Don't Mess with Stress

Julie Daniluk is here with the top 5 ways stress can mess with your looks.

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@JulieDaniluk

1. Wrinkles: Stress causes cortisol (a hormone) to rise in your body.

This hormone can cause weight gain, high blood pressure which can lead to heart attach and collagen breakdown. When collagen breaks down in the body it makes it very challenging for your skin to repair itself naturally. The good news is you can help. Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night and at least 3-4 days of physical activity.

Collagen Boosters: As we age, our bodies slow down making collagen and existing collagen starts to break down. This leads to facial sagging and wrinkles and gives skin a rough appearance.

Hemp: Only 2.5 tbsp of hemp seeds provides 100% of your daily needs of manganese, an essential mineral required to provide the amino acid proline for collagen formation. Adequate daily intake of manganese is 1.8 to 2.3 mg per day. Additional foods containing manganese include: 1/2 cup of cooked spinach, 0.84 mg; 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato, 0.44 mg; 1/2 cup of cooked brown rice, 1.07 mg; and 1/2 cup of pineapple, 0.77 mg.
Lysine is another great colleen booster. It can be found in lean meats, yogurt, fish and eggs.

Vitamin C is required to transform the lysine into hydroxylysine and proline into hydroxyproline, which are the active forms of these amino acids necessary to rebuild collagen. The best sources of vitamin C are red peppers at 300 mg per cup, guavas at 376 mg per cup. Other good sources include berries, broccoli, kiwi, and citrus.

Silica: BioSil contains a biologically active form of silica called choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid. Silica is a trace mineral required for the formation of healthy connective tissue, bone, skin, hair and nails. Silica is essential for collagen formation, healthy arteries and regulates calcium deposition in bones. There are other forms of silica available such as those found in food, horsetail and colloidal gel products, but those are very poorly absorbed due to their insoluble form. For absorption to occur, dietary silica must be first converted to Orthosilicic Acid (monomeric silicic acid). BioSil has shown reduction in wrinkle depth and length, as well as the quantity of wrinkles.

2. Stress can also lead to hair loss

When you body is under stress it searches for ways to cope, in some cases that could mean stopping the natural growth of your hair. One the follicle goes dormant; you will notice hair loss and shedding. It takes about 3 months for a hair follicle to come back to life. If you have hair loss, its best to check with your doctor, it could mean other serious health implications.

When it comes to healthy hair, it’s not just what you put on your tresses that count. Your hair needs protein, vitamin B and loads of minerals to make strong hair that resists shedding.

Oysters may be better known for their reputation as an aphrodisiac, but they can also lead to healthy hair, and who doesn't love that? The key to their love and hair-boosting abilities is zinc, a powerful antioxidant. If oysters don't make a regular appearance on your dinner plate, don't despair – you can also find it in pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, beef and lamb.

3. Stress can cause adult acne

Acne is an infection of the skin and allergies impact acne.
Reduce sugar intake for effective acne diet - excessive sugar can make acne worse. Chocolates, sweets and soft drinks are loaded with sugar. Try to cut down on them, if not illuminate completely.

Eat more fish. Not only it is generally good for your health, but Omega 3 fats found in fish are essential for healthy skin and acne prevention. Best sources of Omega 3 are salmon, cod and tuna. Alternatively, you can take omega 3 fish oil as a supplement.

Stress can create hormonal mood swings
When you are stressed your hormones are out of whack, your cortisol raises and you can experience adrenal burnout. All of this can lead to weight gain, cravings and insomnia, all of which causes mood swings.

4. Foods that help hormonal balance:

Apples contain contains Calcium D-glucarate, which helps reduce excess estrogen.

Broccoli provides I3C (indole-3-carbinol) and sulforaphane, which help break down hormones and cleanse harmful toxins from the body.

Turmeric is powerfully anti-inflammatory and hormone balancing due to its support of the liver.

The product Estrosense contains all 3 ingredients in an easy capsule.
www.pno.ca/preferred-nutrition-products/item/womensense/estrosense.html

5. Those tired puffy eyes are also stress related in cases

If you are stressed, odds are you are not getting enough sleep. That means tired puffy eyes. It can also mean you are dehydrated, the skin around the eyes is thin, so it needs a little TLC…getting enough sleep with reduce inflammation in the body.

Foods that reduce puffy eyes:

Diets high in sodium can cause fluid retention and lead to puffy eyes. Cutting out foods high in salt from your diet can help relieve puffiness in the eyes. Cut out hot dogs, canned soup, deli meats, ketchup, and bacon.

One of the best foods to reduce Edema or fluid retention throughout the body is Parsley

Place cucumber wedges on your eyes, and lay down for 10 minutes. This may help reduce swelling and help brighten your skin. Enjoy a cucumber salad to reduce swelling naturally.

Saving Face Salad:

The silica in cucumber is an essential component of healthy connective tissues found in muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and skin. Cucumbers are a very good source of vitamin C, an important nutrient for building collagen in the skin.

Ingredients:

• 2 English cucumbers
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) raw honey
• 3 tbsp (45 mL) fresh dill, or 1 tbsp (15 mL) dried dill
• 1 tsp (5 mL) mustard seeds, brown or golden
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) grey sea salt or pink rock salt
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) Fish, flax and hemp seed oil

Directions:

1. Slice cucumber thinly using food processor or mandolin. Place cucumbers into a large bowl.
2. Combine dressing ingredients, pour over cucumber and toss to coat evenly.
3. Enjoy immediately or store in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Makes 6 side salads