I was wondering if it was my imagination at first, but it seems to me that more and more people (particularly women) are taking youthful appearance advice from the likes of Madonna, Cher or Dolly Parton.

As in, Botox injections!

While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to look youthful, when someone gets to the point where their upper lip won’t move when they smile or speak, or their mouth is more trout-like than human, it’s time to look for a better way.

And the thing is, Botox not only can alter your appearance in a not-so-good way, but it can be downright dangerous or deadly!

Here’s what I mean:

Botox—taking major risks to look younger

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

And at sales of about $3.25 billion a year, that’s a LOT of crow’s feet flying the coop.

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

And 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:

• Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. 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 smile lines near my eyes aren’t looking so bad anymore.

But wait! There’s more!

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 naturally!

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 a lot. 

Vitamin C applied externally to the skin can help stimulate the growth of new collagen. 

In addition, 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 enough 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 and more effectively 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 some basil

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, whip up a batch of pesto, or make a delicious caprese salad with summer tomatoes and fresh basil!

6) Have a healthy, high fiber diet

To have great skin (and health in all your other organs too for that matter!), you MUST eat real foods that give your body the nutrients it needs.

Plus fiber is crucial here too. 

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.

So concentrate on fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry and fish, eggs and healthy fats (like real butter, olive oil, coconut oil and avocado).

And at the same time, avoid processed and fast foods, sugar, soda and artificial sweeteners.

7) Incorporate skin-loving foods into your diet

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

8) Watch your sun exposure

There’s nothing wrong with getting sun exposure, but if you are going to be in the sun for longer than 20-30 minutes, it’s wise to protect your skin.  Options include wearing light clothing, sitting under an umbrella, or wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

As far as sunscreens go, be sure to choose “broad protection” (UVA and UVB) mineral-based varieties that do not contain harmful, toxic ingredients.  I use Badger, but there are many great brands out there. 

Pamper your skin the safe, natural way and I bet you’ll see the difference soon!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia