The Sweet Truth

I have always had sweet memories of Valentine’s Day. I can remember waiting anxiously at the door for my father to arrive, much the same way a puppy waits for his treat! I knew as soon Dad walked in, there would be flowers for my mom and chocolates for each of us: the kind in the heart shaped box with a variety of all the different fillings, and a surprise in every bite.

I’ve always had a sweet tooth and to this day dessert is my favorite part of any meal and always difficult to pass up! With some amount of self-control, I allow myself to enjoy sweet dessert occasionally, mostly because I know if I over do it I will run the risk of feeling lousy for days. This lousy feeling manifests itself in getting nervous, anxious, and dizzy resulting in a migraine that lasts for days. If I want to enjoy chocolate I now reach for “Real” chocolate in the form of raw cocoa or dark chocolate. Dark chocolate at 70% or higher is recommended to receive antioxidant benefits.

For most people reducing or giving up sweets and sugar can be very challenging. Especially these days with all the hidden sugars in foods it is no wonder everyone is addicted. Food manufacturers know if they add sugar to their foods you will most likely come back for more. It’s no different than being addicted to a drug.

I certainly don’t want to suggest giving sugar up completely, but I do recommend limiting refined sugars and to try and give healthier alternatives a chance as substitutes. I won’t go into too much detail on the endless deleterious effects sugar has on the body in this post but I would like to address how it affects the skin and why it’s considered a major culprit of skin aging.

If you would like to learn more about the negative effects of sugar and to find healthy sugar alternatives check out these resources: “Sweet Deception”, “Sugar Shock”,  “Glutton for Life” and “The White-Out Diet.”

Inflammation Overload:

I constantly discuss acidity and alkalinity in the body in my practice and see a lot more common skin conditions related to inflammation- acne, rosacea, dermatitis, and hypersensitivity. Sugar assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections), which is represented on the skin (usually around the mouth) in clustery blackheads and cystic whiteheads.

I want you to understand that we have a delicate balancing act occurring in our bodies at all times known as our PH Balance. If our PH balance gets too acidic, we are much more prone to illness. This acidity prompts the immune system to respond negatively creating more of a workload for our body to protect itself. Highly acidic food, smoking, hormonal imbalance, and a high-glycemic diet are the biggest offenders. These stressors cause a free radical cascade fueling inflammation internally and depleting our mineral reserve to neutralize the acid. Very briefly, in Chinese medicine, too much heat is one of the fundamental imbalances that seriously undermines the body’s ability to self-repair. When our internal balance is tipped toward fire, one of the clarion signs is itchy skin, and a flushing or an outbreak of pimples (internal inflammation literally erupts on the surface). Not surprisingly, one way to support clear skin is to drink plenty of water, which helps maintain internal balance.

Too much sugar or high glycemic food, ultimately leads to a metabolic process called glycation (or glycosylation) in which sugar molecules in the blood bond to proteins and DNA, that over time become chemically modified. These new bonded proteins are called AGE’s, or advanced glycation end-products. AGE’s create unnatural crosslinks with collagen proteins and change their structure-shape, flexibility, elasticity and function. Sugar molecules attach to and thereby damage proteins in the body. The result is premature aging. What’s more, the presence of AGE’s generates additional inflammation.

Inflammation and glycation are two related reactions that impact the body’s natural state of balance. These processes manifest themselves as aging throughout the body’s organ systems, but most apparently in the skin.

The damage to the skin occurs when sugar levels go up drastically and frequently. Remember this fact when you are having a sugar binge! Those wrinkles didn’t appear overnight!

Antioxidants to the Rescue:

One severely under-considered idea is the value of antioxidants in the fight for age-management. To counteract free radicals, our immune system relies on certain nutrients that defend the cells from free radicals. These free radical scavengers are called antioxidants, most of which are plant derived. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and quench minor inflammation by sacrificing their own life as a replacement for missing electrons around the cells. Antioxidants also stop the cascade of destructive damage.

Since free radicals are inescapable, we must have a constant supply of antioxidant nutrients to keep our skin cells healthy. In addition, antioxidants may actually encourage our cells’ “fix-it” enzymes to repair damage. Our cells have a wonderful ability to heal themselves, but this mechanism works less efficiently as we get older. They also provide histamine regulation.

The following are the major antioxidants to consider ingesting and using topically. You can also include them in your regime and will add a volume of antioxidant support.

• L-Ascorbic Acid – (Vitamin C). The most effective form is in pure crystals. It increases new collagen and increases the skin’s ability to heal. This can be found in Pure C from CosMedix.

• L-Superoxide Dismutase- One of four major skin antioxidants, crucial for disarming the most dangerous free-radical and superoxide radical. This can be found in products: Affirm, Radiance, and Pure Enzymes from CosMedix.

• Coenzyme Q-10 (found naturally in our cells but decreases after age 20). This can be found in a variety of Eminence Products.

• Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA; found in plant and animal sources). This can be found in Eye Believe, Radiance  from CosMedix.

• Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE; found in fish)

• Carotenoids (phytonutrients found in the red, yellow and orange flesh of plant leaves, flowers and fruit)

To make significant improvements in the tone and texture of your skin, you need to soothe inflammation on two fronts: neutralizing free radicals (both inside and out), and by boosting immune function through good nutrition, supplements, hormonal balance, detoxification, and topical support.

Until next time.. Love & Light

Claudia

Tagged as: acne, aging skin, cocao, inflammation, raw chocolate, sugar, Thinning Skin, wrinkles