Health and Fitness Oasis

Stretch marks are fine scars on your body that start out as pink, reddish brown, brown, or very dark brown or purple streaks. Stretch marks are not harmful to your health — they will gradually begin to fade over the years becoming a pale white shade, lighter than the surrounding skin.

When young people are going through hormonal fluctuations during puberty the skin is pulled by the rapid growth or stretching. These periods of growth tend to damage the elastic fibers inside the skin, deep beneath the skin’s surface. Girls will notice these marks on their hips, breasts, thighs and abdomen. And while they’re more common in girls, guys can get stretch marks, too.

Overstretching reduces the production of collagen in our skin,normally very elasic and resilient. A natural protein, collagen acts like a glue and is the body’s major support structure. Without it we would literally fall apart. Our skin is our body’s largest organ and it produces collagen every day. This essential protein gives the skin 90% of its volume.
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A variety of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals keep you feeling your best and provides optimal body function.   Vitamin E is one vitamin that’s good for your overall health and is especially mentioned in relation to the skin.

 This vitamin is an antioxidant, which are substances in the body that fight the effects of free radicals.   Free radicals are produced from the environment through pollution, smoking, the foods we eat, chemicals we ingest and the simple process of aging.  Antioxidants neutralize these free radicals before they can do damage.    Free radicals can wreak havoc on your body, playing a role in various conditions like heart disease and cancer.
 
You can get vitamin E in lotions and cream for direct contact with the skin.  Supplements give you concentrated vitamin E to benefit the entire body.  Vitamin E is also found in foods like nuts, seeds, wheat germ and vegetable oils.  The best form of vitamin E to get is alpha-tocopherol in its alcohol form and not as acetate. The best source for vitamin E is food. Read the rest of this entry »