Glowing Skin From the Inside Out

In a series of posts I'm sharing healthy, practical tips to glow from the inside out.  

Nutritional Tip #1. Sulfur.

Sulfur is the third most abundant mineral in our bodies. It is an important compound for both our skin health and overall wellness.  Sulfur amongst many other things, is necessary for producing collagen, which gives skin its structure and strength. The breakdown of collagen or insufficient production of collagen as we age is one of the major contributors to the development of wrinkles.

You may have also heard of glutathione.  Glutathione is one of THE most important antioxidants in the body. (Antioxidants help prevent the damaging effect of oxidation on our cells).

'Sulfur is also required for the formation of glutathione and high levels of glutathione in the body can prevent damage caused by free radicals, which are also thought to be a major cause of cellular aging.’ ~ Dr Chris Kresser

The level of glutathione in the body is greatly impacted by having adequate sulfur.

The best and most ideal way to obtain sulfur is through our diet.  Sulfur is derived almost exclusively from protein, such as fish and high-quality (organic and/or grass-fed/pastured) beef and poultry.  Meat and fish are considered "complete" as they contain all the sulfur-containing amino acids you need to produce new protein.

Sulfur is also found in some plant foods. Good sources include garlic, onions, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, asparagus, and kale. Fermenting these vegetables can make sulfur even more bioavailable in the body.

Supplementation e.g. MSM  

You might have come across MSM, Methylsulfonylmethane, an organic form of sulfur that’s naturally found in many plants.  Common health complaints can be associated with low concentrations of MSM in the body including:

• Fatigue
• Depression
• High sensitivity to physical and psychological stress
• Degenerative diseases

As with any supplements, if you consider adding it into your diet, just make sure you purchase a good quality brand, with MSM as the only ingredient and only after you’ve added real food in first.

Sulfur is a critical nutrient that can be overlooked. If you’re eating a good diet with loads of real food and you’re absorbing well then you’re in a great place to enjoy youthful skin.

Lifestyle Tip #1. Beauty sleep and rest.

This is so much more important than many of us realise.

If you get 4 to 6 hours of sleep a night, consider going to bed earlier (rather than sleeping in late). When we go to bed soon after sunset or long before 12pm, it does a whole lot of good for our immune system, our hormonal system, and even our digestive health. Keep this in mind if you have children and teenagers too.  Getting a good nights sleep helps us in SO many ways. Our skin is a direct reflection of this.  What can you do to get the best and most rejuvenating nights sleep?