Nutritional information for healthy skin

[QBMan]

It stands to reason that the growth of new skin will need to be supported by a good diet. I have mentioned folic acid a few times in some posts, I don't know where I originally read of its importance in skin health, I just remember it since it seemed to be in a lot of things I like to eat anyway. However, there are at least 10 other nutrients or groups of them, that play an improtant role in skin health and these are probably very important to us. So I dug around a bit this afternoon and found some interesting information about nutritional elements that are important for skin. Here are the links:

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/skin-nutrition
http://www.newstarget.com/021773.html
http://www.thesoko.com/thesoko/article1065.html
http://www.onhealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50505
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/reprint/73/5/853.pdf

I hope everyone finds them of interest and value.

[taoist]

Very good info, QB!

And, don't forget one of the easiest and cheapest things we can do for our skin....drink water! Most of us do not drink enough water and are usually in various stages of dehydration. I really harp on this with my patients as many of their issues revolve around inadequate water metabolism.

With the essential omega's, I recommend Udo's to my patients. It's a good balance of 3,6,9.

[QBMan]

Very good info, QB!

And, don't forget one of the easiest and cheapest things we can do for our skin....drink water! Most of us do not drink enough water and are usually in various stages of dehydration. I really harp on this with my patients as many of their issues revolve around inadequate water metabolism.

With the essential omega's, I recommend Udo's to my patients. It's a good balance of 3,6,9.

Your 'patients', Taoist? Are you a doctor; nurse; dietician???

[QBMan]

Another question, Taoist? Is it important that it just be Water. Or can that be water in flavoured forms like soda pop or whatever? It would seem to me that the body would have to do more work on the other forms water can take, in the man-made sense, since it would have to separte the usable water molecules from the other 'stuff'.

[taoist]

I'm a 2nd year intern in Traditional Chinese Medicine...acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, etc. In my previous life I was a biochemist for 18 years in Western Medicine.

I think it's very important that it just be plain ole' water. I know the taste of water isn't thrilling for a lot of people and a lot of the flavored water or additives have become pretty popular. Opinions vary on whether some of these supplements are good for you or not...including things like Gatorade, etc. And, I've tried a few of them myself over the years.

It is so very difficult to get accurate information these days regarding these things that I tend to think simpler is better. I just recently read an article regarding the preservative sodium benzoate that has been used for many years, especially in sodas. These findings are suggesting that sodium benzoate in combination with the ingestion of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) may form benzene in the body...which is a known carcinogen that I used to work with in the toxicology lab. These two things have become so prevalent in various drinks and supplements that it is difficult to find one without them. And, I get very tired of having to sort through every label on everything I want to drink.

If you want a real scare about drinking sodas, diet sodas in particular, watch the documentary "Sweet Misery" which talks about the popular Nutrasweet.

I have a 5 stage filter under my sink that supplies all of my drinking and cooking water. K.I.S.S. principle works best for me.:)

[QBMan]

If you want a real scare about drinking sodas, diet sodas in particular, watch the documentary "Sweet Misery" which talks about the popular Nutrasweet.

I have a 5 stage filter under my sink that supplies all of my drinking and cooking water. K.I.S.S. principle works best for me.:)

I just did a Google search for "Sweet Misery" and the first link took me to a site called Mercola.com, which offers the DVD for sale. The description and information to sell the DVD is quite scary in itself! I'll have to check the local video store and see if they have it. I already checked the public library here and they don't!

Thanks for the insights, Taoist!

[taoist]

Try this link http://www.soundandfury.tv/pages/sweet%20misery.html

I think that is the official site.

Or you can order it from Amazon.com

Mercola's site is a bit much sometimes...some good info there usually but he just makes the damn thing way too busy and commercial, IMO.

[QBMan]

Try this link http://www.soundandfury.tv/pages/sweet%20misery.html

I think that is the official site.

Or you can order it from Amazon.com

Mercola's site is a bit much sometimes...some good info there usually but he just makes the damn thing way too busy and commercial, IMO.

Just reading the promotional material...I think I'm off the diet soda's and no sweetener in my coffee.

What do you know of Splenda, which is modified sugar? Has there been any problems with that product? Unfortunately, it's double the price of the aspartame-based sweeteners.

[taoist]

This is from www.splenda.ca website

Chemical composition
Sucralose is manufactured using a patented multi-step process in which 3 hydrogen-oxygen groups on the sugar (sucrose) molecule are selectively replaced with 3 chlorine atoms. These tightly bound chlorine atoms are exceptionally stable, and prevent sucralose from being metabolized for energy. As a result, studies show that sucralose does not elevate blood glucose or serum insulin levels.

The bold and italics are mine.

My personal feeling is that I don't want to put anything in my body that it can't metabolize or that I don't know what it will metabolize into. This site goes on to say that splenda is pretty much inert...doesn't breakdown into anything toxic, etc...but, you really have to read between the lines looking for what they are not saying in literature like this and, if possible, get to the validity of the studies.

Convenience in western society has driven a lot of what we eat, how we eat and how it all affects us. I live a pretty spartan lifestyle...eating organic, primarily vegetarian and sometimes raw foods most of the year. But, not everyone can do this or wants to do this.

My standard answer to most of my patients who want to eat better but don't want to give up the convenience of processed, fast food, sweets, etc....is "All things in moderation". Of course, when that little phrase was coined there weren't any McDonalds, Nutrisweet, or Splenda around.

For some alternatives to sugar, you might try Stevia or Agave Nectar. Or try getting used to using less sugar/sweeteners in things. I gradually cut back on the use of sweeteners in my morning oatmeal and now only use blueberries and blackberries. We become very conditioned to crave sweets, so it's really a matter of just re-learning that we don't need them and our body will stop craving them.