Health Can Begin Skin Deep

Prior to the Radiance formula, there was only one way to deliver essential nutrients to the body: through the digestive system. In my 50 years of alternative health care, I have never met the person with a perfectly intact digestive system.

Digestion is simply defined as the process in which food is taken in, food is used and food is eliminated. Few people have problems with that first step, but the last two often prove disastrous. The complexities of the digestive system are enormous. Let's expand on our to include ingestion, digestion, assimilation, absorption and elimination. When these five steps happen properly, the body's cells live, die and are replace in a timely fashion by mature healthy cells. Every second of our lives, 200,000 cells (lymphs of our immune system) die off and must be replaced as previously described.

Toxins in our environment can challenge that process. Currently there are 70,000 known environmental toxins. It is often said that we are environmentally controlled. All that said, our bodies work through this process at unimaginable speed. (Battling these forces isn't just for grown-ups. The average child born today is already the recipient of 278 toxins passed on through the mother's birth cord.)

On top of these assaults, add the remedies we use for our health and to beautify our skin - drugs and cosmetics.

So how do we fight back? What is one to do? It all starts with the food. You really are what you eat. Preparing food properly is just as important as eating the right food in its most nutritious form. Hippocrates Wellness excels at all aspects of this. That's why it is a leader in this field. I have never seen such happy smiling faces as when I visit Hippocrates. It is as if the weight of the failed digestion and toxins has been lifted.

When our bodies put food to use, it puts he stuff that can’t be broken down, excreted or stored in our skin and fat cells. This is also where toxins, free radicals and cancer cells are stored. Radiance gets under your skin, delivering nutrients and removing wastes through the blood and lymphatic capillary systems.

Common skin problems

There are more than a thousand conditions that may affect the skin but most skin diseases can be categorized according to nine common types.

A rash is an area of red, inflamed skin or a group of individual spots. These can be caused by irritation, allergy, infection or underlying disease, as well as by structural defects. For example,

blocked pores or malfunctioning oil glands. Examples of rashes include acne, dermatits, eczema, hives. pityriasis rosea, and psorasis.

Viral infections

These occur when a virus penetrates the stratum corneum and infects the inner layers of le skin. Examples include viral skin infections 1clude herpes simplex, shingles (herpes zoster) and worts. Some systemic viral infections, such 3S chicken pox and measles, may also affect he skin. Viral infections cannot be cured with antibiotics,

Such infections are caused by a variety of bacteria, the most common types being staphylocci and streptococci. Bacteria may infect the top most layers of the skin, the follicles, or the deeper layers of the skin. If not treated correctly, these infections may spread throughout the body. Examples include impel folliculitis, cellulitis, foot and toe infections. 1tibiotics are effective against bacterial infections.

Harmless fungi are always present on the surface of the skin. Infection occurs when these organisms enter into the body. These infections are usually superficial, affecting the skin, hair and nails. Examples include athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm. However, in people with suppressed immune systems or those who have been taking antibiotics long-term, the fungi may spread to deep within the body, causing more serious disease.

These infections occur after exposure to parasites such as lice and scabies.

The amount of pigment in the skin is determined by the amount of melanin being produced by the body. Loss of pigment (hypo­pigmentation) can be caused by an absence of melanocytes, malfunctioning cells, exposure to cold or chemicals, or some types of infection. And increase in pigment (hyper-pigmentation) may be caused by skin irritation, hormonal changes aging. a metabolic disorder, or another underlying problem. Age spots, freckles, and melasma are examples of hyper-pigmentation

Tumors and cancers

These growths arise when skin cells begin to multiply faster than normal. Not every skin growth is cancerous. Some tumors are harmless and will not spread. skin cancer is the most common of a . the cancers, affecting 800,000 Americans each year. It is caused, in 90 percent of cases, by sun exposure. The three types of skin cancer are: basal cell cancer (the least problematic), squamous cell cancer (which may grow and spread), and malignant melanoma (the most complicated). Prevention involves protecting the skin against damaging ultraviolet rays. Early detection helps to improve the chance of a cure, so regular self­ examinations are recommended.

Trauma describes an injury to the skin caused by a blow, cut or burn. Any time the surface of the skin is broken, the body becomes more susceptible to infection and disease.

Wrinkles, rosacea. spider veins and various veins are among those conditions that cannot be neatly categorized. Wrinkles are caused by a breakdown of the collagen and elastin Within the dermis, which results in sagging skin. Rosacea is a long term disorder in which the skin of the face becomes red and develops pimples, lesions and more rarely enlargement of the nose. Its cause is unknown. Spider veins and varicose veins become apparent when blood vessels enlarge and become visible through the surface of the skin.

Vol 29 Issue 2 page 28