Love your skin pt.1

It's been a harsh winter, and we still have a few more months to go before we can even begin to think about spring. The cold winter months can take its toll on your body in many ways leaving you  feeling far from your best. We spoke about how you can keep warm over the winter months in my previous blog. Here are some facts and tips about how you can keep a nice warm healthy look and feel by loving your skin!

1.Did you know that the skin is the largest organ of the human body! In the average adult it covers about 3000 square inches and weighs around six pounds, which is nearly twice the weight of the human brain or liver. The skin receives about one third of the blood that circulates through the body. It’s rugged, flexible and practically waterproof. The skin can regenerate and repair itself under most conditions. The skin also helps in the dissipation of sweat. as you can see it does a lot of jobs so its key to treat it right.  
2. Wash & Clean.
Its very important to clean your skin. The skin can appear clean even when not.But as you go about your day, dirt particles can block the pores of the skin. Also proper cleansing will remove make up sweat and allow the skin to breath and function correctly. When washing don't scrub too hard, scrubbing your skin too hard will remove natural oils that help  the skin to regenerate and keep a good Ph.
3. Get regular good night sleep
Sleeping is the time body goes to work to repair the daily damage that has be caused from your every day activities. Having a regular good night's sleep will help the body replenish and restore the skin, helping you to feel and look more energized and fresh.

4. Exercise often
I'm obviuosly going to endorse exercise, because, a). i'm a Personal Trainer and b). exercise has so many benefits it's insane for anyone not to exercise! However regular exercise will help keep your skin young with a good level of elasticity which is vital to slow down the aging process and who doesn't want that! AND you don't have to exercise all the time and go for it like a mad hatter too! Simple activities such as walking, cycling, Yoga & Pilates classes are all great simple forms of exercise to keep you look and feeling young and fresh faced. So if you're not an exerciser, you need to get involved in exercise Today!

5. Don't smoke.

OK, for those of you that know me well, you will know i enjoy  a good Cuban (cigar) on special occasions (the last time was my youngest sons first birthday) so what i'm not going to do is to take the "Hollier than thou" attitude and preach to those who choose to smoke. But for those of you who do like to smoke on the regular, be aware of the dangers and why it will be hard to keep young looking skin when being a smoker. Smoking causes premature aging and yellowing of the teeth and skin. The tobacco that is released into the air dries out your skin while the smoke you inhale contricts the blow flow to the blood vessels, therefore preventing your skin from essential nutrients that your body supplies. I could go on but you get the picture. Trying to maintain healthy skin and smoking reguarly is hard if not impossible, so don't smoke! 

6. Moisturize

We all have different types of skin, dry skin, thin skin, oily skin, and depending on your type of skin, will determine the best type of moisturizer for you. There are many types of moisturizer claiming to do  different things, weather it's to firm the skin, reduce wrinkles or remove cellulite. If you are unsure its best to speak with an expert beauty therapist. This also includes you too fellas! moisturizing is not exclusively for women. Males too will benefit from using the right type of moisturizer. So if your looking to keep your lady or even impress a new one, keep your skin looking fresh to death and apply a moisturizer!


Now for the most part, these tips and hint's to promote and keep good skin, have focussed mainly on external factors. However, please don't kid yourself and think that by looking at these areas alone will help you to develop and keep fresh and young looking skin. Your skin and its complection and quite simply a reflection of what is generally going on inside. If your are healthy and well on the inside, it will show on the outside. Some of us do have certain skin conditions that will make us exception from this, but generally your skin will respond well to a healthy balance diet with good variety included. 


IN part 2, we'll be giving you some more simple tips and pointers to help promote a balanced diet and keep your skin looking and feeling great! We'll also have details of our first Optimum Health pts Nutritional seminar of 2011 at Gusto's Restaurant  where you can come get top nutritional advice and try out some new healthy options which you can then try at home!


Talk soon!


Mike.