Macrobiotically Beautiful Skin
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Beautiful Skin Macrobiotically by Susan Marque |
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I found myself blushing when Kasia (the Spa director at the Ojai Spa) marveled about my skin. Even now after being mostly clear and free of skin problems for years, my identity hasn't quite caught up yet with reality. I suffered greatly for more than 20 years with the worst case of eczema any doctor had ever seen. The many years of cortisone has thinned my skin to such a pale white luminescence, I often wonder if that is what other women envy. I am pleased that after eliminating dairy foods, all cane sugar and eating wonderful whole grains, veggies, sea veggies, beans, and seeds, I have clear, smooth, soft skin. I'm even aging slower than most of my peers and one friend I have not seen in several years claims I look younger now than when I did ten years ago. I'm careful about my food, yet I'm one of the most low maintance people I know. Eating well can save a person a lot of time and money on looking good. I recently read that probiotics help to keep skin clear. Well why not? If your intestines are in order then things won't be trying to be discharged through other channels. Many skin conditions like blemishes can be accumulations being pushed out via skin, rather than other, more appropriate body eliminations. In Chinese medicine, the vitality of the skin is related to the lungs, or metal element. In many cases people with eczema also suffer from asthma. For myself, when I used to suffer greatly with eczema, I would also often get upper respiratory infections. Since eating a diet rich in whole foods, I have not only created beautiful clear skin, I have not had a single infection that used to be a frequent part of my life. The kidneys and liver are two major elimination organs. They contribute a lot to clear beautiful skin. I often wonder about supplements and their effect on these organs. Occasionally I will have a client who has a reoccurring skin problem that clears up quite rapidly when I ask the client to cut down on the amount of supplements they are taking. Since often these supplements are for "insurance", the person experiences more energy and health without them. More does not always mean better. In fact, another great tip for skin - Simplify! Eating less quantity is great for skin. Carol Shaw, owner of Lorac cosmetics has gotten me to simplify my skin care. She says, "For great skin, exfoliate and moisturize daily." For exfoliation of the body, that is one place sugar can come in handy to use as a scrub. Salt too makes an excellent body scrub. Salt baths are not just relaxing, they help to eliminate toxins. A daily practice of body scrub is good for your skin and your spirits. Michio Kushi got me to do body scrub by telling me that if I did it in the morning I would have a great day and if I did it in the evening, I would have a great sleep. I believed him, so it worked. The way I was taught is to take a wash cloth and wet it with very hot but not burning water under the faucet and scrub my body in a circular motion starting with each arm and rubbing down and pulling on each finger and then up the inside of the arm and over. Continuing on all parts of the body keeping the washcloth very hot by continuing to rinse under the water. I still use milk occasionally, but only topically. Added to a bath, milk can make the skin so soft and smooth. It's nice with a bit of lavender to relax in. Dietarily, eating predominately whole foods is going to have a wonderful impact on looking younger and having clear, soft, smooth skin. There do seem to be some standouts though, that give us an extra boost. Hato Mugi barley is one. This Japanese pearled grass is easier to digest than many other whole grains. Barley has been traditionally eaten to dissolve excess protein and fat, and in Ayurvedic medicine it is used as a blood purifier. Dandelion, both greens and root are considerably cooling and detoxifying. Great for skin as well as a whole host of other things since this bitter herb is good for spleen-pancreas, stomach, kidneys and liver. I think that one of the most wonderful additions to our diet we can make to look and feel our best, just has to be seaweeds. There are volumes written touting their benefits and adding them into a healthy diet is said to be anti-aging. Most people have stronger hair and nails at the very minimum. And what of oil? Flax oil used in salad dressing or added to grain after cooking not only tastes great, it's good for our skin too. Each person must find how well they metabolize oil and use the right amount of good quality oils like extra virgin olive oil, or sesame oil in their cooking for them. The best oils, even in fish like salmon, can cause dry skin, blemishes, eczema, etc. when eaten in too large a quantity for that particular person. A person who is aging might be said to look like a prune. Most whole foods have a good deal of water content to them. Our bodies being over 60% water, hydration is very important to looking good. Penta water has done research to find the right amount that doesn't tax the kidneys and keeps a person feeling their best. They say to drink half your body weight in ounces. A person who weights 120lbs. would then drink 60oz of water in addition to their daily diet. (That equals about 3 1/2 regular bottles of Penta water.) You might need a bit more depending on your activity level. Again, finding the right amount of water for you is a little bit of trial and error. Begin noticing for yourself how your refinements of diet and lifestyle effect what people see in you. I'm sure you will start hearing those glowing skin compliments very soon! East meets South rice I'm told in Columbia it is common to have green onions, garlic and olive oil in the rice. 1/2 Cup Hato Mugi Barley Bring the water to a boil. Susan Marque is a dynamic food coach teaching people all over the world to live sumptuous, vibrant lives. With phone coaching, seminars and classes she has been sharing her whole foods approach to health since 1997. Helping people to achieve their goals through the choices they make in diet and mind. Her distinctions have helped people with easy weight loss that stays off, creating more vitality and energy, clearing ailments, looking younger and feeling better on every level. www.SusanMarque.com
[From the Macrobiotic Guide at http://macrobiotics.co.uk/articles/beautifulskin.htm] |
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