by Skincare-news.com team
Looking for a jump-start to your exercise routine? Well look no further! In addition to improved health, added energy and reduced stress, a regular exercise routine is the invisible skincare product that everyone should be using! So lace up and read on to learn how exercise benefits every part of your body, including your skin.
So much goes into the care and feeding of great skin, but in our haste to get the newest cream, or check out the latest wrinkle serum, we forget some of the whole-body skincare techniques we can call on to keep our skin clear, glowing and healthy. And while the health benefits of exercise is not new information, the beneficial impact exercise has on skin is a side-effect that often gets overlooked.
According to Billy Martinez, PT, FAAOMPT, OCS, CSCS, co-owner of Alves & Martinez Physical Therapy & Athletic Performance in Sacramento, CA, exercise can fuel a variety of positive changes in the body including: improved stamina, muscle strength, and improve bone density. In addition, regular exercise can increase the amount of oxygen available to the body and improve circulation. But how does this translate into better skin?
Skin is the body’s largest organ. On average, the skin can weigh anywhere from seven to nine pounds and the health of skin is synergistically intertwined with the health of almost all other systems in the body. Are you a new mom, and suffering from a lack of sleep? Chances are your skin looks as tired as you feel. Did happy hour turn into happy evening? The next day, your skin probably looks sallow, dehydrated and dull. Skin is an external reflection of our internal health and what better way to ensure whole-body health, including the skin, than through a conscientious exercise regimen?
One of the most important muscles to strengthen with exercise is the heart. Responsible for sending oxygenated blood to the organs, and returning deoxygenated blood back to the lungs, a healthy heart is also key to healthy skin. As blood travels from the heart throughout the body, it takes with it important proteins and antibodies needed for the healthy functioning of all bodily systems, including the skin. It’s no accident that runners often have a clear, glowing complexion; these folks are detoxing their bodies and skin on a daily basis, improving heart strength and boosting circulation, as well as the oxygen content of the cells. New research has even suggested that regular exercise may spur the production of new blood vessels in the heart, contributing not only to skin health, but to improved cardiovascular health, as well. To complement your runner’s high, pamper your skin with Peter Thomas Roth Oxygen Detoxifying Masque. This oxygen-rich mask will brighten and clarify the skin with Vitamins E & C, chamomile, lemon and salicylic acid. Not much of a runner? Well get outside anyway and walk; any brisk activity which raises your resting heart rate and gets the heart pumping is beneficial so don’t be stymied if running isn’t your game.
The cardiovascular system is a primary contributor to healthy skin and is directly strengthened by aerobic activity such as running, bike riding, swimming or dance. In particular the lungs, responsible for delivering oxygen and removing harmful carbon dioxide from the body, benefit from aerobic activity. With regular exercise, you flood the cells with oxygen, improving stamina and lung function, as well as potentially improve the tone, clarity, texture and color of skin. To assist the cardiovascular system, consider a supplement that bumps up the water content of cells: Murad Wet Suit Cell Hydrating Dietary Supplements will hydrate cells from the inside-out, supporting collagen production and strengthening cell walls.
Although bones may not seem to affect the health and wellness of skin-they do. Bones support all of the soft tissues in the body, and give us all unique characteristics, such as arched cheeks or long legs. Bones also benefit greatly from regular exercise, in particular, weight-bearing exercises such as dancing, step-aerobics and weight-lifting. The action of applying weight to the bones, such as when walking, causes the body to deposit more minerals in the bones, which can make them dense, i.e. stronger. To help your bones, and your skin, take regular walks, jog or run, enroll in a dance class and, consider adding a multi-vitamin and calcium supplement to your diet. Also, consume foods rich in calcium such as milk and cheese, leafy green vegetables, almonds, tofu and yogurt. Bone health, particularly in women, is a serious health consideration; don’t wait until osteoporosis has set in-look after bone health now. Added calcium will also benefit your teeth and gums!
With all of the attention paid to and money spent on skincare, it seems wise to try and do all we can to maintain this attention with our exercise routine. Make time for a regular workout to benefit not only your body, but to boost the results of your skincare as well.