Series 4: Skin food – green tea health benefits

May 13, 2013 by 3 Comments

Green tea has many health benefits for our bodies but does it have positive effects on the skin also?
There have been more than 150 clinical studies done to determine just this and the answer is ‘yes!’.

Green tea contains loads of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds making it perfect to protect our skin. One of the main benefits it has is the ability to support the process of differentiation and maturation of our keratinocytes, ensuring a strong Stratum corneum that will protect the more vulnerable layers beneath.

Drinking green tea also boosts the levels of the Natural Moisturising Factor chemicals in the corneocytes, reducing the loss of water from the skin and improving the hydration levels.

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Series 3: Super skin foods – Omega 6

May 6, 2013 by 2 Comments

Omega 3 is often touted as the skin EFA (Essential Fatty Acid) but the reality is that Omega 6 that is vital for the skin to produce ceramide 1 linoleate. Ceramide 1 linoleate is the most important ceramide but unfortunately its levels in the skin decrease in the winter and as we age. So a good solution to this is to boost our omega 6 intake during winter and as we get older. The Bestow Beauty Oil will do this for you if you take it everyday mixed into food.

EFA’s like omega 3 and 6 also reduce skin inflammation and ease dry skin problems like eczema and psoriasis that leave the skin more vulnerable to wrinkling and premature ageing.

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Series 2: Super skin foods

April 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Brazil nuts are a wonderful source of selenium, a mineral known for its ability to improve the condition of your skin, hair and nails.

The Otago University did a study that showed two Brazil nuts a day increased blood serum selenium levels better than supplements. But remember, only two a day, as high selenium levels are toxic.

Brazil nuts also contain good amount of zinc, an amazing skin mineral and one that I always consider when working with skin conditions or preventing skin ageing. Zinc helps heal our skin and ensures proper keratinisation of our Stratum Corneum.

Zinc is also a vital component required to make healthy collagen. Unfortunately it is also the building block we are most to be deficient in so most of us need to boost our levels.

brazil-nuts

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Series 1: Super skin foods

April 24, 2013 by 2 Comments

This is the first in a series of articles that we will be running each week about the subject of skin foods.

Lately it seems that more and more of our commonly eaten foods are managing to find their way onto the growing list of ‘super foods’ due to their powerfully protective health-giving properties. Even the good old cabbage has been bestowed with an exciting little phyto chemical, indole-3-carbinol. Studies have shown that people who eat cabbage once a week slash their colon cancer risk by a whopping third.

From a beauty perspective many foods that we eat contain phyto-chemicals that keep our skin looking gorgeous. It is important for us to remember that while it is great to have anti-ageing ingredients in our skin care ranges, nothing can beat delivering these protective chemicals directly to the fibroblasts (the skin’s anti-ageing cells) through our blood supply. This is the art of dermo-nutrition.

Dark Berries
Dark red and blue berries such as blueberries, blackcurrants, raspberries and cranberries, all help your body make strong collagen, keeping your skin supple, smooth and healthy. This action is due to the anthocyanidins found in dark berries. These stabilize the collagen fibres making them more resistant to being broken down by collagenase, a process that gets out of control as we age or are exposed to UV rays.

Another benefit these fruits offer is their ability to help protect our skin from the sun. Blackcurrants in particular reduce the ageing effect of UV rays by neutralising free radicals.

I buy frozen organic berries, defrost them in the fridge and add them to my porridge every day.

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Vitamin D facts

April 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Vitamin D is best known for its ability to protect our bones but this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits this important vitamin offers. Vitamin D is also very protective of our health with evidence showing an association between low vitamin D levels and increased risk of colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease. In fact, if your blood serum levels fall within the bottom 25 percent of what is considered normal, this significantly increases your likelihood of dying from most of the common diseases.

So what are the chances you fall into the low vitamin D risk category?
There is actually a good chance as 30% of the population have been found to be deficient in vitamin D and this is especially true if you avoid the sun or use lots of sun protection.

In the past it was very difficult to get a blood test to measure your vitamin D levels unless you suffered from a bone disease. Luckily this has recently changed and your doctor is able to order a test or you can simply turn up at your local laboratory and pay for a test, you don’t even need a script from your doctor. Our local laboratory is Pathlab and it costs $30 to be tested with the results being reported directly to you and your doctor.

So what blood serum levels do you need?

  • Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D of below 25 nmol/L are considered deficient.
  • Levels of between 25-50 nmol/L are sub-optimal
  • Levels of over 50 nmol/L are optimal however some literature advises you whould aim for above 75 nmol/L to help prevent disease
  • Although no safe upper level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D has been identified, treatment to levels above 125 nmol/L is not recommended.

So get yourself checked if you think you could be low. It might be one of the best things you do all year to ensure a long and healthy life!

sunshine and sunflower

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Dry skin brushing and detox baths

April 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Article 4 of 4: Detoxing

Add these two wonderful therapies to your detox programme.

1. Detox Mineral Bath
Take a detox mineral bath made from simple ingredients to feel refreshed and awakened.

1 Cup Epsom Salts
1/2 Cup Regular Sea Salt
4 Tablespoons Baking Soda

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2. Dry Skin Brushing
Dry skin brushing is a wonderful detoxification aid as your skin is your body’s largest eliminative organ and is responsible for one quarter of the body’s detoxification each day (that’s why it’s also known as our third kidney). If you dry brush regularly your skin will be noticeably smoother with an improvement in colour, texture and clarity and you can improve conditions such as cellulite and water retention.

Dry skin brushing stimulates your circulation, boosting the blood flow that delivers oxygen and other nutrients to the skin, and helping the skin appear more radiant and glowing and warm to touch. Dry skin brushing also stimulates the flow of lymphatic vessels, indirectly aiding the immune function and improving lymphatic drainage throughout the body.

The basic tool for dry skin brushing is a firm, natural bristled, with a head about the size of the palm of the hand.

dry-brush

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Detox diet do’s and dont’s

April 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Article 3 of 4: Detoxing

DO:
Include these great detoxifying, beautifying foods and vitamins in your diet:

  • Brightly coloured fruit and vegetables such as capsicum, carrots, tomatoes, beetroot watercress, berries, papaya and melon contain lots of beneficial anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, E, beta-carotene and phytonutrients to protect our liver.
  • Adequate levels of B vitamins, selenium, zinc and glutathione is also required by your liver. Brown rice is an excellent source of B vitamins and it also contains zinc, selenium can be found in Brazil nuts, and garlic, asparagus, watermelon, papaya, avocado and mushrooms all increase the levels of glutathione, a most important anti-oxidant.
  • Garlic, onions, eggs, watercress are all sulphur-containing foods, which assist liver function.
  • Members of the Brassica family like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and kale are very helpful.

DON’T:

  • Do any taxing exercise that promotes the secretion of stress hormones. Instead, it’s a great time to replace high impact exercise with rebalancing, breath-based exercises, like yoga or Pilates.  Gentle walking is also a good option to stimulate the lymphatic system but not overtax your body.
  • Burn the candle at both ends! Instead, try to be in bed asleep by 10pm.  Your liver begins it daily washing cycle between 10pm and 2am (it’s like a cleaner that comes in every evening), so it’s the best time to let your body rest and recover.

DO:

  • Ensure you get enough rest during the detoxification period.  Rest and relaxation aid the liver by eliminating the need to detoxify stress hormones.
  • Dry brush your skin every day before your bath or shower to help support circulation and encourage the passage of toxins from your lymph glands.
  • Include a detox mineral bath from time to time – a wonderful way to promote the detoxification process dry skin brushing has started.

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How often should I detox?

March 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Article 2 of 4: Detoxing

This is a really good question because if you detox for too long or too often you can loss valuable nutrients along with the toxins and leave your body depleted.

For this reason I wouldn’t recommend doing a ‘full on’ cleanse were you restrict your diet for more than 2 to 4 times a year.

There are also times in your life where detoxing is either not beneficial or should be done under medical guidance. Examples of this is when you are pregnant or breastfeeding and need to have enough nutrition to support another little person. Or if you’re recovering from an illness and need to build your body up. Diabetics also need to be careful of detoxing because they require a steady supply of energy. If you are ill, it is advisable to seek medical supervision for any detoxification process.

But Bestow Be Cleansed is a little different from many detox programmes in that is simply supports your body’s normal cleansing process without over stimulating it. This is especially true if you use it in conjunction with a healthy, but not restricted diet.

It works very gently in four ways:

  1. Boosting the amount of fibre in your diet, both soluble (draws toxins out into digestive tract) and insoluble (encourages them to be eliminated).
  2. Providing foods that soothe, heal and keep the gut lining healthy.
  3. Supplying many of the vitamins and minerals that our hungry livers require to carry out the process of detoxification.
  4. Lastly, by providing pre-biotic foods that encourage a healthy gut flora.

Bestow Be Cleansed works by supporting the natural process of detoxification in your body, it is not depleting at all. For this reason, I use it everyday, cooked into my porridge. Once my porridge is cool enough to eat, I add my Bestow Beauty Oil that not only nourishes my body and skin, but also supports the detoxification process.

If you want to do a more ‘full on’ detox, follow the “Fully Cleansed’ programme in your Bestow Be Cleansed information booklet that comes with every pot.

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Why detox?

March 18, 2013 by 13 Comments

Article 1 of 4: Detoxing

This is the first in a series of articles that we will be running each week about the subject of detoxing. As it’s a subject that we are passionate about and the fact that we have recently launched our Bestow Beauty detox powder supplement, we felt it was fitting to pass on some of our detoxing knowledge.

Mother Nature has provided our bodies with a very efficient detox system, naturally eliminating toxins and metabolic waste primarily through the liver, bowel, kidneys and skin. Our bodies spend a considerable amount of time and energy on this process, with the majority of all the chemical processes in our body involved in one form of detoxification or another. Essentially we have a very efficient cleansing system and if we eat healthy diets and drink enough water, we should detox naturally everyday.

However, this isn’t always possible, so a ‘cleanse’ from time to time will give your liver a chance to detoxify and renew itself, channelling energy into revitalizing the body. Many people report benefits such as clearer skin, increased energy and concentration, weight loss, improved digestion and much more.

For an effective detox, however, it’s important to not only reduce the intake of substances that tax the liver (i.e. alcohol, coffee, sugars, wheat, trans fats and processed foods), but also to maximise the supply of nutrients needed to optimize your liver’s detoxification pathways.

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Juicing – how to juice and the benefits of juicing

March 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Joy of Juicing

Juicing is a wonderful way of extracting the beneficial nutrients out of fruit and vegetables and deliver them directly to our cells. It is said that within 15 minutes of drinking your juice its nutrients are feeding every cell in your body! How’s that for a direct hit of goodness?

Every morning I start my day with a fresh organic juice of beetroot, carrot, ginger and a leafy green. Kale is one of my favourites but I rotate this with other greens to ensure I am getting all the health benefits.

Here are some easy rules you need to know to make the best juices:

Make it fresh – Make your juices fresh and drink them immediately as they are very prone to oxidisation.

Keep it simple – Don’t mix too many different juices. I use a maximum of four but some juice connoisseurs suggest you limit it to three.

Add your oil – Juices contain lots of fat-soluble vitamins but these won’t be assimilated if oil isn’t present so I top my juice off with a good dollop of my Bestow Beauty Oil.

Watch your mixes – Fruit juices tend to stir up the toxins and acids and stimulate elimination. Vegetable juices tend to be more soothing, more alkaline and eliminate toxins in a milder way. Don’t mix the two in the same drink.

Use organics – I avoid conventionally grown produce because of the concentrated nature of the juice, by using fruit and vegetables treated with sprays, you run the risk of getting a concentrated amount of chemicals in your juice.

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