Your skin is the largest organ in and on your body. Like other organs in the body, the health of the skin is dependent on optimal “care and feeding”. So, it makes sense that how well we take care of ourselves on the inside will ultimately have an impact on our outward appearance.
Nutritional supplements play a role in healthy-looking skin in 4 ways: Certain vitamins & minerals support skin health. Phytonutrients help protect the skin from UV-induced damage. Omega-3s lubricate the skin from within plus provide additional UV protection. Probiotics maintain the bacterial balance of the skin, keeping it blemish-free.
Vitamins & Minerals Support Skin Health
As we age, our bodies produce less collagen and elastin. These proteins are associated with healthy, youthful-looking skin so maintaining their production is an integral part of an anti-aging program. Taking a high-quality multi-nutrient formula provides your body with essential vitamins and minerals to enhance health & wellness while supporting great-looking skin.
Key nutrients that support these dermal proteins include the carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, the B-complex, copper, selenium and zinc. While these micronutrients are commonly found in fruits and vegetables, most of us do not consume the recommended 5-9 servings a day of these nutritious foods.
Phytonutrients Prevent UV Damage
Phytonutrients, also referred to as phytochemicals (“phyto” meaning “plant”), are the chemical compounds that give fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, teas, legumes and spices their color.
In addition to their color effects, phytonutrients provide plants with a protective barrier against harmful UV radiation, viruses, bacteria, insects and parasites. The mechanisms of action for many of these plant chemicals include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial. When we consume these plant compounds, the health benefits are conferred to us.
The phytonutrient found in dark green and yellow vegetables is called lutein. This nutrient is deposited in the layers of the dermis and protects the skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Given that photo-damage is the #1 cause of aging, protecting the skin from damaging UV rays is an integral part of an anti-aging skin care program.
Omega-3s Lubricate & Protect
With aging, we often notice that our skin is dryer due to a combination of factors including less oil production and less hydration. Supplementing with an Omega-3 supplement like flax seed oil or fish oil helps to lubricate the skin internally.
Flax seed oil is a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid (EFA). EFAs perform a number of vital functions in the body, but are particularly important at the cellular level because they are a fundamental component of the membranes of all cells. An adequate supply of EFAs in the diet is essential for healthy-looking skin because skin cells turn over very rapidly.
Both flax seed oil and fish oil are widely recognized for quelling silent inflammation. However, more recent studies have shown that fish oil plays a protective effect against UV light and may protect against skin cancer. You can enhance the effects of topical sunscreen by taking a fish oil capsule each day.
Probiotics Balance Skin Bacteria
Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria that reside throughout the digestive tract and play a role in digestive health and immune system function.
These beneficial bacteria also normally reside on the skin. Due to the harsh conditions, only a limited number of bacterial species live on the skin. These hardy bugs play a role in the skin’s immune response by inhibiting or killing bad microorganisms. Beneficial bacteria also protect skin barrier function.
As you can see, nutritional supplements play a key role in healthy functioning of the skin. While supplements can’t replace a healthy diet (featuring fruits, vegetables, lean meats and unsaturated fats), their use can cover gaps in the diet. When combined with professional skin care products, this bi-directional approach ensures that you will have healthy skin for years to come. At Metro MediSpa, we can help you select the nutritional supplements that are right for your body’s needs and requirements.
