I once spoke at a “Healthy Living” event that I will never forget because most everything I saw around me was anything BUT healthy.

The exhibit hall was filled with displays of muscle-building (yet very processed) foods, drink powders (that hinted at being a substitute for a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables), fad diet shakes and pills, and most significantly…LOTS of people (mainly women) who have obviously had several Botox treatments.  

I’m not judging here because there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look youthful, but when a woman cannot move her facial muscles to make expressions or speak, something’s wrong in Denmark.

Let’s look at the dangers of Botox and explore some safe, natural ways to look younger than your years.

Botox—the fountain of youth at a deadly price

Botox has become the perceived fountain of youth to the people who have witnessed their frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines look less noticeable after injection.

And at sales of about $3 billion a year, that’s a LOT of crow’s feet flying the coop.

But Botox is a cruel joke, because the results are only temporary.  Meaning you need to keep getting injected to maintain the look.

However, the cost of additional injections is not the worst part.  Because eventually the fountain of youth can become a chamber of horrors with potential side effects like these (emphasis added):

• Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months.
• Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice, trouble saying words clearly, loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, and trouble swallowing.

I don’t know about you, but those lines on my forehead aren’t looking so bad anymore.

But that’s not all

A growing body of peer-reviewed, clinical research has shown that Botox injections may affect more than just your facial muscles and nervous system.

Studies are also showing it can also change how your brain responds to emotional situations, as well as certain aspects of cognition and the processing and understanding of language!

That’s not very far-fetched when you consider how incredibly toxic Botox (aka botulinum toxin) is.    

It would take only 75 billionths of a gram of botulinum toxin to kill a person weighing 165 lbs.  In addition, it has been estimated that only 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs.) would be enough to kill the entire human population.

Now, Botox supporters contend that the trace amount administered in an injection is far below what would be considered dangerous.

But we are all unique individuals, and people’s bodies respond differently to different substances.  Plus remember the skill level of the doctor with the needle can vary too.

Look younger without dangerous, possibly fatal injections!

The good news here is you can safely and naturally help keep your skin strong, healthy and more youthful looking!

Without possibly fatal injections or losing control of your facial muscles!

Here are eight ways you can help:

1) Get dietary antioxidants

Get sources of antioxidants in your diet including vitamins A, C and E, and minerals like selenium and zinc. 

Not only do these nutrients help prevent free-radical damage to your skin cells, but they're essential for wound repair and healing.

Having a healthy diet and eating a variety of different colored fruits and vegetables will help provide the skin-loving nutrients you need (more on that below).

And if you're noticing little lines and wrinkles on your face, Vitamin C cream can help. 

Vitamin C applied externally to the skin can help stimulate the growth of new collagen.  Applying vitamin C cream to your face can help plump up wrinkles, restore skin tone and fill in small lines, giving you a more youthful, radiant appearance.

I personally use Avalon Organics, but there are many great brands out there.

2)  Supplement with Turmeric

Turmeric has very powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and healing properties, and has shown to be helpful with a variety of skin issues, including psoriasis, eczema, dry skin and acne.

It also protects against sun damage and even has anti-aging effects!  Research has shown that turmeric can help moderate cellular stress levels and maintain the youthfulness of the skin!

Trust our very own Optimal Turmeric Blend to give your skin the soothing turmeric it needs.

Optimal Turmeric Blend provides 750 mg of pure, organic turmeric along with plus an additional 5 mg of BioPerine™ (black pepper fruit extract) to support maximum absorbency.

3) Drink water

Your entire body needs water, and that especially includes your skin. 

Water provides moisture and carries nutrients to your skin, and it sweeps away waste products, both of which help keep your skin smooth and clear.

Look to drink at least eight 8 oz. glasses of filtered water a day.

4) Quit smoking

Nothing will destroy your skin and age you faster than smoking. 

Smoking accelerates the normal aging process of your skin, causing wrinkles.  These changes can occur after only 10 years of smoking and are irreversible.

It causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin.  This impairs blood flow to the skin, robbing it of oxygen and nutrients.

Smoking also damages collagen and elastin - the fibers that give skin strength and elasticity.  As a result, your skin can sag and wrinkle prematurely.

5) Enjoy Italian food!

A study conducted at the Poona College of Pharmacy in Maharashtra, India reported that basil protects you from premature aging!

The flavonoids in basil inhibit free radicals from causing damage to your body--including premature aging of your skin.

So, go ahead and enjoy your favorite Italian dish!

6)  Get fiber

We all know fiber helps keep you "regular" but it also helps your skin.

Fiber binds with toxins in your bowel and eliminates them from your body.  If these toxins aren’t eliminated and re-enter your bloodstream, they can penetrate skin cells and cause irritation, rashes, itching and more.

7) Have a healthy diet & sound digestion

To have great skin (and health in all your other organs too!), you MUST eat real foods that give your body the nutrients and fiber it needs and help encourage efficient elimination of wastes.

The Great Taste No Pain system will show you all you need to know.

Great Taste No Pain explains the health harming effects of the Standard American Diet –you’ll be shocked to see all the ways your diet affects your body (including your skin).

It also shows you the foods to eat (and which ones to pair together) for better digestion and elimination of wastes and gives you a collection of delicious recipes to enjoy.

Now if you have gluten issues, Great Taste No Gluten is for you instead.

You’ll get the same food pairing guidance as Great Taste No Pain, plus a collection of scrumptious gluten free recipes and guides for staying gluten free.

8) Eat skin-loving foods

Here are 13 superstar skin-loving foods to incorporate into your diet:

• Avocado
• Tomatoes
• Bell peppers
• Walnuts
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Sweet potatoes
• Carrots
• Almonds
• Spinach
• Berries
• Apples
• Onions

 

Take care of your largest organ--your skin--and it will say thank you with strong protection and quite likely a more youthful appearance!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia