Cosmetics Reviews » Internal Beauty

Gorgeous Skin Secret

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:47:32 +0000

Gorgeous Skin Secret

I, like probably many other women, ask myself how can I achieve gorgeous skin without spending hundreds of pounds on cosmetics and cosmetologist visits, which in a lot of times not even helping? Well I started to experiment with different approaches and I believe I have developed a very effective skin care regime. Well before jumping to the interesting part I wanted to speak a bit about the skin itself. Skins is the largest organ in our body, it has its physiological functions, which I will not bore you with here. But what is important is to understand that skin plays a pivotal role in many processes which we do not even think about, but it is an organ which can have its own problems and brake downs. When something is not right in our body skin is the first organ to react and communicate with us. So when you come to choose your skin care product you usually will look for a product, which corresponds to your skin type – dry, oily, combination or sensitive…and here is the catch…while I can agree with the first three the last one – sensitive, is not really a skin type! It may come as a shock, but sensitive skin is a first sign that something is not right, and unfortunately to buy another sensitive skin product will not do you any favour. And as most of us in a recent years have problems with sensitivity of our skin, well apart from aging, I thought I will embark on a quest of finding out what is that we could do to protect and perfect our skin.

I started to research what is that what affects my skin? My concerns were: roughness, uneven skin tone, rosacea resembling symptoms – redness and visible spread veins. While there are tones of creams and treatment suggestions on the internet for this matter none of them sounded right to me. As a matter of fact the more I researched the more it got evident that the problem maybe hiding in the food, unhealthy eating habits, consumption of junk food, minerals and vitamins poor diet. But I was thinking me junk food, when I am all over with healthy food this and healthy food that, free range chicken, whole-foods etc…but it turns out that the quality of the food dropped down so significantly in the last decade of years that when I was growing up, and it was not England, I was getting at least several times more vitamins and minerals at one meal than I am getting now eating whole day. Plus let’s not forget the processed food and ready cooked meals we eat every day, a couple glasses of wine at the end of the day, stress, all does not really help our histamine level. In addition very lazy, physical exercises lacking life style all add up to development of a very nasty problems in our body, reflected of course on our skin first. Some people are having sever reaction to food allergens like shellfish, lactose or gluten without even knowing about it. And let’s take a closer look at histamine. Histamine is a biogenic amine involved in local immune responses as well as regulating physiological function in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter. [source Wikipedia]. Not only we are getting histamines from the food, but our body also produces it to support a healthy immune system response to protect us from potential invaders, like bacteria and viruses or as a matter of fact anything that looks suspicious to our body. But with all that junk we are consuming no wonder that our body gets confused and from time to time mistakes a real threat to a harmless pollen or gluten or lactose (well last one is arguable as apparently our body is not meant to consume cows’ milk…). When I am saying junk I am not referring to fast food chain restaurants, I am talking about that broccoli, which you are having and with your best unawareness thinking that you are doing yourself a favour, well you may if that broccoli was not pumped up to death with pesticides before getting on your plate… well, you will never know…Just a food for thought…did you know that Prince Charles has his own farm where he grows his own meat and veggies for his own table…I bet they are slightly different from the meat and veggies I am buying from Sainsbury’s…. well, if you are interested to find out more on these topics you will find links to the websites at the end of the article, but for now let me tell you how I thought I will tackle my skin problems.

1. Well, as it turned out that the most important factor contributing to our skin health is what we are putting in our body, I became more conscious about what I eat and how can I reduce my histamine level. Simple indicator of histamine level going up is when after a meal your face is flushing up with blood and you probably notice this even better after having a glass of red wine. Red wine is a food containing a high amount of histamine. Well, if this is one of your concerns get on with educating yourself on this topic.

2. Supplements are very important. Our body is a mixture of water and different minerals and vitamins. We have more or less of every possible element in our body, which you find in the periodic table – the one you study in chemistry class. An imbalance of the chemicals in our body can lead to a spectre of various health problems, ranging from heart problems to depression and etc. I would recommend: Aloe Vera juice, different health teas – chamomile, Marygold heads (calendula), nettle and many others. I take tinctures of propolis (known as a natural histamine level reducing agent) and sophora, drink tea from rose hips buds and take every day vitamin C. All strengthen my immune system and clean it from already present bacteria and virus residual in my body. When it comes to skin tone a bath with chamomile flowers is very effective and does miracles, but needs to be systematic. Not only it evens out the skin tone but also contributes to reducing the break outs by keeping down the skin bacteria level at norm, thankfully to its anti-bacterial properties.

3. And lastly I can recommend to look at some creams that will help you to moisturize your skin and to help you to get rid of those stubborn dead skin cells unwilling to go by themselves…and here is my favourite product Estee Lauder Idealist…but do not think that Idealist will work without the rest of the folks…

Well Good Luck!

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0887/is_n6_v15/ai_18475212/
http://www.histrelief.com/
http://www.healthy-skincare.com/natural-antihistamines.html
http://aloeveraforliving.com/

Aloe Vera Benefits

admin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:06:54 +0000

For many centuries, civilisations around the world have used aloe vera for its health benefits. Aloe Vera contains over 75 known active ingredients (and probably many more). Also included are 19 of the 20 amino acids required by the human body and 7 of the 8 essential amino acids (that the body cannot make), as well as vitamins and minerals. The most nutritionally potent is the Aloe Barbadensis Miller – the only variety that we cultivate and use in our products. Our natural, patented stabilisation process allows our aloe to reach our consumers in its natural state. Forever Living was the first company to receive the prestigious International Aloe Science Council Seal of Approval for consistency and purity.

Aloe Vera has been used by many different cultures. The ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Babylonians, Indians and the Chinese have all used Aloe Vera as a medicinal plant. Throughout the years, Aloe Vera (Aloinae) has been called many things: Potted Physician, Wand of Heaven, Wonder Plant, Heaven’s Blessing, and Plant of Life.

Botanists have identified at least 200-300 different types of Aloe Vera plants. Of all these types of Aloe, only five have demonstrated medical benefits: Aloe Barbadensis Miller, Aloe Perryi Baker, Aloe Ferox, Aloe Arborescens and Aloe Saponaria. Aloe Barbadensis Miller is the most widely used as well as the most potent. Indigenous to Africa, it is now grown all around the world specifically in warmer, drier climates.

The structures of most Aloe plants are very similar. Aloe grows to maturity in approximately four years, at which time the leaves begin to sprout. They taper to a point near the top of the plant, and the leaves have soft spines every few inches lining their silhouette. The Aloe Barbadensis Miller has about a 12-year life span.

According to Dr. Peter Atherton in his book titled The Essential Aloe Vera,

“The structure of the Aloe leaf shows the outer-rind about fifteen cell layers thick… The hardness is due to the large amounts of calcium and magnesium present in it… Below the rind are vascular bundles or tubes of xylen and phloem. The xylen transports water and minerals from the roots upwards into the leaves… The phloem transports the synthesized materials down to the roots and other parts of the leaf.”

Studies have found that there are 75 ingredients contained in the Aloe leaf. These ingredients have a variety of medical benefits. They are divided into the following categories:

• Ligin – This cellulose substance is found in the gel has no known medical properties except it posses the property of penetrating the human skin.
• Saponins – These form soapy lathers when mixed and agitated with water. They have been used in detergents, foaming agents and contain antiseptic properties.
• Anthraquinones – There are 12 of these contained in the sap of Aloe Vera: Aloin, Isobarbaloin, Anthracene, Emodin, Ester of Cinnamonic acid, Chrysophanic acid, Barbaloin, Anthranol, Aloetic acid, Aloe Emodin, Ethereal oil and Resistannol. These act as natural laxatives, painkillers and analgesics, and they contain powerful antibacterial, antifungal and virucidal properties.
• Minerals – Aloe Vera contains the following minerals:
- Calcium (essential for proper bone and teeth density)
- Manganese (a component of enzymes necessary for the activation of other enzymes)
- Sodium (ensures that the body fluids do not become too acidic or too alkaline)
- Copper (enables iron to work as oxygen carriers in the red blood cells)
- Magnesium (used by nerves and muscle membranes to help conduct electrical impulses)
- Potassium (regulates the acidic or alkaline levels of body fluid)
- Zinc (contributes to the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats)
- Chromium (necessary for the proper function of insulin, which in turn controls the sugar levels in the blood)
- Iron (controls the transportation of oxygen around the body via the red blood cells)
• Vitamins – Aloe Vera contains numerous vitamins:
- Vitamins A, C, & E (crucial antioxidants that combat dangerous free radicals in the body)
- Vitamin B & Choline (concerned with the production of energy, amino acid metabolism and developing muscle mass)
- Vitamin B12 (responsible for the production of red blood cells)
- Folic acid (helps develop new blood cells)
• Amino Acids – Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein, which manufacture and repair muscle tissue. The human body requires 22 amino acids and needs 8 essential ones. Aloe Vera provides 20 of 22 required amino acids and 7 of 8 essential ones.
• Enzymes – Some of the most important enzymes in Aloe Vera are: Peroxidase, Aliiase, Catalase, Lipase, Cellulase, Carboxypeptidase, Amylase and Alkaline Phosphatase. Enzymes help to break down food and assist in digestion. Some enzymes help break down fats while others break down starches and sugars.
• Sugars – Aloe Vera contains both monosaccharides, such as glucose and fructose, and polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are the most important types of sugars. They aid in proper digestion, maintain cholesterol levels, improve liver functions and promote the strengthening of bones.
• Sterols – Sterols are important anti-inflammatory agents. The ones found in Aloe Vera are: Cholesterol, Sitosterol, Campesterol and Lupeol. These sterols contain antiseptic and analgesic properties. They also have pain killing properties similar to aspirin.

As Aloe Vera is comprised of approximately 99% water, all of these chemicals are contained in the remaining 1% of the plant. Although this may seem like a small percentage to contain so many ingredients, its helpfulness has been proven to be significant. Dr. Atherton claims that this is due to synergistic actions. He writes, “Synergism is defined as, ‘the working together of two or more drugs, muscles, etc., to produce an effect greater then the sum of their individual effects.’”

Aloe Vera has the ability to provide essential nutrients, kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeasts and reduce inflammation. Dr. Atherton claims, “Tissues that die and are renewed rapidly such as the lining of the gut, which renews itself about every four days, and the skin every 21 to 28 days or so, need a rich and ready supply of building materials to produce and maintain healthy, efficient cells.” A proper diet supplemented with Aloe Vera is an effective way to get these essential nutrients. Aloe Vera can also reduce inflammation to injured tissue. Inflammation occurs when healthy tissue is injured and blood begins to clot around the tissue to repair the injured tissue. Aloe Vera is a natural anti-inflammatory that is much more delicate on the human body.

The benefits of Aloe Vera have long been tested throughout history. It is only in recent years that studies have scientifically proven many of the medicinal benefits of Aloe Vera. Perhaps the longer that scientist and botanists study the benefits of Aloe Vera, the more improvements it will create to human health and well-being.

Atherton, P. (1997). The Essential Aloe Vera. Newport Pagnell: Mill Enterprises.