TIDINGS THAT INSPIRE
Are There Supplements
That Help You Achieve A
Glowing Skin??
By Jennifer Mwangangi-Ayoti
A
bsolutely yes! I know we get all our
nutrients from our diets that help
our skin glow - and we should
always aim for that. However, achieving
optimal results daily through diet alone is
not very realistic. We are super busy and
sometimes despite giving our very best, we
do fall short occasionally.
Supplements should be discussed with
your health practitioner before taking
them. They should also support your
holistic system; gut (digestive system),
brain by nourishing the gut microbiome
(microorganisms) and the skin. So here
are 6 to go to supplements for a glowing
skin.
Vitamin E: This is an antioxidant; a fat-
soluble vitamin that stops the production
of free radicals during oxidation. Vitamin
E is also involved in immune function,
regulating gene expression and other
metabolic processes.
You can get this vitamin by consuming
sunflower seeds and some nuts;
Unfortunately, this vitamin is not found
in many other foods which makes it
difficult to absorb through diet.
Calcium is critical to the health not only of your
bones and teeth but of all organs, including the
largest organ – the skin, as it plays a role in reg-
ulating the skin’s many functions. Most calcium
in the skin is found in the outermost layer, and
if you have less calcium levels, your epidermis
can appear fragile, thin, and dry. A lack of cal-
cium in the skin will prevent the shedding of
dead skin cells and the production of new skin
growth cells. In other words, your skin remains
dull and old.
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Vitamin C: This is a water-soluble vitamin
- excreted from our body through urine.
It boosts immunity, acts as an assistant in
enzyme activity that relates directly to the
function and skin health. It controls some
of the DNA repair that goes on in skin to
forestall cancerous growth.
Some of the foods high in vitamin C
include; red peppers, Leafy greens,
tomatoes, fruits like oranges etc. Since it
is excreted from our bodies, we need to eat
these vitamin C rich food throughout the
day. We need about 1,000 mg of vitamin
C supplement daily.
Vitamin D: This is a hormone not a
vitamin. It is produced in the skin upon
sun exposure. It increases calcium levels
and helps in strengthening of bones. Did
you know the entire body has receptors
for Vitamin D? That goes to show the
importance of this vitamin in our bodies.
Vitamin D protects neurons from the
damaging effects of free radicals, reduce
inflammation and strengthens the
immune system. Foods rich in this vitamin
include; eggs, salmon, mushrooms but the
best source remains the sun.
Best time to get sunshine is in the
morning and evening when the sun is not
too hot. We require 1000 IU of vitamin D
supplement every day.