Wrinkles, age spots, blemishes and those puffy eyes give the game away. Miss-spent youth! Hours of languishing in the sun without skin protection, smoking, excess alcohol, along with a disregard for a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. That was the past, but if we wish to make amends and rejuvenate our skin to a healthy radiant texture, then a few changes have to be put in place. Just before you men run for it, thinking this is girls talk – think again. Men with glowing blemish-free skin have a desirable asset, not only in attracting the opp osite sex, but also inbusiness.  Each and every one of us is judged on our appearance within fifteen seconds of meeting someone. As my aunt recently advised me “how you look, says who you are” and whether we like it or not, that is part and parcel of the human psyche, so play the game to your advantage! Repairing and rejuvenation of the skin needn’t be a major expense; we are surrounded by all the natural ingredients from a bountiful supplier called Mother Nature. Our hedgerows and gardens along with the local vegetable and fruit counters are brimming over with all that we need to help nourish our skin.

Top tips for good skin:

1. Water: -

Yes, just simple water. Nothing added, no ‘twist of this’ or ‘sprinkle of that’.  Six to eight tumbler-sized glasses per day of natural mineral water will hydrate the dermal cells of even the most parched skin.  As Dr Nicholas Perricone, author of “The Wrinkle Cure” reminds us, most of us walk around in a state of dehydration – even chronic dehydration, so make drinking water part of your daily routine.   And you know what the added benefit will be?  Your energy levels will rocket.

2.  Avocados:-

A simple fruit – yes it’s a fruit with so many fantastic vitamins and minerals in it, and containing one of the most absorbent natural oils known. A misunderstood fruit, as most people think that the high oil content is fattening and lacks essential vitamins.  Not at all – in fact, quite the contrary. This unassuming fruit contains high levels of vitamin B6, with additional nutrients such as potassium, copper, and anti-oxidants.  As part of a skin restorative programme, try including avocados in your salads topped with a cider vinegar French dressing or make an avocado dip. Just mash the pulp with a touch of lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper and a big splash of extra virgin olive oil. This is a great family favourite and is simply delicious. TIP :- If you suffer with Rosacea just check that avocados are not effecting your skin.   For some reason avocados can be contra-indicated in Rosacea

3. Omega 3:-

Eating fish like wild salmon which is full of omega 3, organic chicken and turkey, fruit and vegetables will help to counteract this ongoing inflammatory processes. Certain foods as mentioned have anti-inflammatory actions; skin that has been damaged through free radicals such as excess sun, cigarettes, pollution and chemical toxins, have been subjected to inflammatory pollutants.

4. Alkaline Smoothies:-

Try a skin soothing smoothy with  pineapple, kiwi, cranberries and raspberries topped off with a wedge of lime. Unbelievably refreshing, and jam packed with vitamin C and anti-oxidants. If you can add some vegetables so much the better such a broccoli, cucumber, fennel and celery.  Just a glass in the morning to set you up for the day. This is very alkalising drink especially beneficial

for those who want the morning coffee with the caffeine kick! So far in our skin rejuvenation programme we are now drinking the correct amount of water along with adjustments to our diet to eat more anti-inflammatory foods.  Is there anything else that could be of benefit to us?

5. Herbal Teas:-

Yes – we just have to add our herbal teas.  No – don’t walk away. The taste is not bad at a ll.  Think of them as a huge benefit to the body and to the eventual improvement of skin texture.  Three teas instantly spring to mind.  One is green tea, the other is Red Bush tes (Rooibos) and then there is Chamomile.  All containing lovely anti-oxidants with skin calming properties and in the case of Chamomile a gentle digestive restorative. If your digestive tract is in balance, therefore in good health, so is everything else within the body, advocates Dr Bernard Jenson the king of iridology and a master of nutrition. Rooibos tea is alkalising – which is so important in counteracting the acidity in our western diet.
Always make changes to diet slowly and steadily and if on medication consult your health care professional first