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What Is Your Skin Telling You About Your Health?

What Is Your Skin Telling You About Your Health?

by | Oct 18, 2022 | Anti-ageing, Skin

Did you know that your skin is a messenger? Although it might be on the surface, skin health is a reflection of what is happening internally – for better and for worse. So if your skin has been playing up lately, let’s look at some of the messages it might have for you.

What Is Your Skin Telling You About Your Health?

Adult breakouts

Remember how relieved you were when you hit your 20s and your teen blemishes faded away? Well unfortunately, adults are not immune to breakouts. So if your skin has been as rebellious as a teenager, it’s time to pay attention.

The most likely culprit behind adult acne? Hormone imbalances. When your hormones are thrown off, your skin produces more sebum (oil) and you’re more prone to inflammation.

This could be a diagnosed hormone imbalance such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), perimenopause, or just a general imbalance caused by factors such as stress and low nutrition.

Pale skin

Noticed that your skin is paler compared to usual? Unless you’ve given up the fake tan or gone from sunbaking to staying inside, this is an important skin sign to watch out for.

The most common reason for pale skin? Anaemia – which may be caused by iron deficiency and/or B12 deficiency. Around 15% of women experience anaemia, and it often goes undiagnosed.

Another potential cause is hypothyroidism. Around 10% of women are estimated to be affected, but the risk increases with age. Hypothyroidism is also underdiagnosed, so the rate may be even higher than we realise. It also comes with symptoms including weight gain, intolerance to cold, fatigue and brain fog.

Dry skin

Another common symptom for skin, particularly as you age, is dry skin. Some of this is unavoidable – older skin has fewer oil and sweat glands, which can leave you more prone to dryness rather than oily skin.

But there are also factors that can prematurely age (and dry) your skin, including:

  • Excess sun exposure

  • Smoking

  • Stress

  • Dehydration

  • Low omega 3 intake

Another factor to consider? An underactive thyroid. Nearly 3/4 of people with hypothyroidism report dry skin as a symptom. This is because the process of skin turnover slows down, leading to the accumulation of dry, flaky skin on the surface.

Wrinkles, fine lines and age spots

These might be obvious symptoms of ageing – but if you notice that your skin ages faster than you do, it’s a message from the body.

Premature ageing is a common concern these days. It can include skin signs such as wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and dull skin. But you could also see other signs such as:

  • Weight gain

  • Low energy levels

  • Brain fog

  • Body aches & pains

  • Reduced muscle mass

It also comes with an increased risk of chronic disease – think type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and even cancer.

We know there are 3 big drivers behind premature ageing, which I cover in more detail here. To keep it simple – inflammation is the big baddie behind it all, and we are living in a world that makes a state of inflammation our default. If you want to learn more about why your skin is ageing and how you can hit the brakes, make sure you give this article a read.

Dark circles under the eyes

As you age, you become more prone to dark circles under the eyes. But there are other controllable factors at play, including sleep, stress, hydration and even lymphatic drainage. It could also indicate that you’re suffering from allergies or intolerances of some kind.

It’s important to note that there is a genetic component to dark circles under the eyes. This can be due to bone structure and pigment production. But that doesn’t mean you can’t reduce the appearance by working on your skin health & hydration!

Dreaming that you could turn back the clock?

While the passing of time is inevitable, it’s possible to look AND feel young and vibrant again. To learn how this is possible, book yourself a FREE Anti-Ageing Strategy call here.

Hi, I’m Susie.

I help women feeling stressed, flat and older than they’d like regain their youthful energy and glow using a proven method so their natural beauty and confidence shines through.

Looking for a recipe?

Susie Garden

I help women feeling stressed, flat and older than they’d like regain their youthful energy and glow using a proven method so their natural beauty and confidence shines through.

Top Anti-Ageing Foods To Add To Your Diet Today

Top Anti-Ageing Foods To Add To Your Diet Today

by | May 17, 2022 | Anti-ageing, Skin

Did you know that everything you eat can either protect you against ageing or contribute to it? The role of food in anti-ageing is often overlooked. But by adding some anti-ageing superfoods into your diet, you can stay happier and healthier for many years to come.

The Best Anti-Ageing Superfoods You Want To Eat More Of

DARK CHOCOLATE

Yes, that’s right – chocolate has amazing anti-ageing properties!

Chocolate is packed full of antioxidants, which are critical as an anti-ageing strategy. They protect us against the effects of oxidative stress and inflammation, which can contribute to premature ageing.

Researchers have found that chocolate and/or cocoa offers benefits including:

  • Protecting against UV damage

  • Having anti-inflammatory properties

  • Encouraging the release of feel-good dopamine

  • Reducing stress levels

  • Decreasing wrinkles (yes, really!)

  • Increasing blood flow and the hydration level of your skin

However, we are talking dark chocolate here – not milk, white or even dark chocolate laced with sugary additions. You want to reach for a dark chocolate with a minimum of 70% cocoa content to reap the max benefits.

BERRIES

You’ll find berries at the top of just about every superfood list, and for good reason. Berries are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet – they’re packed with antioxidants and fibre, and despite their sweetness, they are also low in sugar.

There is some promising research when it comes to berries and brain health. For example, one 20-year-long study found that eating blueberries at least once a week OR strawberries at least twice a week delayed cognitive ageing by up to 2.5 years in women over 70. So you can imagine what weekly berries could do if you started eating them even earlier in life!

Berries can also help to reduce the physical signs of ageing as well. The high antioxidant content of berries helps to protect your skin and collagen against UV damage, inflammation and free radicals. So regular consumption can reduce premature ageing inside and out.

Raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are a few of the top picks. The fresher you can get them, the better – so if you can grow your own or even head to a local berry farm to pick your own straight off the plant, the greater the nutritional payoff.

GARLIC

All herbs and spices belong in an anti-ageing kitchen, but if I had to pick one, it would be garlic. Just some of the age-related mechanisms for garlic include:

  • High antioxidant content

  • Anti-inflammatory

  • Cardioprotective (protects the heart & helps to lower blood pressure)

  • Anti-microbial (protects against viruses, bacteria and fungi)

  • Anti-cancer

  • Reduces the effects of oxidation and the inflammatory response

  • Improves blood sugar regulation

  • Protects against cognitive decline

  • Anti-wrinkles!

So if you’re going to include one ingredient in as many of your weekly meals as possible, I recommend using garlic.

The trick with garlic? Crush it and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before you add it to your dish, as this allows the garlic to produce the beneficial compound allicin. It’s also best to add the garlic last, as allicin content drops when exposed to heat.

COFFEE

Clients are always terrified that I’m going to tell them not to drink coffee anymore – but it’s actually the opposite! I’m a huge fan of coffee personally, but there are also some impressive health benefits to note as well.

Ever noticed that your heart rate goes up when you drink coffee? Coffee is a stimulant, and a lot of health experts have previously suggested you should reduce your intake to protect your heart health.

But the most recent research looked at coffee’s role in heart disease and death in over 350,000 people over the period of 10 years. They found that 2-3 cups per day led to a 10-15% lower risk of coronary heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias or dying for any reason! One cup gave the best protection against stroke and heart-related deaths.

Coffee is also one of the most common dietary sources of antioxidants, which equals more youthful skin, less inflammation and better brain function. Just make sure you’re not counteracting coffee’s benefits by adding in sugary syrups or milks that are packed full of unnecessary additives!

GUAVA

There are many tropical fruits that offer anti-ageing benefits, but my favourite would have to be guava. As it is packed full of antioxidants including carotenoids and lycopene, it can protect you inside and out from the effects of free radicals and inflammation.

But guava could also play an important role in protecting you from what is known as frailty. Frailty is the age-related decline that includes weakness, slower walking speed, low physical activity, exhaustion and unintentional weight loss. These leave you at a much higher risk of serious health conditions and death.

But a study has found that a regular intake of guava fruit is associated with a much lower risk of developing frailty in an older population. It’s estimated that consuming 1-4 serves of guava was needed for the protective benefits.

ANTI-AGEING SUPERFOODS ARE ONLY ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE!

It takes the right foods, the right mindset and the right protocol if you want to stay young and vibrant for many years to come.

If you’re ready to look AND feel great again, book yourself a FREE Anti-Ageing Strategy call here.

Susie Garden

I help women feeling stressed, flat and older than they’d like regain their youthful energy and glow using a proven method so their natural beauty and confidence shines through.