| Michele 2004-09-21, 3:31 am |
| usenet@mantra.com (Dr. Jai Maharaj) wrote in message news:<DPL8Q24PZzf7@xM029v3lGoIkby>...
> Keep Your Skin from Aging - The Ayurvedic Approach to Beauty
>
> Forwarded message from fidyl@yahoo.com
>
> [ Subject: Keep Your Skin from Aging
> [ From: fidyl@yahoo.com
> [ Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2004
>
> The Ayurvedic Approach to Beauty:
> Seven Things You Can Do to Keep Your Skin from Aging.
>
> http://www.mspa.com
>
> By MAPI, Inc.
>
> Each year, Americans spend billions of dollars on beauty products to
> prevent their skin from aging. Yet the best ways to keep your skin
> healthy and youthful cost very little.
>
> 1. Get adequate sunlight. Over-protecting from sun is not a good
> idea because some gentle sun is nourishing to the skin. The challenge
> is to maximize the benefit from sun and at the same time
> protect it from damage.
"Adequate sunlight"???? Holy shit, approximately 80% of the damage
done to our skin over the course of our lifetime is sun damage.
Sunlight doesn't "nourish" skin. WRT the synthesis of Vitamin D, the
sun exposure we get walking from the car into the house, waiting at
the bus stop, etc, is plenty. Unless one lives in a completely dark
dungeon & NEVER gets outside, there is no need for additional
unprotected exposure to the sun.
> Short periods of exposure to the early morning sun allow even very
> sensitive Caucasian skin to absorb necessary Vitamin D. Avoid long
> exposure to the sun whenever you are angry, hungry or emotionally
> upset, as these factors increase heat in the body and make the skin
> more sensitive to sun damage.
Nope.
> At these times it's important to
> protect yourself by wearing a hat and sunglasses. People with more
> Pitt (fire element) in their body should always take care to protect
> themselves from the midday sun. If your skin is easily damaged by the
> sun, try reducing the sensitivity from the inside.
Sunscreen should be an everyday product. There are both chemical &
physical sunscreens to choose from. The should be applied to ALL
exposed areas of skin, & even under clothing if the UV rays can
penetrate the fabric.
> Eating green, leafy vegetables and fruits such as raisins, pears,
> apples, and pomegranates, for instance, will help cool, nourish
> and restore balance to sensitive skin. Cook your food with a
> skin-friendly spice mixture: equal parts turmeric, coriander, fennel
> and cumin sautéed in oil. Avoid eating too much ginger, garlic,
> asafetida, hot red peppers or any types of hot peppers even in winter
> if you are sensitive to the sun.
Not even close. The only common condition that is greatly affected by
the ingestion of hot spicy foods or alcohol is rosacea. No food is
protection from the effects of the sun's UV rays.
> 2. Avoid Chemicals. Harsh chemicals in your shampoo, skin products,
> or soaps irritate the skin and cause it to become overworked and
> overheated. A strong preservative or antibacterial agent in skin-care
> products, for instance, kills harmful bacteria but at the same time
> destroys enzymes that trigger absorption and lubrication. The result
> might be permanent dry patches, oversensitive skin, or susceptibility
> to sun damage. Instead, use skin care products that contain
> all-natural ingredients and are designed to balance and nourish all
> seven layers of the skin. It's also essential to avoid
> eating chemicals and preservatives in your food by buying organic
> foods whenever possible.
Organic & natural ingredients are quite often a source of irritation &
allergic reactions to various products used on the skin. ANY harsh
ingredient -- natural or synthetic -- can mess with the acid mantle
barrier of a person's skin. Much of the skin's condition is
determined by genes & hormones, although the appearance of the skin
can be successfully managed with proper care.
>
> 3. Eat for your skin type. Different skin types require different
> foods. Vata skin is dry, thin, small-pored, delicate, and cool to
> the touch. Vata skin may age faster, and tends to be dry, rough and
> flaky when out of balance. Or your skin may be more Pitt -- fair,
> sensitive, soft, warm, and of medium thickness.
>
> When out of balance, Pitt skin can flare up in rashes, rosacea,
> acne, or sun spots. Kaph skin tends to age slower and form less
> wrinkles than the other two types. It is thick, oily, pale, soft and
> cool. Kaph skin types may struggle with dull complexion, enlarged
> pores, excessive oil, blackheads, pimples, moist types of eczema and
> water retention.
>
> Once you determine your skin-type, you can follow the Vata, Pitt, or
> Kaph pacifying dietary guidelines to keep your skin balanced,
> healthy and youthful.
One's skin type can be determined simply by careful analysis. Proper
care of the skin doesn't change the type of skin one has -- nothing
does -- but problems can be successfully taken care of.
>
> Vata skin types, for instance, will want to eat more warm, unctuous
> foods and favor the sweet, sour and salty tastes to balance the dry,
> rough, moving Vata dosh. If you have a Pitt skin type you will
> thrive on sweet, bitter and astringent tastes, as found in sweet,
> juicy fruits, rose petal preserve, and cooked greens.
>
> Avoid hot, spicy foods. The oiliness of Kaph type skin calls for a
> diet that is warmer, lighter, less oily, and free of heavy, hard
> to digest foods. Eating more bitter, astringent and pungent tastes
> help stimulate digestion and balance Kaph skin. For a more detailed
> explanation of dietary suggestions and skin types, please visit
> http://www.mapi.com
>
> 4. Soothe Away Stress There are three types of stress, and all three
> impact the skin in different ways. Mental stress starts a chain
> reaction that ends in a drying out the moisture in the skin.
>
> Thinning, dryness and the shrinking of the srotas (microchannels)
> that carry nutritive fluid to the skin result in wrinkles and
> stress lines. Emotional stress also affects the skin-just notice how
> anger or embarrassment can turn your face red. This shows the
> connection between emotions and the skin. If emotional stress becomes
> chronic, the result is acne, sun sensitivity, and other Pitt-based
> problems.
Sun damage, loss of muscle tone, decreased adipose tissue, less
collagen production, hormonal changes, & repetitive movement cause
wrinkles. Acne is the result of a particular bacteria (Acne vulgaris)
& hormonal fluctuations. While stress can effect hormones, many
un-stressed people suffer from the condition.
>
> Physical stress is caused by exercising too much, working too much,
> or straining the body over a period of time. Like mental stress, this
> causes the drying out of skin moisture and rough, aged skin. To
> counteract mental stress, maintain a Vata-pacifying diet and daily
> routine. To bring emotional stress into balance, follow a
> Pitt-pacifying diet and routine. For physical stress, try to limit
> exercise or work to fifty percent of your physical stamina. For
> lifestyle and diet tips for Vata, Pitt and Kaph, please visit
> http://www.mapi.com.
>
> 5. Cleanse and gently exfoliate. Every skin type needs cleansing, but
> Kaph skin needs it the most. This is because people with
> Kaph skin often have low agni. Consequently ama collects in the
> body, clogs the channels of the skin and causes excessive oil on the
> surface. Many people with Kaph skin try to counteract oiliness with
> products that are too drying.
>
> Instead, try cleansing the pores so the skin can be nourished from
> the inside. The Kaph person should be careful not to clog their
> pores by using greasy creams, exposing their skin to freezing
> weather, or by eating heavy, sweet, oily foods. Take warm baths,
> cleanse with a gentle herbal cleanser, and exfoliate with an herbal
> clay twice a week to gently cleanse the pores, remove impurities
> and open the channels.
>
> Vata skin types should avoid any products that are too drying. Pitt
> types should avoid products that are too abrasive or heating.
>
> 6. Rehydrate from the inside and outside. It's important to
> moisturize your skin from the inside to keep the inner layers of the
> skin from drying out and to provide necessary nutrients to the
> surface. Drink lots of water, and in cold weather, drink hot water to
> open the channels and help clear away toxins. If you have sensitive
> skin, stick to room-temperature water. Include plenty of
> vegetables and sweet, juicy fruits in your diet to moisturize the
> skin. Be sure to eat healthy oils, such as ghee and olive oil to
> provide essential lubrication. Massaging your body skin on a daily
> basis is also essential to keep the skin young and healthy.
>
> 7. Nourish your skin. Besides following the diet for your skin type,
> these foods are terrific skin-enhancers: leafy green vegetables;
> easily digested proteins such as tofu, sunflower seeds; foods high in
> zinc such as quinoa; and beta-carotene- rich foods such as
> carrots and sweet cherries.
>
> Almonds and walnuts support the skin with their protein and
> lubricating fat content. Some skin-friendly spices include turmeric
> to nourish the first four layers of the skin; cumin to rid the body
> of ama; black pepper to cleanse the channels, and fennel to balance
> the transformational ability of the skin. All antioxidant-rich fruits
> and vegetables, such as pomegranate, apple, pear, and
> bitter, green leafy vegetables are also excellent for the skin. Eat
> only intelligent foods, which means fresh, whole and organic foods.
> Stay away from packaged, canned, frozen, processed, and packaged
> foods. Leftovers are also a no-no.
>
> Winter Skin Tips:
>
> 1. Drink plenty of water, and avoid hot water if your skin is
> photosensitive.
The temperature of one's drinking water has nothing to do with their
sensitivity to the sun.
> Many people don't drink enough water in winter. You actually need
> more water in winter to moisturize your skin properly and protect it
> from the sun.
>
> 2. Take a warm bath before and after skiing or exposing your skin to
> freezing temperatures for a long period of time. Any time it's
> freezing outside, the pores of the skin freeze shut and heat is
> retained in the deeper layers. This heat dries out the skin and
> lowers its resistance to the sun. That is why many people get worse
> sunburns after skiing than at the beach, and it's also why some
> people's skin breaks out after a skiing trip. A warm bath before and
> after tackling the slopes helps dilate frozen channels and supports
> the skin to release heat trapped in the deeper layers.
Sunburns after skiing are from reflected UV rays -- just as sunburns
at the beach are. One can also get sunburned on a cloudy day. Your
"information" WRT freezing temps keeping heat in the skin is also
completely incorrect.
Please consult with a dermatologist, a plastic surgeon, a medically
trained esthetician, or nurse-esthetician to get the real story about
sun damage, skin product chemicals (natural & synthetic) & what they
can & can't do, & the actual structure of the skin.
It's amazing what can be done to protect our skin, minimize existing
damage, & greatly improve its appearance.
Be good to the skin you're in!
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