Monday 26 January 2015

HEALTHY SKIN

                                                 
The skin is the largest and most cared for organ in the human body, particularly in women. It is a treasure which attracts the most attention in the day to day life of people. As a living tissue, the cells on the surface of the skin have to be replaced with new cells all the time as they die due to ageing and constant exposure to environmental factors.

With age come certain concerns like wrinkles surrounding the eyes, lips, and fore-head,   dryness of the skin, rough and dark spots on the skin, as well as loss of suppleness. These are all symptoms of ageing associated with the skin. Aside the natural causes of ageing, factors such as exposure to Ultraviolet rays from the sun, stress, excessive exposure to computers and electronics, pollution from the environment, and uncontrolled habits of smoking, drug and alcohol addiction are also responsible for ageing.
Skin ageing happens continuously from birth and becomes quicker as one grows older from age 30 and above, due to stress of work, family, social factors and changes in the body metabolism. Certainly, we cannot stop ageing just as we cannot stop growth. But there are ways of growing and ageing gracefully.

HOW TO ACHIEVE A HEALTHY SKIN
·         Having a skin filled with vitamin A is an essential component for the formation of the required new cells even as the skin loses some of its nutrients with age.
·         Sufficient balanced diet.
·         Lots of water [1.5-3 litres daily].
·         Eating lots of fruits and vegetables
·         Soya beans, sunflower seeds, corn and sea foods are all good sources of vitamin E which is essential for a healthy skin.
·         What we eat has a huge impact on how we look, especially when it comes to achieving a youthful look.  We should eat plenty of ‘ Smart fats’[omega-3s and monounsaturated fat]. These help to regenerate the skin at the cellular level, improve texture and tone as well as help the skin look supple. These smart fats can be gotten from fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, halibut and sardines, avocado, olives and olive oil, and help to help achieve that youthful skin we all covet.
·         Studies also suggest that choosing foods rich in lutein may help protect your skin from the inside out. The best sources of lutein are egg yolks [but remember 2 eggs a week keeps high cholesterol at bay], leafy dark green vegetables and fresh corn.
·         Foods that are high in antioxidants such as berries, broccoli, leafy greens, and tomatoes are also great for the skin. We need antioxidants to help protect the skin from free-radical damage like rough texture, wrinkles and sun spots.
·         If you want your skin to look younger and more supple, drinking enough water is a must. Dehydrated skin looks wrinkled and rough. Also, drinking enough water helps you lose weight, aid digestion, improve your energy and concentration and flush toxins from your body.
·         No matter your age, you need to protect your skin from the sun. Not only can sun exposure lead to skin cancer, it will also cause dryness, sun spots, wrinkles and other visible signs of aging. If you spend a lot of time in the sun each day, wear both sunglasses and/or a hat, prevention is better than cure.

To fight wrinkles and other signs of aging, you need to keep your skin protected and hydrated. Though you cannot turn back the hands of time, these anti- aging skincare tips will help keep your skin smoother and younger looking.

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