Do you want healthy skin? Let's talk about diet and vitamins.

Everyone loves to have healthy skin, and literally millions of dollars are spent each year on products and treatments touted to be "the very best", "the latest scientific breakthrough", etc. etc. What is truth? What is bunk? What shows promising results? Because of the subject magnitude, I will dedicate several pages to the topic.

With this page I will try to convince you that a healthy diet is reflected in glowing, healthy skin, so let's begin!

What do vitamins and diet have to do with healthy skin? Plenty.

We're all familiar with the saying "You are what you eat", right? And we're all aware of the fact that not too many of us eat healthy, balanced diets, right?

Yup, these days one could say that "You are what you eat" really means "I'm fast, cheap and easy"!

Ok, jokes aside, we all know that our skin is a reflection of our overall health status. Poor nutrition, stress, lack of sleep, illness, all have cumulative effects, and our skin reflects the insults.

A good diet really should be your priority. So let's begin by looking at some of the vitamins that are especially good for healthy skin.

First up to the plate are vitamin C and vitamin E. These really are my "favorite" vitamins. Not only because of their antioxidant properties, but also because of thier proven ability to protect us from cardiovascular disease.

In case you forget or missed the research findings, vitamin C, and vitamin E, have the ability to actually decrease existing cardiovascular damage. BUT, you must take the two vitamins together, and the benefits become apparent after a minimum of two years (that's right, once again, no overnight cure).

I always take 400mg of Vitamin E and 500mg of vitamin C in the morning, and repeat it at night. Any excess of vitamin C will be discarded by your body.

C and E have also been proven to decrease the damage caused by UVB radiation, but once again, their use has to be sustained. C&E also reduce DNA damage within skin cells, and help lessen the damage caused by smoking.

But please, if you can help it at all, don't run to the store and start popping vitamin capsules to replace what you should get from a healthy, balanced diet. Yes, I know, I did say that I take these vitamins twice a day, but I take them to supplement my diet, not replace it (besides,I really could not eat bell peppers and broccoli, etc. ad nauseatum!)

So, start adding leafy greens, cauliflower, bell peppers, and broccoli. Of course, you can also eat oranges, but did you know that bell peppers actually contain more vitamin C than oranges?

To get your vitamin E from natural sources, include nuts, olives, and spinach in your diet. Because it's a little more difficult to get enough vitamin E from these foods, a supplement may be a good idea.

Also, welcome strawberries, cranberries, and blueberries to your table. All of them are full of antioxidants, which will help your skin from aging before its time. Of all the aforementioned, blueberries are the richest in antioxidants, and did you know that blueberries extracts have shown to improve short-term memory? Not bad...

Last, but not least, include almonds, wheat germ and brown rice in your diet. These foods contain healthy levels of magnesium, something which our body absorbs less and less as we age.

As your magnesium (Mg) levels increase, you should feel more energetic, your skin will improve, and.... so will your libido. Now, please, DO NOT ingest additional magnesium pills. Too much of it could play very serious tricks on your heart, even lethal ones!

Thank you, and I wish you all a great day or evening.

Here is a simple, home-made recipe for a facial cleanser and a second recipe for a skin toner, as per readers' request.

Facial Cleanser:

1 (one) 8oz. container of plain yogurt

1 (one) tablespoon of pure lemon juice

2 (two) tablespoons grape seed oil (you may also use olive oil or safflower oil *)

2 (two) tablespoons chamomile flowers.

Blend all the ingredients together. Let the preparation sit undisturbed for at least one hour. Using clean utensils, spoon out approximately one tablespoon, and apply to the face. Massage gently and thoroughly. Remove using a clean, moist cotton cloth. Finish using the toner. If you choose to omit the toner, make sure you remove all traces by rinsing several times with lukewarm water. Pat dry, do not rub and/or pull skin! (*) Please keep in mind that it does not take much time for safflower oil to go rancid.

This cleansing preparation should be used within a couple of days and it must be stored in the refrigerator.

Facial Toning Lotion:

6 (six) tablespoons pure elderflower water (you may also use pure rosewater or pure lavender water)

1 (one) drop of lavender oil

2 (two) drops rose geranium oil (you may also use 1 or 2 drops of tea tree oil)

4 (four) tablespoons pure lemon juice

5 (five) tablespoons witch hazel

Mix all ingredients in a clean, opaque container and shake well. Apply with clean cotton balls. Use a new cotton ball every time you need more lotion. Unless you contaminate it, this solution will not need refrigeration. Simply store it in a cool, dry location, away from direct sunlight.

Please note: If you notice ANY signs of allergic reaction, discontinue use. No side effects have been reported, but I must warn you nevertheless.

Pay special attention if you have allergies to botanicals. To play it “safer”, do a patch test first. If no side effects are noted within 72 hours, you may be reasonably sure the preparations will work just fine.

healthy skin, diet, vitamins

Healthy skin & dietary supplements

(A. Einstein)