Skin provides thick defense vs. toxins
Human beings are thinskinned — it varies from about 0.0197 inches thick on your eyelids to about 0.157 inches on the (uncalloused) heels of your feet. But that thin covering mounts a powerful defense against disease, environmental toxins, and aging. Totaling around 22 square feet, it contains 20 trillion immune cells and 1,000 types of friendly bacteria (you have a skin biome, just like you have a gut biome). A new study reveals that your skin also contains hemoglobin, the protein in your red blood cells that binds oxygen. In your skin, it appears to function as an antioxidant that helps control inflammation and may protect against the sun’s damaging rays and other external hazards.
With such protective powers, how does skin get damaged and wrinkly? And what happens inside your body when your skin loses some of its protective powers?
Overexposure to the sun and a diet loaded with inflammatory foods weaken it, so wrinkles and discoloration appear. In addition, such skin damage allows the release of harmful chemicals into your bloodstream. Recent research indicates it’s associated with Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
To protect your skin: Wear a micronized zinc-based 35 SPF sunscreen yearround; wash your face with ph-neutral cleansers to protect your skin’s natural oils; enjoy an anti-inflammatory diet of fruits, vegetables and healthy fats; and avoid added sugars and syrups.
B(-12) all you can be
The B-12 vitamin is known for its role in maintaining nerve function, red blood cell production, and helping with DNA synthesis. Now it appears it’s an essential fighter in the battle against aging.
A study in Nature Metabolism outlines the ability of B12 to boost cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration and repair in lab mice. Cellular reprogramming allows for epigenetic changes to DNA to be erased, returning the genes to their younger (and hopefully healthier) selves. And tissue regeneration and repair helps battle erosion done by less-than-ideal lifestyle choices.
You can get a good supply of B12 from eating fish, poultry (skinless), fortified yeast and cereals, enriched soy milk and low or no-fat dairy.
As for B12 supplements? A deficiency can lead to fatigue, memory problems, depression and even dementia, according to Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.