Vitamin D Revisited - - New Suggested Minimum Daily Requirement

Dr. Andrew Weil, in his daily tip...

Vitamin D, which is often referred to as the "sunshine vitamin," is actually a fat-soluble hormone that the body can synthesize naturally. We need vitamin D to facilitate calcium absorption and to promote bone mineralization, as well as for protection against a number of serious diseases. We get vitamin D through foods such as fortified milk and cereals as well as eggs, salmon, tuna and mackerel, and our bodies make vitamin D with exposure to sunlight, but even with sufficient sun exposure and eating a healthy variety of foods, many people still need supplements to obtain an optimum amount of vitamin D. This is especially true for seniors, as our ability to synthesize vitamin D decreases with age.

As part of my ongoing commitment to promoting optimal health, I am making a new recommendation concerning vitamin D, raising my recommendation for vitamin D intake from 1,000 IU to 2,000 IU per day. This may sound like quite a jump, but clinical evidence has been accumulating to suggest that the higher dose is more appropriate to help maintain optimum health. You can learn more about my recommendation changes in the Vitamin Advisor.

Dr. Andrew Weil
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP03581/A-New-Dosage-for-Vitamin-D.html

Wrinkle Reduction

The aging of the skin shifts the balance between collagen production and breakdown leading to wrinkles, facial sag and rough skin texture. The causation includes sun damage, free radicals, some age-related hormonal changes, and smoking. Stimulating skin cells to produce collagen can partly reverse this process. Stimulating collagen synthesis in aged skin was shown to reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture. The benefit of stimulating your own collagen production is that collagen is deposited in an orderly, structured manner and that there is no risk of allergy, immune reaction or injection-induced infection.

Like any other proteins, collagen consists of amino acids. Altogether there are 20 different kinds of amino acids in human cells. Short-chained amino acids form peptides.

When setting out to battle wrinkles by enhancing collagen production in one's skin, it is important to use a comprehensive approach, rather than a single active ingredient. This includes exfoliation. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in aging skin is realistic and can substantially improve the appearance of fine lines and even deeper wrinkles when done correctly.

Tip: Look for products that contain peptides, which stimulate collagen production. Consider applying more than one product containing peptides. This is called stacking.

Exfoliation

If you want your skin to look healthy and radiant, exfoliate regularly. By removing the top layer of dead epidermis cells, you will make your skin appear smoother and less wrinkled. Here are a few steps to help you achieve, healthy looking, clear skin.

- Choose exfoliating cleansers that have a grainy consistency. The grainy texture exfoliates the skin.

- Apply lotion containing alpha or beta hydroxy acids after you exfoliate. This will continue the exfoliating process because the acids further abrade and remove dead skin cells.

- Be sure to use body moisturizers at least once every day. Regular exfoliating is extremely drying to the skin and will do more harm than good unless the skin is rehydrated liberally with lotions.

- Use your fingertips, not the pads of your hands. Otherwise, you run the risk of irritating your skin.

Tips: Some products are more abrasive than others. If your skin is very sensitive, use as little friction as possible and stick to the least abrasive products.

Never overexfoliate with excessively abrasive exfoliating cleansers, or you run the risk of bursting the delicate blood vessels under the skin. If the vessels burst, your skin may appear permanently flushed. This condition, known as telangiectasia, must then be treated using laser surgery.

Pedicures - this little piggy went to market...

Pedicures are popular throughout the year. Regardless of the cost of the pedicure or how tony a salon may be, they are not without their risks. There are a few simple things you can do to keep yourself safe at the salon. Cut down on germs by making sure the pedicurist cleans out the whirlpool with bleach between pedicures. A stainless steel tub is preferable to a plastic tub for hygienic reasons. Bring your own instruments, and never let anyone use razor blades on your feet. Have the pedicurist cut your toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails. One last thought is to opt for lighter polish colors like beige and light pink - - darker shades can stain your nails.

Tip: Moisturize your feet daily with foot cream. These have been designed to hydrate the drier, thicker skin of your feet and stop the heels from cracking. See my previous post from December 9, 2009 for more information about cracked heels.

Debunking the Myths of Skin Care I

Myth: I need to drink at least eight glasses of water a day for my skin.

Fact: Outside humidity, not how much water you consume, determines how dry you are. Downing excessive fluids is not the best way to keep your skin hydrated. Trust your body's natural signal: thirst. Only severe dehydration will cause your skin to dry out.

Write Your Skin a Prescription For Change, Doctors Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields

Tips: If you haven't yet done so, start taking better care of your skin. Start with something simple such as wearing sunscreen on your face on a daily basis. UV A and B rays from the sun are harmful. Damage from the sun of one's skin is what creates the perception of aging not wrinkles.