problem. Today’s post is a list of the most effective solutions to undereye bags and dark circles.

First, lets look at the causes:

Dark circles and bags generally come from a combination of the following factors: genetics, sun damage, allergies, aging, diet, and of course – a lack of sleep!

Undereye problems develop when the layer of fat underneath your eyes actually thickens over time, giving the illusion of dark circles. In addition, years of sun damage cause microscopic blood vessels to loose their stability below your eyes, creating undereye bags and loose skin. Other factors exacerbate the problem, such as a diet high in sodium and carbohydrates, a lack of sleep and a lack of vitamins D, C and K.

Here are the solutions that work best to alleviate the problem:

Continue reading →

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