The SKINTENTIONAL Pyramid, Vitamins and Minerals (E)

Micronutrients: Vitamins and Minerals

       Our Skintentional Pyramid has five categories with three levels and the tip. The third level contains vitamins and minerals. I've given you a few tidbits about the first two vitamins, A and C. Now let's get to know Vitamin E.

Vitamin E

         Vitamin E, just like Vitamin A and C, is an antioxidant. Antioxidants fight free radicals. Free Radicals cause disease, damage the DNA, and aging of the body and the skin.

          Vitamin E does it's best work when it is paired with either Vitamin A or Vitamin C. And since these are essential to the skin's health, then why not take all three.

Liquid Shade

         Do you have oily skin? If so, do you like most people with oily skin wish you didn't? Well don't be so quick to wish it away. Guess where your Vitamin E is found? That's right! Within the oil of your skin. Think back to a previous post. We learned that God's way of protecting a person who lives close to the equator, is by creating them with more melanin in their skin. Well He did the same thing with their oil glands. He gave more oil so they could have protection from the sun. Are you beginning to see why I call Him Lord? 

          Now this is not always the case, but most people with naturally dark skin have oily skin. We also learned in a previous post, that one of the components of the acid mantle (your skin's barrier of protection) is oil. If you have oily skin then you have your own production company of natural sunscreen. I call it Liquid Shade. Vitamin E may reduce the inflammation of the skin after exposure to the sun. Sunburn and pigmentation (brown spots) are reduced with Vitamin E. Even more so when used in combination with Vitamin A and C.

Character

        My husband has taught me a term that I like to use. When something is new it shines. But when something has been around for awhile, it has Character. Sometimes this character shows up in the form of a scar. Scars are usually caused by damage to the skin, burns and stretch marks. Although there is not much that can be done for a scar once it is there. During the time when the wound in the skin is healing, applying Vitamin E may help speed up the healing process and lessen the scarring. That's why you will find Vitamin E in skincare products. It is also a preservative in skincare products. 

Going Nuts and Going Green

       Sometimes we fall short of getting our Vitamins through our diet. But just in case you want to try, here is a list of foods that are great sources of Vitamin E.

Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, and Peanut Butter.

Asparagus, Avocado, Collard Greens, and Spinach.

        

Inspiration To Grow On

O Harvest Time

        I'm not sure how many of you have been following daily. I know of only 3 that read every day. So this is meant for you 3 especially, and any others that have noticed my absence from the blogging world the last few days. 

        If you read my bio, then you know that my husband and I live on a small farm where we grow a lot of what we eat. If you took a stroll through our garden you would find broccoli, cabbage, corn, cucumbers, green beans, okra, onions, peas, peppers, spinach, squash, tomatoes, turnip greens, and zucchini. Keep strolling and you will find apple, fig, and plum trees, blueberry bushes, and strawberry beds. And although that sounds and is wonderful, it is also a lot of work. I'm not complaining in the least. I'm grateful that the Lord allows me to wiggle out of bed every morning and find my way down to the garden. But a garden doesn't run on anyone's time but it's own.
         Until the garden starts to come in, I really only have to spend one good day a week working it out. That means weeding, hoeing and plowing to keep it up. But once the vegetables start to grow and ripen, then there is something to do most every day. 

        My last post was the day before I picked my first mess of green beans. And it's been farm to fork to pantry to freezer since then. I'm in the garden early morning picking whatever is ready, then canning or freezing for the rest of the day. As of date, I have frozen strawberries, blueberries, and zucchini. Made strawberry jam, canned green beans, made chowchow and sweet pickles. And I am just getting started! 

        July will be our busiest time here on the farm. I had to make a choice. It was either post or produce. I chose produce. So blogging will have take a back seat to the garden. That's not to say that I will no longer be posting. It just means that my family and home comes first. 

        I'm loving summer and I'm sure you are too. Everything is fresh and blooming, we have sunshine up to sixteen hours a day, and the pool is open for business. Much of my life is happening outdoors which is where I want to be. My porch is my favorite spot in and out of the house. It's where the beans are strung, corn is shucked, peas are shelled, okra is sliced, and tomatoes are peeled before coming together to make vegetable soup that my family will enjoy on a cold winter day with a pan of cornbread. 

      

  So as you can see, 

                               I have a few....... ROWS TO HOE. 

P.S. I have 3 words about skincare.       

                                            Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Sunscreen

The SKINTENTIONAL Pyramid, Vitamins and Minerals (C)

Micronutrients

        Vitamins A, C, E, and D are necessary for your skin cells to function properly. All are antioxidants except for Vitamin D. Antioxidants are  very effective in keeping skin healthy. We will cover antioxidants in more detail in a later post.

       We learned that Vitamin A helps to aid in the prevention of skin cancer, stimulate collagen production, and soften lines and wrinkles. If you dig a little deeper into the role Vitamin A plays within the body, you will find that it also keeps the skin around our organs healthy by repelling bacteria and viruses. I think it's worth repeating that the overall health of the skin is supported by Vitamin A.

Vitamin C

       Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), an antioxidant vitamin needed for repair of the skin, helps with the production of collagen and aids in the skins healing process.  

       Vitamin C is my favorite vitamin. Here's why. Like Vitamin A, it also is an antioxidant, can help prevent cancer, and aids in the production of collagen. Vitamin C is also able to lighten pigmentation in the skin. How amazing is that!

       Think back to one of my first post in which you learned some basic facts about the skin. One of those facts was that the skin contains one-half of your primary immune cells. Vitamin C is a preventative vitamin in the fact that when taken orally it can reduce the severity of colds. It helps wounds heal faster, and helps keep skin from becoming dry and rough. 

       Here's another fact about skin. Most of the damage (aging) to our skin is caused by UV exposure. When we expose ourselves to the sun without protection, free radicals (molecules that cause aging in the body and wrinkling and sagging of the skin) attack our DNA, and this leads to the formation of cancerous cells. Vitamin C decreases this damage. 

       Vitamin C is very useful in reducing the inflammation (redness) that is often associated with acne or any other disorder that causes inflammation (redness) in the skin.

C-sential

   As you can see Vitamin C is essential to healthy skin. It is found within most product lines. Look for it before you purchase. If Vitamin C is not an ingredient used within a product line, then don't buy their products. Serums of 20% Vitamin C will give the best results. Test have shown that concentrations higher than 20% do not have better results, so don't waste your money on higher concentrations.

C-Licious

Vitamin C is also found in some of my favorite foods. They include; broccoli, cantaloupe, grapes, garlic, green tea, kiwi, tomatoes, turnip greens, oranges, peppers, and strawberries.

In or On

Whether you include Vitamin C in your diet, take a supplement, or apply topically, either way will be beneficial to your skin cells. 

The SKINTENTIONAL Pyramid, Vitamins and Minerals (A)

       Our SKINTENTIONAL Pyramid has three levels and five categories. We began with Proteins, Fats, and Carbohydrates. These are called Macronutrients. Protein, Fats, and Carbohydrates are called Macronutrients because they are the three basic food groups that are essential for the body to function properly.
       Think about the past week and try to remember what you had to eat at each meal. Now if you are like me you may not be able to remember what you had for lunch yesterday. But if you are able to remember, how much of your diet contained the Macronutrients;  Proteins, Fats, and Carbohydrates? Probably most of it. That's why we call them MACROnutrients, they are the big boys.
       Have you ever heard of the term Micronutrients? Micronutrients are what we refer to as Vitamins and Minerals. microNUTRIENTS, they are the little guys.

Micronutrients: Vitamins and Minerals

       Just as the Macronutrients are essential for your body to function properly, 

Micronutrients are also very important for proper bodily functions. 

Let's start with vitamins. We are going to focus on  the Vitamins that are necessary for skin health. They are Vitamins A, C, E, and D.

Vitamin A

       The overall health of the skin is supported by Vitamin A.  Here's why. First of all Vitamin A is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are very effective when it comes to keeping skin healthy. Vitamin A can aid in protecting the skin from skin cancer.  Lets say you go to see a Dermatologist with an suspicious, raised area on your skin, if at all possible the doctor will remove it most every time. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer.  
        As we age our skins cells don't shed as easily as they did when we were younger. And without regular exfoliation our skin will become rough. If we have spent our younger years exposing ourselves to the sun and indoor tanning, this under exfoliated, rough skin is also damaged. After years of over exposure to the sun and due to the skin cell shedding process slowing down, our skin can become unhealthy. If the skin is exfoliated regularly it will be smooth. Vitamin A helps the skin to shed on its own. And when the skin is exfoliated regularly, the damaged skin that would otherwise pile up and possibly become cancerous, is removed. 

       Vitamin A is an ingredient that is found in some skincare products. Skin care products designed for anti-aging works the same way. Think of a line or wrinkle as a ditch. The more debris that builds up on the banks of the ditch the deeper the ditch will be. Its the same with lines and wrinkles in our skin. The more dead skin that is on the surface, the deeper the lines and wrinkles will be. That's why products containing Retin-A, are considered anti-aging. They help  skin to slough off more easily,  making our lines and wrinkles less obvious. If you have purchased an anti-aging product, then most likely one of the ingredients listed will be Retin-A or retinoic acid. Vitamin A also stimulates collagen which is our skin's natural filler. 

       Regular use of Retin-A, a moisturizer, and sunscreen will keep your skin healthy while looking and feeling smooth. 

Natural Sources

      By adding foods rich in Vitamin A, we can help our skin stay healthy.  Dairy products, fish oil, yellow and green fruits and vegetables are natural sources of Vitamin A, including butternut squash, cantaloupe, carrots, kale, mangoes, pumpkins, spinach and sweet potatoes. If you are not getting Vitamin A through the foods that you eat, you can also take a daily supplement. These can be found at most pharmacies and grocery stores.

Feedback Friday

Test Drive

         Welcome to Feedback Friday. It's that time of the week again when I answer your questions. I will answer one question each Friday. You may ask questions in the comment box or email me at 2monicawheeler@gmail.com. And remember, there are no dumb questions. 

                So here we go.

This week's question is from Cheryl.  She ask.......

      I purchased a machine to use during facial treatments from a friend who is also an Esthetician. There are some attachments that I am not familiar with. I used a machine  similar to it when I was in school, so it's not completely foreign to me.  I'm starting a new job in a week.

     PLEASE HELP! 

Cheryl,

       My first suggestion for you would be to ask your friend to demonstrate the machine for you. Since both of you are Estheticians, you shouldn't have any problem finding someone to be your client, maybe a daughter, mom, or sister. 

       One of the benefits of buying from someone you know or locally,  is being able to really be sure before you buy. You said that you have already purchased the piece but I would still ask your friend come to your spa and go over everything with you. 

       But lets say you and your friend are not able to get together before next week when you start you new job. Do your research. Find the company that sells your machine. All the equipment suppliers that I have dealt with have been very helpful with explaining and answering any questions that I have had, whether I purchased directly from them or not. They want you to purchase from them in the future, so don't worry about asking for help. Making this contact will help in the future also. You may have to replace a part here and there. So having the manufacturer's phone number ready at hand will help when that time comes. 

Play before you pay

       When you purchase online, you dont have the option to take a test drive. But buying locally or from someone you know, you should always give it a spin. Don't think.this will offend anyone. If it does, that's a red flag. So go ahead check it out, try it out and kick the tires. And if you have the option................

                                   PLAY BEFORE YOU PAY.

Thank you for the question. I hope this helps.

  

The SKINTENTIONAL Pyramid, Carbohydrates

The Skin's Pyramid

          We've all seen the USDA Food Pyramid. It's a guideline to help us understand how much of each of the five food groups we should eat each day in order to have a healthy body.

          Well what do you think about a food for your skin pyramid?  Let's visualize a pyramid with five sections. In these sections we will have the five food elements with which our cells are compiled.

          Our pyramid will be built with proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins/minerals and water, because these nutrients are what compose the protoplasm of a cell.

          Our pyramid will be divided into five categories and arranged on three levels.

      

          The three food elements that form the first two levels of our skin's nutrition pyramid are fundamental for healthy skin.

          The first level of the pyramid is Protein. Every single cell contains protein. 

The second level of the pyramid will be divided into two categories. Fats are one of the categories of the second level. Fats are required for good skin health. Carbohydrates are the second category.

Complex, not Simple.

          Carbohydrates are not your enemy. Complex Carbohydrates I mean. Complex Carbohydrates give your cells energy to renew themselves and to convert Proteins into beautiful new skin cells. And new skin cells are what gives your skin it's healthy glow.                            

          Complex Carbohydrates helps our body to detox itself. Think of your skin as your third kidney. Remember back a few post, we discussed the Body Systems. One of the Body Systems is the Excretory System. The Excretory System purifies  the body by elimination of waste matter. If your body is not eliminating itself of toxins, your third kidney (your skin) will start showing some signs of a toxins and other impurities. One of those signs is Acne.

          Acne can be very difficult to understand. Although our diet doesn't cause acne, it can make acne worse. Taking the simple Carbohydrates which turn into sugar, and cause premature aging not only in the skin but also throughout the whole body, out of our diet and replacing them with Complex Carbohydrates which are high in fiber can help our bodies excrete the impurities.

Low Carbs, Not No Carbs .    

         If you decide to start one of these low carb diets, remember exchange your simple carbs for complex carbs. Your skin cells need energy in order to function properly. Your skin will say thank you with fewer lines and wrinkles replaced with a youthful, healthy glow.

The SKINTENTIONAL Pyramid, Fats

The Skin's Pyramid

         We've all seen the USDA Food Pyramid . It's a guideline to help us understand how much of each of the five food groups we should eat each day in order to have a healthy body.

         Well what do you think about a food for your skin pyramid? Let's visualize a pyramid with five sections. In these sections we will have the five food elements with which our cells are compiled. 

         Our pyramid will be built with proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins/minerals and water, because these nutrients are what compose the protoplasm of a cell. Our pyramid will be divided into five categories and arranged on three levels.

         The three food elements that form the first two levels of our skin's nutrition pyramid are fundamental for healthy skin.

         The first level of the pyramid is Protein. Every single cell contains protein. If you read the last post, it will help you understand how important Protein is to your skin. 

Fats

  Fat, a natural oily or greasy substance occurring in the body. 

          Fats are the second food element in our SKINTENTIONAL Pyramid. Visualize the pyramid. On the first level we have proteins. The second level will be divided into two categories, Fats are one of the categories. 

          Fats are required for good skin health. Our sebaceous gland (oil glands) are all over our body. These glands lubricate the skin. 

          Some people think of Fat, and associate it with being overweight.  But if you remove all Fat  from your diet this could cause dry skin, wrinkles, and dry hair. The sebaceous glands ( oil glands) are found all over the body. But did you realize that means your scalp also? The oil glands in your scalp need Fat in order for you hair to be soft, silky, and shiny.

Fat is Where It's At

       So remember your skin needs Fat. Don't worry about a little Fat in your diet. You need it.

Moisturizers, whether expensive or inexpensive, are good investments. But an inexpensive moisturizer will work as well as an expensive moisturizer when our skin has the Fat it needs. 

      

The SKINTENTIONAL Pyramid, Proteins

The Skin's Pyramid

           We've all seen the USDA Food Pyramid. It's a guideline to help us understand how much of each of the five food groups we should eat each day in order to have a healthy body. Well what do you think about a food for you skin pyramid? So visualize a pyramid with five sections. In these sections we will have the five food elements with which our cells are compiled. Our pyramid will be built with Proteins, Fats, Carbohydrates, Vitamins and Minerals, and Water, because these nutrients are what compose the protoplasm of a cell. Our pyramid will be divided into five categories and arranged on three levels.

Protein

          The three food elements that form the first two levels of our skin's nutrition pyramid are fundamental for healthy skin. 

          The first one is Protein.  Every single cell contains protein. In order for cells to function properly, Proteins are necessary. Proteins are needed to make keratin. You may be familiar with a product that is available in the market, it's called  Hair, Skin and Nails. It's main ingredient is Keratin.  Keratin is found in our skin, hair, and nails. 

           Your nails are made of Protein and Keratin. When you do not have enough Protein in your diet, your nails will become weak and begin to split very easily. Healthy nails, that have an adequate amount of Protein, will grow quickly.

           Our hair follicle is made up of Protein. When you shampoo your hair, is more left on the shower floor than in your scalp? If hair becomes thin from hair loss, this could be a result of lack of Protein. 

           Now, what about your skin? Did you know that collagen is made of Protein?  One of the most valuable Proteins in the body is collagen. Have you ever noticed that when someone has been sick for a period of time that it shows in their face? When sick, most people do not consume foods high in protein. This can cause a loss of collagen, which leads to sagging of the skin. Collagen keeps our skin firm and toned. It keeps our skin from sagging and wrinkling. If you are seeing puffy eyes looking back at you in the mirror every morning, this could also be caused by a lack of Protein.  Retaining fluid anywhere in the body could  be due to a diet low in Protein. 

You are what you eat.

           So who knew how important Protein  was to our skin? It is a building block that is required for our cells to function properly. And we know our skin, one of the systems of our bodies, is made of cells. The base of the skin's nutrition pyramid is Protein, and now you know why.
           There are some weight loss programs that are very low in Protein. Be careful about starting a diet like this. Although there are circumstances where a low Protein diet can be beneficial, its only recommended under a physicians care.
            So have an extra egg for breakfast, a slice of cheese on your sandwich, a cold glass of milk, and order salmon when it's on the menu.

        Me, I think I'll just put on a pot of beans and make a pan of cornbread.

          

   

Nutrition For The Skin

Feeding Your Skin

          Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells. Cells group into tissues, and tissues group into organs, which group into systems, and together they form the human body. Our cells are made up of five food elements. The five elements our cells are made up of are; (1) Proteins, (2) Fats, (3) Carbohydrates, (4) Vitamins and Minerals, and (5) Water. 

          When our cells have an adequate supply of these nutrients, they have a better chance of staying healthy. Since our bodies are made up of cells, this should tell you that making sure you include these five food elements into your diet, your body has a better chance of staying healthy. And guess what that means?

Healthy Cells = Healthy Bodies = Healthy SKIN!

Nourishing Your Skin

            In order for your body to keep making more cells, it must be nourished with food elements that your cells are made up of. This not only helps you to produce more cells, but good nutrition helps your cells repair themselves when they become damaged by disease or unhealthy lifestyles. 

            Our diet has an affect on our skin. I've often been asked, "Does chocolate cause acne?"  I have also seen a client to discuss her blotchy skin and after spending a little time with her, realize that she has taken one of these five food elements for our cells out of her diet.

You Are What You Eat

             With proper nutrition your cells can produce a healthy body. With proper nutrition your body can produce healthy skin. There is no guarantee that having a good balance of Proteins, Fats, Carbohydrates, Vitamins and Minerals, and Water will produce healthy skin. But it is true what they say........

                                         ...........You Are What You Eat.

     

          

Feedback Friday

My Own Thing.

       Welcome to Feedback Friday. It's that time of week again when I answer your questions. I will answer 1 question each Friday. You may ask questions in the comment box or email me at 2monicawheeler@gmail. And remember, there are no dumb questions.

        So here we go.

This week's question is from April. She ask........

          I am currently working at a day spa as an Esthetician. Although I enjoy my job, I am having second thoughts about spending so much time away from my family. I am thinking about starting an educational program to help others care for their skin. I want to have small classes, 7 to 10 people. It will be a one night class. I would like to incorporate a product line as well. I need advice about how to turn this idea into a business.
Thank you.

          Great question April, and  I completely understand your dilemma. And I encourage you to spend as much time at home with your children as possible. Not only while they are young, but until they are grown and out of the house. Having a flexible schedule, is very doable within the field of Esthetics. You can also be a very successful Esthetician while being a wife and mother.
            Ask yourself a question. Would I pay someone to give me advice concerning my skin issues? If so, who would it be? Your answer would most likely be a Dermatologist or an Esthetician. And you are an Esthetician, so you are on the right track. Whether you give these classes in your home or in an office,  you will need products to demonstrate with. People love seeing treatments, it gives them a better understanding of how to use their products as well as how much to use. Having skincare products available will help them follow through with any advice about a home regimen.

            My first suggestion would be for you to choose a product line that you are familiar with and like. Become a  sales representative for that company. Find a company that will allow you to buy wholesale and sale retail, this way you keep all of the profit. Product sales are where the money is. Charging for skincare classes with a percentage going towards any product purchase is a good idea. 

           You will have to do your research. Find out what the demographics are. Is there a high school in your area? Give them a call. See if they will allow you to come by  the school and leave information letting the students know about your classes on acne. Young people need to start taking a little extra care of their skin when they are in middle school. You could form a relationship with the staff, letting them pass the word on to a parent of a child that may need help caring for their skin.  Esthetics is a very good field in which to be working. More and more, people are seeing that taking care of their skin can be done at home, with a little guidance from an Esthetician. 

            But remember, any business owner will tell you that it takes time to build a client base. Don't be discouraged if you only have one person attend your first class. The good thing about this idea is that you won't need to invest a lot of money in order to get started. 

           So dust off that old text book and start preparing your lesson plans. I think  you have a unique idea.  

   

          Thank you for your question. I hope this helps.

The Integumentary System

    In The Beginning

          In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And on the 6th day, God made man from the dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life. This is how Adam, the first man, was created. Then He took a rib from Adam's side and made Eve, the first woman. 

          Adam and Eve had a son, his name was Cain. Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Although Adam and Eve were created at the climax of all that God had created, Cain's natural birth and how he was formed is no less of a miracle. 

          We have discussed how cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. We all have trillions of cells in our bodies. These cells are responsible for carrying on the process of life. But do you know how? How did we get from one cell to trillions of cells and become this wonderful machine we call the human body? Well here we go. Pay close attention.

The Human Body

            It starts with Cells (the basic building blocks of all living things).  Then those cells when grouped together become tissues. Tissues (a group of cells) which perform a specific task. These tissues (a group of cells) are made up of mostly water. There are 4 types of Tissues (a group of cells) in the body. Then those Tissues (a group of cells) become organs. Organs (a group of tissues) which perform a specific task. There are  9 major Organs (a group of tissues) in the body. Skin being the largest organ. These Organs (a group of tissues) when grouped together become systems. Systems (a group of organs) which perform a specific task. There are 11 Systems (a group of organs) in the human body.

Simply Put

             One cell splits and becomes more cells these cells then form tissues.

The 4 tissue types are:

Connective, Epithelial, Muscle, and Nerve

            These tissues group together and form organs.

The 9 organs are:

Brain, Eyes, Heart, Kidneys, Lungs, Liver, Skin, Stomach, Intestines

           These organs group together and form systems.

The 11 systems of the body are:

Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Circulatory, Lymphatic, Endocrine, Digestive, Excretory, Respiratory, INTEGUMENTARY, Reproductive

AND THIS BECOMES A MIRACLE........ THE HUMAN BODY. 

           You may have noticed that the word Integumentary was completely capitalized. That's because of all of the 11 systems of the body, the integumentary will be the one we will focus on. The word integumentary is the clinical term for the skin's system. Your body, from cells to systems, needs an adequate supply of food, oxygen and water. As long as your body has this, taking care of the skin is a breeze.

           Psalm 139:14

                                      "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

The Anatomy Of The Cell. Part 3 The Cell Membrane

Another Quick Recap

          If you have read the last two post, then you know that cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. Everything that is alive is made up of cells. And without Cells (the basic building blocks of all living things) you and I would not exist. We discussed the composition of the Cell (the basic building block of all living things). We began with the control center of the Cell (the basic building block of all living things), the Nucleus (the center of the cell).

          The Nucleus (the center of the cell) we learned, plays a very important part in Cell (the basic building blocks of all living things) reproduction. We learned that the Nucleus (the center of the cell) is where our DNA is located. Our DNA is what determines our eye color, our hair color, and our skin tone. Its what we call our genetic makeup. We also learned that the Cytoplasm (the watery fluid that surrounds the nucleus) contains nutrients that helps keep our Cells (the basic building blocks of all living things) healthy and aids in cell growth, reproduction, and self-repair. The Cytoplasm (the watery fluid that surrounds the nucleus)  also gives the cell it's shape.

          Once again let's visualize the raw egg. By now you know that the yellow yolk is the Nucleus (the center of the cell), and the clear, jelly like substance is the Cytoplasm (the watery fluid that surrounds the cell). 

The Cell Membrane

          Have you ever given much thought about why it is when you crack an egg into a pan to fry that it doesn't run all over the pan. Well there is a translucent film that encloses the egg and helps to keep the egg from losing it's shape. If you are  not careful when cracking an egg open, you may break the translucent film and the egg will run all over the pan. It's easier to see this film on a boiled egg. When you peel a boiled egg, you will sometimes see a thin white layer just underneath the egg shell. This is similar to the Cell Membrane.  The Cell Membrane encloses the Cell (the basic building block of all living things) and allows a substance to come in and go out of the Cell (the basic building block of all living things) The Cell Membrane (a translucent film that encloses the cell) protects the Cells (the basic building blocks of all living things) by acting as a barrier not only to keep substances from coming into the Cells (the basic building blocks of all living things) but the Cell Membrane (a translucent film that encloses the cell) also controls which substances may exit also.

              Remember, the Cytoplasm (the watery fluid that surrounds the nucleus) gives our Cells (the basic building blocks of all living things) their shape. But the Cell Membrane (a translucent film that encloses the cell) helps our Cells (the basic building blocks of all living things) keep their shape.

That's It In An Eggshell.

You've heard the old saying, " That's it in a nutshell. "Well here's the anatomy of a cell " In an eggshell." It is important for us to understand the cell, how it works, and what it needs to stay healthy. And when our cells are healthy, our body is healthy, and this adds up to healthy skin.

      

The Anatomy Of The Cell. Part 2 The Cytoplasm

          A Quick Recap

        If you read the last post then you now know that cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. Everything that is alive is made up of cells.And without Cells (the basic building blocks of all living things) you and I would not exist. We discussed the composition of a Cell (the basic building blocks of all living things) and started with the control center of the Cell (the basic building block of all living things), the Nucleus ( the center of the cell).

       The Nucleus (the center of the cell) we learned, plays a very important part in Cell (the basic building block of all living things) reproduction. We learned that the Nucleus (the center of the cell) is where our DNA is found.  Our DNA is what determines our eye color, our hair type and color, and our skin tone. Its what we call our genetic makeup.

The Cytoplasm

         Once again let's visualize a raw egg. Picture the yellow yolk as the Nucleus (the center of the cell). Now picture the clear jelly like substance around the yolk. Think of this as the cytoplasm. Cytoplasm is a watery fluid that surrounds the Nucleus (the center of the cell) and contains the nutrients our Cells(the basic building blocks of all living things) need to be healthy. Just as our bones and muscles give our body it's shape, the Cytoplasm ( the watery fluid that surrounds the nucleus and contains nutrients our cells need to be healthy), gives our cells their shape. If our cells (the basic building blocks of all living things) were flat, nutrients would not be able to move throughout them. The Cytoplasm (the watery fluid that surrounds the nucleus and contains nutrients our cells need in to be healthy) aids in cell growth, reproduction, and self-repair.

              That's pretty much all I'm going to share about the cytoplasm at this time. There's really not much more that you need to know. Later we will discuss which nutrients are needed for cell function and what they have to do with keeping the skin healthy.

 Cells-    .      The basic building block of all living things.

 Nucleus-     The center of the cell.

 Cytoplasm- The watery fluid that surrounds the nucleus and contains nutrients our cells need to be   
                     healthy.

       
            If you are wondering what all of this has to do with your skin, stay with me. It will all come together eventually.  When you understand the origin of the skin and how it works, you are able to take that information and use it when caring for your own .
     

The Anatomy Of The Cell. Part 1 The Nucleus

                    Got Cells?

      Look around you. Everything that is alive is made up of cells. Ok, did that tell you anything? Did you pay attention in school during anatomy and physiology class? What about biology? Maybe you are like me and you can't even remember taking those classes. Don't stop reading just yet. We are not going to get into the anatomy of the whole body, just the beginning......... The Anatomy of the cell.

      What is a cell?  Every living thing is made up of cells. Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. Without cells you would not exist. First of all, think of a raw egg. The clear  gel of a raw egg is similar to the colorless, jelly like substance that a cell (the basic  building block of all living things) is composed of. This substance is called protoplasm. Within the protoplasm( the jelly like substance which a cell is made of) are some very important nutrients, such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and water. When your cells (the basic building blocks of all living things) have a sufficient supply of these nutrients, they are able to perform all the fundamental functions of life. 
      There are 3 basic parts of a cell (the building block of all living things). They are.... the Nucleus, the Cytoplasm, and the Cell Membrane.

The Nucleus

      Let's start with the Nucleus. Remember the raw egg. Now visualize the yellow yolk, the center of the egg, as the nucleus. The Control Center.  Inside the nucleus ( the center of  the cell) there is a very important acid, deoxyribonucleic acid, better known as your DNA. 

      What color are your eyes? What color is your hair? Your DNA is a genetic code or clue for an Esthetician. This helps us to determine which treatments and products you may or may not be able to receive or use. At conception, your curly hair instead of straight hair, your green eyes instead of brown eyes, was transferred from your parents. In the nucleus ( the center of the cell ), this all was determined by your DNA. The nucleus (the center of the cell) plays an important part in reproduction. 
      Now that wasn't too bad was it? We have started constructing a cell. Tomorrow we will discuss the cytoplasm and it's functions. 

      Genetic Makeup

        Why is it that if we have  brown hair we want blond hair? If we have curly hair we want straight hair. If we have light skin we want darker skin. If we have dark skin we want lighter skin. I guess the old saying, " We always want what we don't have " is true.  We may color our hair, wear contacts to change the color of our eyes, and tan our skin. But our genetic makeup will never change. What about you? Are you happy with your genetic makeup? Or have you, like most of us, changed a few things about yourself?
       When I was younger, I worked so hard at trying to change myself. I had light skin, so I tanned it. I had freckles, so I wore makeup to cover them. And I didn't like my red hair. I now realize, my genetic makeup that was given to me by God, my Creator, is what looks best on me.  I love fair skin and actually wish mine was lighter. I like freckles, and I wear very little makeup. I also color my gray hair with red hair dye.

       I think maybe there was a reason that my favorite doll as a little girl was Raggedy Ann.