Skin

Do you have skin problems such as eczema, acne, acne rosacea, rashes, coldsores, cellulite or just dry or oily skin? Or perhaps you are suffering from premature ageing? Your nutritional therapist can tailor an achievable, realistic personal plan for you which may improve or maintain your skin and your self-esteem. Some of the most common skin complaints we deal with: Acne Did you know? Insufficient "good bacteria" in the gut are usually a major factor in acne Providing natural foods such as vegetables, vegetable protein, fruit and wholegrains feeds "good" bacteria in the gut. Poor glucose metabolism or a high sugar diet can be key Faulty digestion (e.g. constipation) can be a major factor In acne, the skin is being used as an organ of elimination for toxins/used hormones as the liver cannot cope. Lessening the toxic burden on the liver and eating foods to boost the liver’s ability to detoxify the body often helps Eczema Did you know that eczema sufferers usually have: Faulty digestion leading to reduced ability to absorb nutrients needed for skin health Impaired liver function i.e. decreased ability of the body to clear toxins (Iikura et al, 1995) Inadequate response to bacterial infections making them more vulnerable to skin infections? (Habu et al, 2001) Sufficient anti-inflammatory foods such as oily fish and certain nuts and seeds, and certain fruits and vegetables can lower your body’s allergic potential so you are less prone to itching and inflammation. Some nutrients to consider: Vitamin C – natural anti-histamine to help reduce allergic reactions. Zinc – essential for your ability to process essential fats i.e. good fats from oily fish, raw nuts and seeds so they become powerful anti-inflammatory substances in your body Magnesium – essential for stress reduction. Stress blocks your ability to process essential fats and this is why eczema often worsens with stress. Vitamin E – "Nature’s moisturiser" – clinically shown to alleviate eczema symptoms (Tsoureli-Nikita et al, 2002) and dry skin. Refined foods, alcohol, stress or smoking rob the body of these nutrients. Psoriasis Did you know? Faulty digestion of protein foods may be a cause and may be improved using nutritional therapy People with psoriases usually have insufficient "good" gut bacteria Certain foods such as sugar, white flour/rice, alcohol and stimulants feed bad bacteria Sufferers often have inadequate "essential fats" in the diet or impaired ability to process these fats Natural foods such as certain vegetables, beans & pulses and wholegrains provide food for beneficial bacteria Cellulite Did you know? Weakened connective tissue can play a part –refined foods, stimulants or alcohol all deplete skin-strengthening nutrients such as vitamin C. You can strengthen the skin with diet Poor circulation may also be a contributory factor Refined and processed foods encourage this congestion Lack of exercise is another cause The good news? Cellulite may be much improved over the course of a few months with nutritional coaching. A diet that is high in natural and bioflavonoid-rich foods is key. Premature Ageing Pollution, fried or charred foods, smoking, intake of refined oils and sun exposure are just some of the causes of premature ageing of the skin. Did you know that a diet rich in antioxidants from fruit and vegetables is important for maintaining collagen. When this collagen layer becomes damaged, this leads to wrinkles. Other antioxidants are found in protein foods and these are also key for maintaining the health of the skin. Did you know? Stress rapidly depletes the body of vast quantities of vitamin C Each cigarette smoked depletes at least 50mg vitamin C Vitamin E, also vital for skin elasticity and health is depleted by both fried foods, low-fat diets and lack of vitamin C in the diet. Vitamin E is found in raw nuts and seeds. Refined cooking oils (all colourless oils) or heated oils also destroy vitamin E.   Cold sores Though a dormant virus, stress and lowered immunity can trigger an attack. Did you know? Several specific protein foods can trigger a flare-up. Improving your immune health in simple, easy-to-follow steps may help prevent the onset of coldsores. One step towards improving your immunity is to drink plenty of water (herbal teas also count) as dehydration impairs the activity of the immune system. A poor diet high in refined foods, stimulants or alcohol makes cold sores more likely. If you would like to know more or to make and appointment telephone Anna Collins today.