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Author:
Michael Russell

Vitamins and proteins are not the only things people can use in their skin care regimen. All of the nutrients can play an important part as well. Nutrients are the chemical components of food that supply the body with materials that can be transformed into energy including heat and activity; that maintain, repair and build body tissue; and that regulate all body processes. Nutrients are grouped into five classes: vitamins, proteins, (both of which have been discussed in previous articles), minerals carbohydrates, fiber, water and fats. There are some less known nutrients that can play an important part in helping with good skin care. However, it is important to know the two threats that we need to protect the skin against.

Cigarette smoke and the sun are the two biggest threats to the skin. They can cause free-radical damage (damage created when cells oxides) to the skin. People who smoke can wrinkle years faster that people who don't smoke. Smokers can have premature wrinkled skin especially around the mouth. Non-smokers should cut down on their exposure to smoke as much as they can. Smokers should beef up on their intake of Vitamin C to help slow down the free-radical damage to their skin.

The sun has ultraviolet rays that can erode the elastic tissues in the skin causing premature wrinkles. Regular exposure to the ultraviolet energy of the sun can promote free radical in the fats of the skin cell membranes. Years of unprotected sun exposure can cause some skin cancers. Wearing protective sunscreen can help the outside of the skin. A good, healthy diet can help the skin from the inside and reduce the free-radical damage.

The less known nutrients that can help with good skin care are Silicon, Grape Seed Extract, Royal Jelly, L-Cysteine and Gamma-Linolenic Acid. Silicon produces a chemical reaction in the body that hooks collagen and elastin together tightly, which gives them their strength and resilience. Silicon can be found in root vegetables, unrefined cereal products, seafood, chicken skin and whole grains. The daily intake of about 20 mg to 45 mg can be easily gotten from eating the above foods without any extra supplementation.

Grape Seed Extract has the ability to strengthen, cling and protect cellular proteins including the ones found in the skin. It also increases skin collagen resistance to enzyme degradation. Grape Seed Extract is a free radical fighter and can be found in foods like dark grape juice and wine. The active component found in Grape Seed Extract can also be found in foods like cranberries, citrus peels and peanuts. Suggested daily dose is about 150 mg broken down into 3 doses of 50 mg each.

This is only some of the lesser known nutrients. More will be discussed about Royal Jelly, L-Cysteine and Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA), their sources from different foods and their recommended daily doses in the next article.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Skin Care.

| Article Keywords: Nutrient Basics

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Nutrient Basics... Vitamin B1 and Its Importance to Mental Health Vitamin B1 also called as thiamine is one of the eight vitamins that make up the powerful group called as the Vitamin B complex. Like all of the B vitamins this nutrient plays a great role in the good health of the body as well as a sound mental health. Proper care and caution should always be considered when it comes to taking in these nutrients especially when it comes to dosages as some may tend to overdose which is never really a good thing and is actually quite as bad as not having any at all. Vitamin B1 serves many purposes in the body. It is an essential part of converting carbohydrates to energy and necessary to the proper functioning of the nervous system, the heart and the musculature system of the body. Thiamine is very important to the brain particularly in terms of emotional health and well being as well as being useful for focus and concentration. There are a variety of physical conditions and diseases associated with deficiencies in Vitamin B1. Symptoms include pain, numbness and tingling in the extremities, muscle weakness and a lack of physical coordination particularly in the larger muscle masses that make up the leg muscles. A deficiency in thiamine can cause enlargement of the heart which can itself lead to congestive heart failure and lung congestion. A severe deficiency in Vitamin B1 can lead to nerve damage, brain damage and even death. Mental symptoms associated with a serious lack of Vitamin B include fatigue, psychosis and confusion. These are a few serious diseases specifically associated with a deficiency of Vitamin B1 including the notorious beriberi disease. There are also two specific types of brain damage associated with severely low levels of Vitamin B1. One is the Korsakoff syndrome which results in confusion and short term...