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.