Over the years your bodies become walking autobiographies, telling friends and strangers alike of the minor and major stresses of your lives.
Did you know that our skin is our body’s largest elimination organ? In fact it’s our largest organ period. Weighing up to nine pounds or more, our skin serves as the first protective barrier from everything our body comes into contact with in our environment.
When the body is free of toxins (unhealthy substances that can accumulate just about anywhere in our body), our skin has a nice healthy glow, it has a soft, smooth texture, and is neither too oily nor too dry. But when the body is out of balance, keep a lookout for a number of telltale signs that something’s awry.
Eczema and Psoriasis: two inflammatory conditions that often result from a fat deficiency – specifically the omega -3 fats as found in deep ocean fish, flax seeds, and organic, cage-free eggs.
Acne: caused by overactive oil glands, this condition is caused by several factors including hormone imbalance, clogged pores, and possible vitamin A and zinc deficiencies.
Excessive dryness: often due to either a thyroid deficiency or low levels of omega-3 fats.
Sun damage : anti-oxidant deficiency and hormone imbalance both can make us more prone to the formation of moles, wrinkles, and various skin discolorations after we’ve been in the sun.
Age spots: dark blotchiness or patchiness is often due to hormone deficiency (as seen during or after pregnancy or after taking birth control pills).
Rosacea: redness around the nose and cheek areas, it’s often caused by sun damage, excess alcohol intake, or in more severe cases can be associated with chronic disorders like Lupus or MS.
Smoking: smokers have a darker, hazier complexion than non-smokers.
And water? Most of us don’t drink enough of it and we end up dehydrated. This is by far the most common reason our skin ages quickly.
How do toxins build up in our body? One place is in the liver. This amazingly busy organ is responsible for filtering out everything that enters our body through our nose, lungs, mouth, and skin. When the liver becomes overloaded, toxins start to pour out through the skin, causing any number of the problems listed above. The other major source of toxic accumulation is our intestines. Most of us carry several pounds of toxins in our intestines daily, which once again shows up on many areas including the face.
Most of us are quite conscious of our appearance, as evidenced by the multi-billion dollar cosmetics and beauty industry. But think of all the money and effort we could save by starting from the inside out. No substitute exists for a healthy lifestyle, which includes proper nutrition, exercise, recreation, and relaxation. It’s your journey. Where will you take it?
