As the saying goes “you are what you eat.” Sure, we all know that if we eat too many fried, fattening foods we will gain weight and probably not feel too great. But did you know that by choosing certain foods, you can actually change your appearance from the inside out?  Foods high in phytochemicals, antioxidants and certain fats all contribute to glowing skin, shiny hair and strong teeth and nails. 

For Smooth Skin:
Vitamin C found in citrus fruits, broccoli, peppers and berries activate fibroblast cells, which makes collagen. The healthier your collagen, the firmer and smoother your skin looks. Keep in mind, studies have shown that women who are deficient in vitamin C tend to bruise much easier.  Eat dark orange, red or green fruit and veggies which are filled with beta-carotene, an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A, which is imperative for producing new and young-looking skin cells.

For Shiny Hair:
Fill your plates with lean proteins like turkey, chicken and egg whites. Hair is made up of protein called keratin, so it makes sense that getting enough of it is essential for healthy, beautiful locks.

In addition, the mineral biotin found in eggs, almonds, bananas and strawberries helps to produce keratin, which has also been shown to prevent graying and hair loss.

For Pearly Whites:
Not only does calcium create cavity-resistant tooth enamel, but it also helps maintains the enamel so teeth stay strong. Aim to consume three servings of low-fat dairy products daily, such as low-fat cheeses, yogurt and skim milk. For all you lactose intolerant people, don’t fret — broccoli and strawberries contain as much calcium as their dairy counterparts.

For Nice Nails:
Zinc, more commonly known as “the acne terminator” also helps keep nails strong and prevent white spots. Great sources of zinc are oysters, eggs and nuts. Load up on spinach, broccoli, lettuce and avocado — which are all filled with folic acid. Folic acid is necessary for nail growth and strength.

** Not only does water help to move toxins through and out of your body more quickly, it also keeps skin plump and dewy, and prevents hair and nails from becoming dry and brittle. For an additional bonus, drink Fiji Water which is the only water that contains natural minerals like silica. Silica improves the condition of hair and nails, the texture and resiliency of skin, and is needed to make strong healthy bones and to keep your blood vessels elastic.

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of www.Skinnyandthecity.com.    She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

Do you avoid two-piece bathing suits and cover up entirely when you go to the beach or pool, because of aggravated red stretch marks on your abdomen?  Do you avoid certain clothing styles because you don’t want people seeing the silvery stretch marks that appear on your upper arms or décolletage? It doesn’t have to be that way anymore!

Why do I have stretch marks?

Stretch marks are the result of a loss of the body’s normal structural components, including collagen and elastin.  There are five main causes of stretch marks:  pregnancy, growth spurt during adolescence, heavy weight lifting, extreme weight gain/weight loss and medications such as steroid creams or oral steroids. Unfortunately, genetics are also responsible for determining whether you’ll develop them.
  
How can I prevent stretch marks?

Prevent stretch marks during pregnancy by keeping your skin well moisturized at all times.  If you’re genetically susceptible to stretch marks, stay away from oral steroid medications as much as possible and don’t use potent topical steroid creams for conditions like psoriasis and eczema for prolonged periods.
  
What can be done about stretch marks?

While stretch marks have been difficult to treat in the past, we are fortunate to be in an age where there are finally some great treatments available.  There is no magic wand, but now we finally have options that are effective in diminishing the appearance of unwanted stretch marks.  Only topical vitamin A derivatives like Retin-A or Tazorac have shown to be effective in improving the appearance of stretch marks.  However, we do have some new and exciting laser-based technologies, such as the new generation fractional lasers, which after one-to-three treatment sessions can markedly improve the depressed skin, whiteness and redness associated with stretch marks.

Other laser technologies, including pulsed dyed lasers and advanced light source technologies, have also proven helpful in making stretch marks much less visible – giving back the confidence needed to wear that bikini on any upcoming vacations.

Dr. Neil Sadick is one of the most renowned dermatologists and researchers whose multiple discoveries have strongly influenced and transformed the future of dermatology. He is a Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and President of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sadick is author, or co-author, of more than 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has contributed more than 75 chapters of medical books. Read more at www.sadickdermatology.com.

Questions always arise as to what is the newest and greatest filler and whether it is possible with these new fillers to erase the lines of time.  Evolence is a new porcine or pig-based collagen that has been recently released by the Food and Drug Administration.  It has been researched initially in Europe and Israel and is now available throughout the world, including the United States. 

            It is derived from a pig or porcine source, which is felt to have very, very low allergic potential and is new and exciting because it has unique characteristics that separate it from other fillers available on the market.  Studies in the United States show that it has comparable longevity to the hyaluronic acid derivatives such as Restylane and Juvederm lasting six months.  However, studies in Europe have suggested that this filler may have longevity up to 12 months.   The reason this product lasts somewhat longer than the hyaluronic acid derivatives is felt to be secondary to its unique way of linking the strands of the collagen molecule together.  It has a very unique patented technology called Glycomatrix™, which is responsible for the unique structural characteristics and longevity noted with this new and unique filler.    It also has excellent flow characteristics, which again give it a very smooth and natural appearance and also gives the face excellent structural integrity.

            The question comes up as to who is the best candidate to use this unique filler.  Anyone with deep folds on the face, along the cheek folds or along the marionette lines or for fine lines on the upper or lower lip or for localized volume replacement on the face, would be appropriate candidates for using this new and unique filler product.

            Its safety has been shown to be remarkable in multiple studies and requires no skin testing.  A second generation filler called Evolence Breeze is now under investigation, which can be used for shaping and molding the lip naturally.  We have yet another exciting new filler with unique characteristics.  Evolence is truly the rebirth of the collagen molecule.

Dr. Neil Sadick is one of the most renowned dermatologists and researchers whose multiple discoveries have strongly influenced and transformed the future of dermatology. He is a Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and President of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sadick is author, or co-author, of more than 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has contributed more than 75 chapters of medical books. Read more at www.sadickdermatology.com

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