An average person has about 300 MILLION skin cells.
A single square inch of skin has about 19 million cells and up to 300 sweat glands. Phew! 😓
A layer of skin is created every 28 days.
Our skin constantly sheds dead cells, about 30,000 to 40,000 cells every minute; nearly 4kg per year.
Not to make you feel revulsed but it’s estimated that more than half of the dust in your home is actually, dead skin! And even more revolting; dead skin comprises of about a billion tons of dust in the earth’s atmospere!
This just gets better. On our skin, there is more than 1,000 species of bacteria!
As regards as what to eat to keep our skin healthy, the following nutrients are needed to be eaten, daily:-
- All 3 Omega 3 fatty acids: ALA, DHA & EPA. Omega 3 is needed to keep skin thick, supple and moisterised. A deficiency can cause dry skin. Fish oil is an excellent source of Omega 3. One fact to be aware of is, that if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, like me, we’re only likely to consume 1 of the Omega 3 fatty acids; ALA. 2 sources: avocados and walnuts. Ideally, we may need DHA & EPA, as well. Sources, include algae supplements or powder, such as chlorella and spirulina, for example.
- Vitamin A. Needed to help protect skin from sun exposure. Foods: sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, red & yellow peppers and broccoli.
- Vitamin C. Needed to make collagen, which is the main structural protein that keeps our skin strong and healthy. Foods: avocados, other fruits and vegetables like, again, red and yellow peppers, broccoli etc.
- Vitamin E. Needed to protect skin from oxidative damage. Avocados are an excellent source of this vitamin.
- Lutein. Needed to help the skin from becoming dry and wrinkled. Foods: tomatoes and broccoli. Broccoli also contains ‘sulforaphane’ which may help to prevent skin cancer and protect skin from sunburn. (Feel free to read more about this powerhouse of a vegetable in my ‘A to Z of foods and their health benefits’ pages.) Tomatoes contain lycopene, which also, have been shown to protect skin from sunburn.
- Isoflavones. These are plant compounds which have been shown to improve wrinkles, skin elasticity, skin dryness, as well as protect skin from UV damage. Foods: soya products.
- Resveratol. This antioxidant may slow the skin’s aging process by impairing harmful free radicals that damage our skin. Foods: red grapes.
- Good news! Eating small amounts of 70% dark chocolate helps our skin. Cocoa contains antioxidants that protect skin from sunburn, improve wrinkles, skin thickness, hydration, blood flow and skin texture.
How to care for your skin.
Clean your face no more than twice a day and make sure you choose a cleanser that doesn’t leave your skin feel tight after washing.
Moisturise every day.
Wear sunscreen, at least factor 30, every day, even if you don’t go out.
Change pillow cases at least once a week.
Avoid smoking.
Limit alcohol intake.
Avoid using really hot water while showering.
Exfoliate skin once a week.
Sources: forefrontdermatology.com, mentalfloss.com, everydayhealth.com, healthline.com, medicalnewstoday.com, allure.com, nhs.uk
Jasperden Health 