B6
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2019
ADVERTISING FEATURE
timescolonist.com | TIMES COLONIST
Summer Skin Care Tips Look and feel your best all summer long with these great tips for healthy, optimal skin.
O
ur skin is considered the body’s largest organ, and is one of the most important ones for the physical barrier it provides the rest of your body. As a naturopathic doctor, I believe in approaching skin health in a holistic way. Summer provides a reminder to take good care of our skin, especially since it has many functions. Our skin helps protect us from UV radiation and trauma, helps regulate water and heat, and senses pressure, temperature and pain. Likely, you’ve noticed how much your skin has changed or is changing. We’re continually going through phases with our skin, especially as we age. In order to ensure our skin is in optimal health, it’s important to take a few factors into account such as the environment, digestive health, hydration, immunity, hormonal health and stress.
1. The environment UV radiation, pollution, chemicals and trauma are all factors from our external environment that can affect our skin health. Factors in our internal environment can also impact our skin, such as decreased hormones and increased inflammation.
2. Digestive function A healthy digestive system absorbs nutrients from food and water and eliminates toxins, waste and excess hormones. Whether your digestive system is over or underfunctioning will impact your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, stay hydrated and properly eliminate. If your digestive health is compromised, the good bacteria in the gut, known as gut ‘flora’, will have a microbial imbalance which can lead to infections, candida, excess toxins and overall inability to absorb and use key nutrients that contribute to skin health.
If digestion is slow or impaired, toxins can build up in the bloodstream and manifest in the skin. Slow digestion can also cause excess hormones to remain in the body, like estrogen and testosterone, which can cause skin breakouts.
3. Hydration Your skin’s elasticity and firmness is dependent on how much moisture there is. When your body is dehydrated, skin cells are not able to shed properly, leading to rough, cracked and flaky skin. Your body has natural moisturizing factors which are paramount for appropriate skin hydration. Stay hydrated this summer with plenty of filtered water, coconut water, or hydrating fruits and veggies like cucumbers, watermelon and/or zucchini.
4. Immune health Similar to the digestive system, when the
immune system is under or over-functioning, it becomes compromised. When the immune system is under-functioning, it can lead to infection, and when it’s over-functioning, it can lead to autoimmune diseases and hyperresponsiveness. One of the most common effects of a compromised immune system in relation to skin health is inflammation. This is evident in skin conditions such as eczema, acne and psoriasis.
Dr. Marita Schauch, BSc. ND, Naturopathic Physician Tall Tree Integrated Health Centre 5325 Cordova Bay Rd., Mattick’s Farm Ph: 250-658-9222 doctormarita.com | talltreehealth.ca
• Eat slowly and mindfully • Investigate food sensitivities
5. Hormonal health Hormones are chemical messengers produced in organs such as the ovaries, adrenal glands and thyroid gland. Each hormone has a different function when it comes to skin health: estrogen affects the skin’s thickness due to collagen production, as well as skin moisture and the appearance of wrinkles; increased testosterone can produce excess oil in the skin; T3 and T4 hormones produced by the thyroid can lead to hot, sweaty or flushed skin, and when there is a deficiency of these hormones, skin can become coarse and dry; cortisol can impact digestive function and the immune system thus impacting the skin as well.
6. Stress When we’re stressed, our adrenal glands produce high levels of cortisol, which is one of the major stress hormones. Increased cortisol will speed up the breakdown of collagen leading to more wrinkles! Here are my recommendations for improving skin health:
Improve digestive health • Drink hot water and lemon first thing in the morning • Reduce intake of alcohol, caffeine and sugar
Make sustainable, healthy lifestyle changes • Reduce exposure to toxins in your home by opting for natural cleaning products • Eat whole, organic foods • Get daily exercise • Get at least seven hours of sleep a night
Optimize your nutrition • Avoid inflammatory foods such as excess dairy, gluten, sugar and anything processed. •Take a daily probiotic to maintain healthy gut bacteria. This will help to better absorb your food, prevent toxins from building up and improve immunity. • Up your intake of fats by taking a fish oil supplement. The essential fatty acids in fish oils help lessen inflammation, keep your heart healthy and even improve cognitive function as an added bonus. • Get enough fibre. Not only does fibre help keep you feeling full and satiated, it also helps cleanse the bowels by removing excess toxins and waste. Try upping your intake of fruits and veggies.
Consider taking a collagen boosting supplement such as BioSil. BioSil activates your collagen generating cells and prevents the natural decline of collagen as we age. If you’re still wondering how to manage your skin this summer, visit your local naturopathic doctor.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE OUR SKIN IS IN OPTIMAL HEALTH, IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A FEW FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT SUCH AS THE ENVIRONMENT, DIGESTIVE HEALTH, HYDRATION, IMMUNITY, HORMONAL
Have a safe and happy summer!
HEALTH AND STRESS.
LIFESTYLE MARKETS' DOUGLAS STREET CAFÉ & ORGANIC JUICE BAR. ENJOY THE SUMMER & LET US DO THE COOKING.
Dedicated to Your Intensive Strength Keto Paleo MacroGest G t
Digestion of Protein-Rich & High-Fat Foods
Natural Factors
Keto Paleo MacroGest 60 Caps
save
TM
15%
Rawcology
Raw Crunch Granola ,>ÜV }Þ¿ÃÊ iÌ Ê > `Ê «> i Ê friendly Chocolate Raw Crunch Granola is certified À}> V]Ê }À> Ê vÀii]Ê } ÕÌi Ê vÀii]Ê > `Ê ÕÌÊ vÀii°Ê } Ì ÞÊ ÃÜiiÌi i`Ê Ü Ì Ê Ü } ÞVi VÊ V V ÕÌÊ iVÌ>À°
7
$ 48
200 g Made in Canada from Imported Ingredients
Natural Factors Keto Paleo MacroGest is an intensive-strength, full-spectrum enzyme formula specially designed to support the digestion of protein-rich and high-fat foods such as eggs, dairy, and meat. Ideal for anyone eating a ketogenic or paleo diet, this unique formula provides key enzymes to help break down proteins and fats, as well as starches, for better nutrient absorption.
A. Vogel Eye
Drops
OPEN YOUR EYES TO A NEW WORLD OF EYE DROPS! A. Vogel's unique combination of hyaluronic acid and eye bright provides 100% all natural, fast-acting relief of burning, dry, irritated and tired eyes! Single drop dispenser = no waste, no mess. Contact lens friendly. Can be 10 mL used up to 6 months after opening.
0011718483 $1498 LIFESTYLE MARKET/HEALTH VENTUR NOW Foods N GT's Living Foods Victoria’s Vi i t i Largest g Selection of 100% Organic Produce! Healthy Lifestyle Raw Kombucha Raw Almond Flour Organic Organic Local 10 x 100 Strawberries Blueberries CMYK, , By enhancing the digestion of animal proteins, Keto Paleo MacroGest supports a normal inflammatory response and may help keep pathogenic microorganisms in check, which can reduce food sensitivities. Keto Paleo MacroGest from Natural Factors helps decrease bloating after high-caloric meals, is non-GMO, gluten free, and soy free.
,>Ü]Ê «ÕÀi]Ê Õ L > V i`Ê > `Ê } ÕÌi vÀii°Ê Almond FlourÊ ÃÊ>Ê«iÀviVÌÊ ÜÊ V>ÀLÊ ÃÕLÃÌ ÌÕÌiÊ v ÀÊ Ì iÀÊ v ÕÀÃ°Ê ``ÃÊ >Ê `i V ÕÃ]Ê À V Ê ÌiÝÌÕÀiÊ Ì Ê Þ ÕÀÊ v>Û À ÌiÊ L> i`Ê } `ÃÊ> `ÊÀiV «ið
8
$ 98
Ón{Ê}ÊUÊ*À `ÕVÌÊ vÊÌ iÊ1°-° °
GT's Kombucha is a delicate > `Ê > `VÀ>vÌi`Ê VÕ ÌÕÀiÊ i> Ì Ê beverage. Their “batch to bottle” «À `ÕVÌ Ê > ÜÃÊ Ì i Ê Ì Ê «À `ÕViÊ Ì iÊ vÀià iÃÌÊ > `Ê ÃÌÊ >VÌ ÛiÊ LÕV >Ê Ì Ê Ài Û } À>ÌiÊ Ì iÊ `]ÊL `Þ]Ê> `ÊÃ Õ °
3
$ 48
{näÊ ÊUÊ*À `ÕVÌÊ vÊÌ iÊ1°-° °
California Grown 454 g Container
$488 each
LifestyleMarkets.com
B.C. Grown
$588 /pint Offers Valid Until Store Closing July 21, 2019
Call for FREE DELIVERY* 250.384.3388 Min. $50 order and within radius
Lifestyle Markets is YOUR LOCAL CHOICE for organic produce, groceries, body care, vitamins and more!