I’m back in my hometown, Fairfax, VA for the holidays. I have to say that being away from dry, polluted Los Angeles air makes such a difference in my skin. Dry polluted air = dry polluted skin. I know I’m aging faster than I should be, living in the city.  I can’t stress enough the importance of diet and exercise to combat the  increasingly imposing environmental damage done to our skin. Of course there are creams, lotions, potions, and sunblock to protect us topically. But we need to pay close attention to what we are putting on the inside, as it will eventually reflect on the outside.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body and it is so important that we take good care of it. Most of us are exposed to thousands of toxins on a regular basis just from the air we breathe. Unfortunately, we dont have too much control over that, unless we choose to move, which is not practical for most of us. But we do have control over other things we put in our bodies, like what we eat, drink, and smoke. Why not make the most of it? Why not make the skin we’re in the best it can be? Diet plays a huge role. Eating an alkaline diet full of anti-oxidants and staying hydrated will dramatically change ones skin. That means staying away from toxic and acidic substances such as coffee, alcohol, and cigarettes and adding more things like green tea, water, blueberries, tumeric, and fresh air.

I’m definitely not perfect. I love a cup of coffee with cream, sugar, and a cigarette in the morning. I love a glass of wine before bed. (Especially around the holidays) But I see the damage it does to my skin! Never mind how it makes me feel. The wrinkles, the redness, the enlarged pores, the tightness, and inflammation.  But when I am living “clean” (not smoking, eating a diet rich in alkaline foods such as organic brown rice and vegetables, drinking tons of water and no coffee), there is a dramatic difference. My skin radiates and glows. And everyone around me notices. Not only is my skin  shining, but my eyes become brighter. Feeling great, weight loss, sleeping well, having energy, being clear headed are among the other amazing benefits.

As I said, I’m not perfect and most of us aren’t. But we can start somewhere. And awareness for 2011 is a great place to begin.  We dont have control over the toxins in our environment, but we do have the power to counteract any damage by the lifestyle we choose. Maintainenece is the key.  Start paying attention to what is going into your body, as it will undoubtably have an effect on your one and only outer shell.

Cheers to awareness, honoring, and maintaining our skin along with our bodies and well being from the inside out!

Happy New Year!!

-Michelle

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