And here’s the beef… errr… the milk. In essence, our skin needs a healthy dose of vitamin A for optimum skin cell health. In fact, our skin cells are heavily dependent on this particular vitamin as explained in my previous article. The great thing about most dairy products, yogurt included, is that they are good sources of vitamin A. There are other sources of vitamin A, of course: carrots, parsley, and oranges among others. But according to WebMD people who have diabetes or thyroid conditions can get more vitamin A through yogurt than through any other type of food. People who have such health problems are sometimes unable to convert the beta carotene found in carrots and parsley into vitamin A. The type of vitamin A present in dairy instead, is ideal for almost everyone. And one additional benefit is that those who are somewhat intolerant to lactose can get all the benefits of whole milk without any of the side effects. Just remember that this article stresses skin care factors over weight issues. Otherwise, I would have written in length about the low fat varieties.

In a prior paragraph I mentioned the vitamin B complex. This is because there is one B that pertains to the subject of this article and that is Riboflavin, commonly known as vitamin B2. This micronutrient appears to play a key role in the health of our cells. Its deficiency, for example, produces symptoms that can range from cracked and red lips, mouth ulcers, cracks at the corners of the mouth and also dry and scaling skin. So in this case, the benefits to our skin are not so much dependent on its ingestion but on its deficiency. Or better put, in NOT having a deficiency.

Time for my awaited infomercial tip “but wait, there’s more!!” And there certainly is. Many of the benefits that come from yogurt, do so in an indirect fashion. Let me explain: the live bacteria -Lactobacillus acidophilus among others- found in yogurt are also among the reasons this delectable treat helps you achieve better skin. A good digestive system almost always translates into healthier skin by way of our system getting rid of toxic elements that would otherwise make their way to our most external tissue. A diet rich in trans fats, indigestible starches, and preservatives can wreak havoc inside our little bodies. Since yogurt strengthens and promotes proper digestion, the end result is that your skin benefits from this sort of detoxification.

Last but not least, yogurt also adds essential enzymes and healthy oils that are necessary to our skin, keeping it well moisturized. In fact, making a yogurt facial mask helps free your skin from blemishes and even acne. Call it anecdotal evidence, if you will. The zinc content in the yogurt helps clear the skin faster, and the lactic acid acts as a natural and rich skin moisturizer. Whether you choose to eat yogurt or apply it unto your skin, you will be able to benefit either way!

Now, a few words for the weight conscious crowd who is reading this piece. And that would mean almost all of us. Yogurt is essentially classified under dairy, and almost all forms of dairy can be fattening. To avoid gaining weight, it is best to choose low fat yogurt and definitely avoid the flavored ones or even those mixed in with dried fruits. But the caveat remains that only whole milk yogurt will derive all the benefits to our skin. So now we are back to our old tug-of-war… Do I worry about my love handles or is my skin ever more important? I think this weekend I will be checking at my local store some of the yogurt makers that are available and get started with some experimentation. Maybe I stumble upon that perfect, balanced yogurt recipe that will clear my skin AND keep my midsection at bay!

There are many varieties out there among some of the craziest ones there is opal and cinnamon. Asian varieties add even a more exotic angle. Note that this herb has been produced for over 5000 years and was cultivated in its earlier years in places such as Iran and India. An older fella’ with a bit of history! Both its mint flavor and strong smell derived from its essential oils.

So now that I have laid out this brief introduction on this wonder herb, I should focus more on its health benefits. After all, this is what this blog is about… Let me quickly paraphrase one old friend, wikipedia: “…Basil and oregano contain large amounts of (E)-beta-caryophyllene (BCP), which might have a use in treating inflammatory bowel diseases and arthritis. BCP is the only product identified in nature that activates CB2 selectively; it interacts with one of two cannabinoid receptors (CB2), blocking chemical signals that lead to inflammation, without triggering cannabis’s mood-altering effects.” In case you missed it, what is really important and the key word from this line is: BCP is the only product in nature that can activate CB2 to block chemicals that lead to swelling, thus preventing it. In order words, basil -which contains large amounts of it, can provide quick pain relief to muscles and the like. You do not need to be a doctor to understand that a good amount of chopped basil sprinkled in the area where the muscle hurts can alleviate you just like if you were taking some aspirin, all the while instilling a fresh aroma into the environment.

More technically speaking, it is a component of the herb’s natural oil -eugenol- that causes the inhibition of a key enzyme from synthesizing the inflamatory prostaglandins which make the nerves sensitive.

The Kasturba Medical College in India has performed some studies to prove the antioxidant properties of basil and as part of their conclusions it is believed that wrinkles can soften to a degree in as little as 10 days, when making the herb part of one’s daily diet. In this case, the benefits lie on a different factor: the high concentration of flavanoids like “orientin and vicenin” which are engines of collagen production that contribute to a higher cell turnover, helping in turn rejuvenate your skin.

The below links lead to some of the studies performed by Kasturba:
1. Antioxidant properties of basil.
2. Enhancement of bone marrow radioprotection.
3. Protection against radiation injury.

Last but not least, basil can also aid in combating excess weight. Belly fat storage is dependent on the production of calcitriol by our bodies and basil helps suppress it. Together with its provision of manganese that helps regulate the levels of glucose in our bodies, basil works as a potent aid for burning fat faster than normal.

Just don’t over plant it everywhere in your house/apartment!

What can we find in nature that may supply us with an additional reservoir of collagen, helping us avoid the topical cream? Most forms of vitamin A that are quickly assimilated by our bodies come from the animal kingdom. These are the above mentioned retinoids. Provitamins instead, which are precursors and must be converted into a form that our bodies can assimilate, are found in the realm of fruits and vegetables. Specially those of orange, dark green and yellow pigmentations. These colors indicate the presence of carotenoids.

Problem is that the ratio of conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A inside our bodies is pretty low, thus a normal human being is required to eat vast quantities of these fruits and vegetables in order to produce sufficient vitamin A. Because the body converts carotene into vitamin A as needed, the risk of intoxication is minimal. The animal form instead, can produce too much of it to levels that are considered harmful, even lethal. According to wikipedia “… if eaten in one meal, 30 to 90 grams of polar bear liver is enough to kill a human being, or to make even sled dogs very ill…”

So what is the take-away today? You need vitamin A to function properly. In measured quantities, the foods that can provide it are: liver (chicken, pork, turkey, beef and fish), eggs, cheese, milk, cod liver oil and butter/margarine. Given the slow intake and rate of conversion from fruits and vegetables you must rely on these foods preferably.

And for a more laser-focused approach you can test some of the more common topical creams, under supervision of a doctor. Some recent studies have shown that compounds made out of vitamin A have consistently estimulated the production of collagen in a much higher degree than regular creams. One such cream can be Neutrogena’s Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Eye Cream. According to Dr. Irwin (Surgery Free Makeover) it is best to take a gradual approach, applying the cream every couple of days only and during nights, as the Sun can make vitamin A unstable.