The skin is the largest organ of the body. It helps to protect us from infections and germs and is constantly regenerating itself.
The skin contains the essential ingredient collagen, which gives structure to skin cells and helps us maintain a youthful look. As we age, the body produces less collagen. Factors such as pollution, free radicals, smoke, and overexposure to the sun break down collagen, causing our skin to thin and become wrinkled.
Avoid the Chemicals
At Live Well Holistic Health, we believe that avoiding the chemicals that are often included in commercial skin products is key to boosting health. This means cleansing with a natural, organic product twice a day, and if you wear makeup, removing it completely before you go to bed. As the saying goes, if you can’t eat it, don’t use it on your skin!
The Natural Power of Fruits
Using the natural regenerative power of fruits to stimulate collagen will help you achieve a healthy glow that comes from the inside out. Here are five fruits we recommend for their hydrating, nourishing, and regenerating qualities:
Bananas
A great source of iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and manganese, bananas are also rich in vitamins that contain anti-aging properties and help maintain elasticity. Additionally bananas contain antioxidants to protect the skin from free radicals. Eat a banana a day and for an extra skin treat, mash one up with a teaspoon of honey for a beautifully hydrating skin mask.
Lemons
Lemons are loaded with vitamin C. Drinking a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of honey and half a lemon on empty stomach each morning will help cleanse the system and create healthy alkalinity. The astringent property of lemons also helps to lighten skin tone and diminish scars. Rub the inside of lemon peel on your elbows to smooth them and remove any dark spots.
Berries
Blackberries, boysenberries, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, and raspberries… they all scavenge for free radicals and increase collagen levels. Berries help to reduce inflammation and with their large vitamin C content, fortify collagen levels to help create radiant skin and shiny hair. If you can’t find them fresh in season, frozen and unsweetened berries do just fine.
Apples
The antioxidant properties of apples help to prevent cell and tissue damage. Containing large amounts of elastin they are the perfect food for helping the skin to stay young. Mash up an apple and add honey and oatmeal to create a powerful exfoliator for dead skin cells.
Papaya
Papaya is a rich antioxidant fruit that contains the enzyme papain, which kills dead cells, cures impurities of the skin, and helps to digest proteins. Containing carotenes, flavonoids, vitamins A, C, B, folate, pantothenic acid, potassium, and magnesium, papaya also has a high fiber content. Eat this fruit whenever you can and occasionally make a mask of the pulp to spread over your skin for the ultimate in hydration.
Contact Us
For more health tips, feel free to contact us via our online form or scheduling tool or simply call: 610 896 1554.