Digestive enzymes and supplements that optimize our skin health For those of you who want to take one additional step towards integrative skin care, there exists an entire plethora of nutritional supplements designed to assist you. Primary players in any supplementing program should be digestive enzymes, mineral supplements , anti-oxidants, and essential fatty acids.  

Digestive enzymes facilitate the breakdown of food in our digestive tract. They are also responsible for transporting the raw nutrients that we get from food throughout our body in a form that our bodies can use. It`s always better to derive nutrients from our food, rather than in a vitamin pill. Enzymes help us to do that.

Digestive enzymes are present in all raw foods that we eat. Heating food over 120 degrees Fahrenheit destroys them, so most of what we eat has been robbed of any naturally occurring enzymes because it has been either cooked or processed. We can, however, purchase digestive enzyme supplements to take with our meals. For general digestive support, an enzyme product that contains a combination of the following enzymes would be beneficial: protease, peptidase, lipase, amylase, glucomylase ,  alpha-galactosidase, cellulase, hemicellulase, invertase, malt diastase ,  lactase, pectinase, and phytase.

Additionally, proteolytic enzymes, such as bromelain, which specifically work on protein digestion, can be extra beneficial for controlling cellular inflammation if taken on an empty stomach .

Minerals are essential for skin health because skin needs to be able to hold water in order to maintain that plump, healthy look. Water binds to minerals in our body, in fact, our body needs 6-12 different minerals or "body salts" to maintain a healthy homeostasis. If we`re deficient in minerals, water does nothing more than flush out our system, taking with it valuable nutrients and minerals that we need. A general mineral supplement is great support for our skin.  

One of the most skin-beautifying minerals out there is calcium, but not all calcium sources are readily received by our bodies.  Certain types of calcium are best for bone support, but not for skin. Some are awesome for the brain, but not bones. Calcium is essential for every cell in our body, but it must be taken in the presence of vitamin D, and magnesium (1:1) in order to be absorbed most effectively. A multi-sourced, ionic calcium supplement taken in the morning, or just before bed can be very beneficial to our skin.  

Lastly, anti-oxidants should become your very best friend and constant companion. They should be present in your skin care products, and in your diet. Anti-oxidants are unsurpassed at repairing free radicals and correcting the oxidative damage to our body`s cells caused by stress , environmental toxins, UV, harmful ingredients in our diet, and just daily wear and tear. Free radicals and oxidative damage are precursors to almost every disease and affliction known to us, including cancer , and they bombard our bodies up to 3 million times a second.

Anti-oxidants are in our fruits and vegetables, and in green or white teas. They can be taken in supplement form, but we need a minimum of six different anti-oxidants in combination to reap their maximum benefit. Vitamin E is a great anti-oxidant, but in the presence of vitamin C its benefits can increase by a thousand times. And L-Glutathione is 10,000 times more effective than vitamin E at scavenging free radicals. Some additional choices for antioxidants include Super Oxide Dismutase, and Alpha Lipoic Acid.

As with any health-related therapy, it is always essential to first discuss the issue with your family doctor.  Additionally, seek the counsel of a qualified nutritionist who specializes in immune health and digestive function.    

 

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