Health and Wellness
Hot Tips for Summer Skin
- Take advantage of all the summer fruits and vegetables, and eat a varied and nutritious diet. Studies show that diets high in saturated fat, including meat, butter and full-fat dairy, as well as soft drinks, cakes and pastries increased the likelihood of skin wrinkling.
- Follow a diet high in vitamins A, E and C and essential fatty acids.
- Don't forget to wash down your nutritious foods with a big glass of water. In fact, aim for at least eight to 10 glasses of water a day for the best skin results.
- Get out in the warm weather and exercise. Exercise flushes impurities out of your skin and promotes production of sebum, or oil, your skin's natural moisturizer and enhances blood flow to the skin.
- Stop smoking. Smoking constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the skin. It also depletes levels of valuable antioxidant vitamins like vitamin A, increasing damage to the elasticity of the skin.
- The greatest damage to your skin comes from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Few people use sunscreen the right way. Apply a full ounce every couple of hours, more if you've been swimming or sweating.
- Besides sunscreen, you'll need a hat, protective clothing and a time limit for your stay in the sun.
- Think a tanning bed is safer than a beach tan? Think again. The reality is there's no such thing as a safe tan. UVA rays in tanning booths not only inflict damage similar to sunlight, but they are up to 20 times more intense than natural sunlight.
- There's a very strong mind/body connection that exists between our emotions and our skin health. The stress in your life turns up on your face. Relaxation techniques, biofeedback and breathing training can help you cope better with life stresses and reduce their effects on your skin.
For a free copy of the guide Women, Skin Health & Beauty, call 877-986-9472 or visit www.healthywomen.org.
Used with permission from www.health-eheadlines.com, © 2006 Write On, Inc.
