Day: July 26, 2010

Vitamin D RevisitedVitamin D Revisited

After writing several articles on Vitamin D and the effects of being vitamin D deficient, I’ve learned a lot about this all important vitamin. However, it seems that every time a new study and/or report about vitamin D comes out I learn something new. Suffice to say that’s no different from Mr. Brazos Minshew’s latest TriVita Wellness Report article.

I’ve included the article in its entirety. I hope you read it and have a chance to learn more about vitamin d.

Keeping Skin Healthy & Glowing by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer

“I’m tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That’s deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?”
– Jean Kerr

Beautiful outside, beautiful inside?

Who doesn’t want beautiful skin – especially as we age? Our outside layer of skin often reflects the health of our internal organs, as we discussed in the Weekly Wellness Report on “Liver Spots.”

For instance, skin hydration relies on glucosamine just as joint hydration relies on glucosamine. So, dry skin likely means dry joints. Skin that is easily torn and damaged indicates rapid aging, which likely indicates rapid aging of our circulatory system. Furthermore, skin that is easily burned by the sun may indicate that our essential fatty acid (EFA) and antioxidant reserves are low which means other tissues that rely on antioxidants and EFA for protection may also be at risk.

Therefore, beautiful skin is a good indicator of healthy reserves of critical nutrients.

Inside first…

As we age, we are likely to experience skin that wrinkles and becomes blotchy. It may start to get pigment spots and become easy to injure. There are many products and procedures you can use to help your skin from the outside and those are important. But more important is nourishing the skin from the inside.

Skin has a base of healthy fats. Most of the external emollients we use on our skin are some form of fat. However, humans are not designed to take in fats very efficiently through the skin. The best way to have a healthy base for your skin is to take OmegaPrime essential fatty acids. Two per day is good, but for skin health, more is better!

From the outside…

There is a huge industry that provides cleansers, peels and emollients for the outside of your skin. Use of skin treatments is important only after you have been nourished from the inside. Then your skin will have beauty long after the makeup has been removed. Dr. Libby’s Vital C Powdered Crystals are perfect for your weekly beautiful skin routine. Try this natural deep moisturizer treatment and skin exfoliant:

  1. Add 1/4 teaspoon of Vital C Crystals to your daily skin moisturizer and mix thoroughly.
  2. Liberally apply the cream to your face and neck, massaging gently.
  3. Leave on for 10 minutes.
  4. Wash off completely with warm water; follow with a splash of cold water to close your pores.
  5. Your skin should have a lovely glow!

Sunlight and Vitamin D

The skyrocketing incidence of diabetes, osteoporosis and certain cancers definitely say that we are not getting enough Vitamin D. The increase in insomnia and seasonal depression tells us that we are not getting enough early morning sun.

We need more sunlight. Now, how do we make it safe?

  1. Recognize the need for sun and the need for caution. Plan your sun exposure so that you maximize the benefits while minimizing the risks. For instance, get your sunlight early in the day. Early morning sunlight does not have the high ultra-violet intensity that midday sun does. So, take a 20-minute walk in the early part of the day with your skin exposed to sunlight. This will give you the benefits without the risks of over-exposure.
  2. Alternately, take a 20-minute walk in the evening with your skin exposed to sunlight. There are fewer UV rays in the evening than at midday, though more than in the morning. This will have a less dramatic effect than morning sun but will still provide you with many of the same benefits.
  3. Never expose your skin to midday sun for long periods of time. Wear clothing that covers most of your skin and wear a hat that provides shade for your face and ears.
  4. Certain nutrients work well to protect against sun damage:
    1. Essential fatty acids interact with Vitamin D in your skin to create a bulwark of protection against harmful radiation.
    2. Vitamin C quenches smoldering fires of oxidative stress once they have begun.
    3. Antioxidants, such as green tea (Energy Now!) and those found in berries (Adaptogen 10 Plus) can help protect against DNA damage from radiation.
    4. All these are excellent strategies for dealing with the stress of too much sun.

What about sunscreen?

The discussion about sunscreen is full of heated rhetoric. The first thing I will say about using sunscreen is that it is completely up to you: it’s your choice! I would also point out that people have lived outdoors for thousands of years without serious risk from sun exposure. The increase in skin cancer risk came about as a “perfect storm” of severely polluted air, a low antioxidant/nutrient diet and the 40-year tanning craze that followed World War II.

The truth is that more people die of cancer related to Vitamin D deficiency than of skin cancer caused by sunburn. Again, get some morning and evening sunshine for good health, never get a sunburn and keep your skin covered when you are exposed to midday sun. Beyond these recommendations, do what seems reasonable to you!

Total health

The health of our skin can tell us much about the health of our entire body. We naturally desire that “healthy glow” and beautiful skin. And that makes sense, doesn’t it? We have a tool to assess our internal health immediately at our disposal: our skin. All we have to do is learn to listen to the message of healthy skin!

In one of my previous articles, Vitamin D – Protector from Cancer, is stated that “nine out of 10 Americans are deficient in vitamin D. Furthermore, it’s been documented many times that even people who spend plenty of time in the sun can still lack this vital inflammation fighter. This is becoming more and more serious because inflammation is a major cause of heart and brain attacks, high blood pressure, joint pain, bone loss, digestive problems, blood sugar imbalances and a host of other serious health problems.”

So, not only is vitamin D important to help ward off cancer, but it’s also a proven inflammation fighter. Some medical studies have even found that inflammation is one of the major causes of cancer. Now I’m not a medical doctors, so don’t take my word for it; do your own research.

Jeffrey Sloe
Independent TriVita Business Owner, 12871028
440-725-3729
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The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.