Nutrients to Make You Glow
Good Morning! I hope you’ve had a restful night’s sleep. Thank you for joining us this morning. This is Weekly Renew, renew.calm’s wellness show. Every Saturday morning you will learn how to bring out your natural beauty with advanced skin and relaxation techniques. And we will touch on topics that effect everyday lives and offer tips on how to take better care of yourself.
My name is Dawn Nooney and I am your host of Weekly Renew. I am also the owner of renew.calm day spa located in West Springfield, not far from the main entrance to the Eastern States Fairgrounds. Renew.calm has been offering body, skin, and nail care services to men and women for over 13 years. I invite you to stop in and tour our spa. We are open Monday – Saturday. You can also visit us online at www.renewcalm.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube where you’ll find useful tips to improve your health and beauty.
You’ve heard the expression, “You are what you eat”? Our outward appearance is a direct reflection of the diet we consume. Today’s topic is, Nutrients to Make You Glow. We will discuss specific vitamins and minerals to help your skin, hair and nails become radiant! Remember, it’s important to discuss supplements with your physician before beginning a new routine.
At renew.calm day spa I’ve witnessed teenage boys conquer their battle with acne by eliminating certain foods from their diet. I’ve witnessed young mothers quickly reduce their rosacea flare-ups by consuming more blueberries. What we put in our bodies is far more important than what we put on our skin. Oral supplements, taken in conjunction with a multivitamin, can boost our overall health. However, the average American Diet is seriously lacking many of the basic nutrients we need for healthy skin, hair and nails. Let’s discuss the ones I believe to be most important to give us a healthy glow.
Vitamin C: Found in camu camu, broccoli, brussels sprouts, guava and citrus, Vitamin C promotes collagen production in the skin for a firmer, younger skin. Vitamin C, specifically the L-ascorbic acid form, plays a primary role in the formation of collagen, which is important for the growth and repair of the body – tissue cells, gums, blood vessels, bones and teeth. Your skin regains its tone and firmness. Vitamin C acts as a protective shield for the skin, by scavenging free radicals before they can damage your cells; consequently, your skin is protected from premature aging.
What are free radicals? When our body is exposed to various kinds of stresses, (sun’s radiation, smoking, pollution, car exhaust, alcohol, stress, acidic/fried foods), free radical molecules are initiated and cause cell damage that leads to premature aging of the skin and body.
A free radical is an unstable molecule which lost an electron and therefore, tries to steel electrons from other molecules, thus causing damage.
I’ll use an analogy I heard in Montreal several years ago and I’ll spare you the French Canadian accent, although it’s much more entertaining when I tell it that way! You’re having a wonderful, romantic dinner with your husband at a fine restaurant. Everything is wonderful, the food, the wine. But just then, SHE walks in! She is beautiful, but unstable. She STEALS your husband! She is a Free Radical! And she’s not happy to steal just him. She goes from table to table, stealing other husbands, thus creating damage everywhere she goes.
The body protects itself by using antioxidants to neutralize free radicals before they cause damage to the skin cells. Clinical studies have proven that this free radical damage may be reduced or prevented by the regular consumption of antioxidants, like Vitamin C.
Topical use of Vitamin C is not enough. Vitamin C in cosmetic products reaches only the top layers of the skin and cannot penetrate beyond. To produce new collagen and elastin fibers, it is very important to have Vitamin C reaching the deepest layers of the skin through the bloodstream.
People exposed to sun, oral contraceptive users and smokers all need to increase their intake of Vitamin C to offset the negative effects on their collagen. Vitamin C has also been shown to decrease the severity of colds by decreasing the histamine in the blood by 40%. Histamine is the substance that causes watery eyes and running noses.
B Complex: B Complex is an anti-stress complex for the skin. B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12 are all water-soluble vitamins that make up B Complex formulations. Each has specific beneficial effects on different parts of the body. B1 effects the nervous system. B2 promotes healthy skin, nails, hair and prevent hair loss. It helps eliminate lip and tongue sores and helps in growth and reproduction. B3 effects the digestive system, increases the circulation and reduces high blood pressure, while giving a healthier-looking skin. Skin that is particularly sensitive to the sun is often an early indicator of B3 deficiency. B5 effects the nervous system, is vital for proper function of the adrenal glands, aids in wound healing. B6 strengthens the immune system, prevents various nervous and skin disorders. B12 helps with DNA synthesis, blood cell formation, nervous system and heart health and helps reduce brown marks such as melasma, on the skin. Vegetarians are at a high risk of B12 deficiency if they exclude eggs and dairy from their diet. Also women during and just prior to menstruation should increase their B12 intake to help elevate the mood. Because B vitamins are water-soluble, any excess taken cannot be stored, so is excreted out of the body. I recommend B Complex supplements to any client suffering with stress-related skin and nail disorders, such as acne and eczema.
Biotin: Vitamin H (Biotin) is said to help make the hair and nails grow. Biotin boosts the metabolism of fats, carbs and proteins needed to make the hair thicker and grow faster. It also increases the elasticity of the hair follicle and hair cortex to help prevent some of the breakage and further damage that stops the hair from thickening and growing well. Found in Brewer’s Yeast, cooked eggs, sardines, nuts and nut butters, soy beans, whole grains, cauliflower, bananas and mushrooms. My professional opinion is: try it! I have clients who swear by it and clients who don’t believe the hype. Research shows biotin deficiencies cause severe problems in hair and skin, as well as, the immune system plus nervous and muscular system. The reason some may see results while others do not, could be because each body has very different requirements. Age, weight, pregnancy all have an effect on the quantity needed. So, as with all supplements, talk with your physician about the dosage that is right for you. Biotin works synergistically and more effectively with B2, B3, and B6, so it is more beneficial to take them together.
Omegas: Omega 3, 6, 9 are essential fatty acids recommended for devitalized and tired skin, eczema, psoriasis, and to encourage nail health. Derived from natural sources like cold water fish, flax seed and borage oil, Omega 3, 6, and 9 benefit your skin and general health. Aging causes a progressive decline in our ability to internally synthesize the essential fatty acids required by the skin to maintain a youthful, moist appearance. It’s believed that North Americans consume only 20% of the essential oils that are required, while consuming excessive amounts of harmful saturated fats. Moreover, the heat from cooking destroys much of the Omega 3 in food making it difficult to get sufficient amounts through diet alone. Prevention magazine recommends taking 500 mg of evening primrose or black currant oil, twice a day, for 6 to 8 weeks before you see results in your skin, hair and nails.
Zinc: Zinc supports the immune system; aids in wound healing and removing toxins from the body. I recommend it to my clients suffering with acne. It also gets rid of white spot on the fingernails and is essential for collagen formation.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D is a hormone manufactured in the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Just a few years ago it seemed everyone who was tired or suffering achy joints was diagnosed with a Vitamin D deficiency. Today, we realize Vitamin D is important for fending off so much more, from cancer to diabetes to depression. 1 billion people worldwide are estimated to be Vitamin D deficient, including those who are aging, because the skin’s ability to manufacture Vitamin D from sunlight is reduced over time. Vitamin D is only manufactured in the skin. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to chronic skin conditions, such as rosacea, eczema and psoriasis. Heavy wrinkling on the face and body results as people lose bone density due to lack of Vitamin D. Fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel are among the best sources.
There are a variety of Superfoods, the richest, most potent foods containing mega doses of antioxidants, minerals and phytonutrients, that should be incorporated into our diet to help us glow from the inside out. Foods like Avocado, kale, Maca and Gogi berries among others, can easily be added to the diet. However, the average American doesn’t consume enough of these powerful, nuturient-dense foods. Supplements help us to balance our health.
Not all supplements are created equal. It is important to choose a high quality supplement manufactured by a reputable laboratory. At renew.calm day spa, we carry a line of specific nutrients for the skin called ActivaDerme Nutrients. Prepared to the highest standards of quality control, using pharmaceutical grade manufacture, these supplements contain ingredients from natural sources. ActivaDerme Nutrients are an exclusive line of high quality, natural beauty supplements that protect your skin and keep it young, healthy and balanced by working from inside out.
All of ActivaDerme’s Nutrients are natural, organic vitamins, substances found only in living nature. With few exceptions, the body cannot manufacture or synthesize vitamins. That’s why they must be supplied in the diet or in dietary supplements. Vitamins are essential to the normal functioning of our bodies. They are necessary for our growth, vitality and general well-being. A radiant skin reflects a well-balanced metabolism.
ActivaDerme Nutrients come in 6 different formulations, including Activa C and Activa Detox, and all are 10% OFF throughout the month of January. Come in to renew.calm day spa and let our knowledgeable staff help you determine the supplement that is right for you!