Dr. Tannaz Mokhtari: Naturopathic Blog

Every winter I get more and more concerns about skin dryness.  February and March seem to be the worse months. Our skin is the largest organ in our body.  It has a protective function and helps in absorption of some nutrients such as vitamin D and elimination of some toxins through the sweat.

Most dry skin is caused by environmental exposures, such as:

·         Weather. In general, your skin is driest in winter, when temperatures and humidity levels plummet. Winter conditions also tend to make many existing skin conditions worse.

·         Central heating and air conditioning. Central air and heating, wood-burning stoves, space heaters and fireplaces all reduce humidity and dry your skin.

·         Hot baths and showers. Frequent showering or bathing, especially if you like the water hot and your baths long, breaks down the lipid barriers in your skin. So does frequent swimming, particularly in heavily chlorinated pools.

·         Harsh soaps and detergents. Many popular soaps and detergents strip lipids and water from your skin. Deodorant and antibacterial soaps are usually the most damaging, as are many shampoos, which dry out your scalp.

Other factors, including certain diseases, can significantly alter the function and appearance of your skin. These include:

·         Psoriasis. This skin condition is marked by a rapid buildup of rough, dry, dead skin cells that form thick scales.

·         Thyroid disorders. Hypothyroidism, a condition that occurs when your thyroid produces too little thyroid hormones, reduces the activity of your sweat and oil glands, leading to rough, dry skin.

·         Alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and caffeine can visibly dry your skin. Prescription drugs such as diuretics, antihistamines and isotretinoin (Accutane) also have a drying effect.

·         Dehydration. Severe diarrhea and vomiting, a high fever, profuse sweating during exercise or simply not drinking enough liquids can cause your body to lose more fluid than you take in. One of the first signs of dehydration is skin that has lost its elasticity.

Here is some beneficial self care advice for keeping your skin healthy, vital and young:

·         Keep yourself hydrated. Drink lots of water even if you don’t feel thirsty.

·         Avoid chlorinated pools. Swim in facilities that use salt instead of chlorine.

·         Avoid extremes of temperature.  Keep your hands and face covered during the winter to prevent damage to your skin.

·         Avoid harsh soaps and cleaning agents. Use olive oil soap, Emu oil soap or other soaps and shampoos with natural ingredients.

·         Eat fish or pure and certified sources of fish oil and flaxseed oil. These sources of omega3 fatty acids are very beneficial to your skin.

·         Moisturize you skin using cocoa butter, Shea butter, Emu oil, olive oil or any combination of nut oils. Try to use these oils in their purest form and apply to your skin while the skin is still moist. I.e. after bath/shower or washing your hands.

·         Use a humidifier. Hot, dry indoor air can parch sensitive skin and worsen itching and flaking. A portable home humidifier or one attached to your furnace adds moisture to the air inside your home. Portable humidifiers come in many varieties. Choose one that meets your budget and any special needs. And be sure to keep your humidifier clean to ward off bacteria and fungi.

·         Homeopathy can be very beneficial in treating skin ailments; talk to your Naturopathic Doctor if you find your skin is persistently dry and getting worse.

As a society we are suffering more from chronic illnesses and degeneration than ever before! So why is it that despite our technologically advanced medical system and access to medications, we are seeing more cases of cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and arthritis just to name a few?

My thoughts are it is our lifestyle and dietary habits. This is the single most important criteria which we as individuals have complete control over and tend to undermine it! There is an overlay of various nutritional fads that have risen and fallen over the past few decades.  Most recently, the latest diet trend has been an interest in high-protein foods and a decrease in fresh fruits and vegetables.

The result is that high protein diets increase the net dietary acid load and acidify the urine pH. Conversely, diets high in fruits and vegetables are associated with a greater degree of alkalinity.  Over time, ingestion of a high dietary acid load can progress to a chronic low-grade level of metabolic acidosis.  A chronic acidic load can cause a number of health conditions such as osteoporosis and muscle wasting. 

Another aspect of the acid-alkaline balance is its role in detoxification, by either the acute removal of a drug or poison due to overdose or a nutritional protocol to support metabolic detoxification and decrease dietary toxins.  One approach to help maximize the detoxification capability of the body is to implement elimination diet high in whole fruits and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage etc.) which contain myriad phytochemicals such as indole-3-carbinol and other essential elements for facilitating toxin biotransformation.  Additionally, these vegetables can favorably alkalize the urine pH. 

In addition to dietary changes, nutritional supplementation for a short-term course of 4-6 weeks with select botanicals can facilitate metabolic detoxification.  Also potassium citrate can be used effectively to alkalize urine and in turn affect our internal environment.

Managing stress properly and getting a good night rest in addition to a proper diet and exercise routine will help us achieve total wellness. Nurturing our soul, mind and body is a lifetime commitment and unbelievable rewarding!

As we get closer to spring I will devote more blogs to different approaches for cleansing and detoxification, so be sure to visit us regularly. Also if you are interested in more detailed information regarding this topic please visit my newsletter section at http://www.your-nd.com/html/news.htm.

Welcome to February! How is your new year’s resolution coming along?  Mine is progressing well; I am writing blogs frequently and loving it too!  What are your plans for this month? Are you celebrating Valentine’s Day or is it one those stressful days, you wish you could forget?

In my experience Valentine’s Day is mostly focused on romance and love for others, and as it becomes more commercialized it puts more stress on us as individuals. And guess what February being the heart health month we should be reducing the risk factors for heart disease!  Did you know stress ranks as the number one lifestyle risk factor for cardiovascular disease?

In order to love another, we should love ourselves first and know what makes us happy. With that knowledge we identify our boundaries therefore we know stepping out of those boundaries would make us uncomfortable and create stress. So let’s celebrate us on Valentine’s Day by being kind to ourselves and allowing this self-love to radiate towards others as a positive energy.

Here are my ten most important valentine’s gifts:

·         When you see yourself in the mirror smile and give yourself a complement i.e.  I like my…..

·         Re-evaluate your most stressful activity of the day and try to modify it

·         Do something creative you have been planning for a while

·         Stop a bad habit i.e. don’t smoke today, or don’t drink coffee, drink more water, etc.

·         Smile at every one you meet

·         Call or e-mail your loved ones and wish them a happy day

·         Plan a heart healthy meal for you and those you want to celebrate your love with

·         Treat yourself to some dark chocolate (75% cocoa or more)

·         Make a donation to your favourite charity

·         Do something special for your spouse, child, friend or even a stranger

Choose Valentine’s Day to make a difference in your life and the life of others. This way spread the happiness and positive energy, keep your mind and body healthy and your heart warm and radiant.