Beauty That’s More Than Skin Deep

[View this email in your browser]( Beauty That's More Than Skin Deep Beauty is not a superficial concept. It matters because the quality of your skin—a most important visual clue to your beauty—is also an external barometer of your health, inside and out. No wonder attractiveness is correlated to success, financially and socially, and to your overall wellbeing. The good news is that if you take the time to pay respect to your skin, you will be more attractive to others, more comfortable in your own skin, and healthier. Skin 101 Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It helps defend you from outside dangers such as infection, irritation, and inflammation; helps regulate your body temperature; and makes vitamin D when exposed to the sun. But it is also highly vulnerable to disease and damage. Your skin has a biome (like your gut’s microbiome) that, when thrown off kilter by outside irritants or internal changes in your immune system, can lead to noninfectious skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. In addition, allergies may trigger a red itchy rash. Dark, shape-shifting moles can signal skin cancer. And neglect can damage skin and make it look dull, wrinkled, spotty and downright old. So, let’s find out what can cause unhealthy skin and how you can help prevent or reverse damage. 5 Skin-Damaging Habits—And How to Help Repair the Damage - Stress may increase body-wide inflammation that can worsen skin conditions such as eczema and stimulate oil production, aggravating acne. Daily physical activity and meditation can help you manage stress. - Using harsh cleansers and forgetting to moisturize daily can promote dryness and rough texture. Use [gentle make-up removers]( and cleansers such as [aloe vera based products](. For moisturizing, [find one that works for you]( and use it daily. - Excess sugar can contribute to inflammation and a process called glycation, that damages collagen, a main structural protein in the skin. That leads to premature wrinkles and sagging. Get your sweet treats from fresh fruits and [allulose]( a sugar available in granulated form and found naturally in figs, raisins, wheat and molasses. It won’t make blood sugar spike. - Smoking damages skin by reducing healthy blood flow and also causes increased breakdown of collagen. - Sun exposure also leads to collagen breakdown and can cause skin cancer. I favor micronized [zinc sunscreens]( with an SPF of at least 35. Fortunately, you may [rebuild your skin’s collagen](. - Enjoy high-protein foods such as fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, legumes and soy that contain collagen-building amino acids. - Get collagen-building zinc from shellfish, legumes, nuts, and whole grains and vitamin C from fruits, strawberries and broccoli. [Vitamin C supplements]( can help restore healthy levels in the body if you’re deficient. - [Collagen supplements]( are another option. A 2021 metastudy in the International Journal of Dermatology reviewed 19 studies and found that taking [hydrolyzed collagen]( for 90 days helped reduce wrinkles and improve skin elasticity and hydration. Skin-Boosting Pancakes Delicious, healthy food is the foundation for health, and our skin looks its best when taking care of it with a combination of nutrition, supplements, and amazing skincare for more immediate results. This is an unconventional beauty-boosting recipe — easy, delicious, protein-, fiber-, and superfood-packed gluten free pancakes! [Get the Recipe]( This newsletter is not a substitute for your physician’s advice and the claims have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease. Know someone who might be interested in this newsletter? Please share it with them! First time reading? [Sign up here.]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Copyright © 2024 ZoCo Productions LLC, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you signed up for a ZoCo Productions newsletter. Our mailing address is: ZoCo Productions LLC 555 W 57th St.New York, NY 10019 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.