Vitamin Information Center

Herbs are well known for their skin nurturing properties. They can bring back the lost sheen without side effect, if used as prescribed. This article explains briefly the general properties of skin and some herbs found around the household that can be used to enhance the radiance of your skin.

Skin is the largest organ of our body and has a surface area of approximately 2 sq m. It protects the body from environmental pollution and bears the brunt of UV radiation as well. It is also an organ of elimination and eliminates waste matter in the form of sweat.

A healthy body has a healthy skin. Some digestive disorders like constipation and sluggish bowel can lead to skin disorders. If your gut has a predominance of bad bacteria over the good ones, then it can lead to skin conditions like acne, rosacea, psoriasis etc. So these toxins in the body have to be eliminated in the first place. A simple way to eliminate toxins is by drinking adequate amount of water at intervals. Increasing the fiber content in diet also helps improve the digestive capabilities. In case of chronic adverse skin conditions a colon cleansing is recommended.

Ayurvedic Skin Care

Ayurveda system recommends a number of herbal preparations that can help anyone to get a radiant skin free of blemishes. The system recommends a way of life which when adopted can get you not only a beautiful skin but also a healthy body, mind and spirit. This is accomplished with no side effects. Some herbal preparations for beautiful skin are given below.

Cynodon Dactylon also known as Bermuda grass has a positive action on skin. A paste made of a handful of this grass and a finger of turmeric should be smeared on the body in a thin layer and left for an hour or so. Then wash it off with water. This is effective in clearing most of the skin diseases, blemishes, boils, itching etc.

Cassia auriculata (Tanner’s Cassia) flowers can give you a radiant and glowing skin. A decoction of the fresh flowers or the fresh flowers themselves when taken regularly cures body odour, body heath, salt deposits on skin etc apart from making your skin stunningly radiant.

ORGANIC MILK has been found to be a valuable dietary source of vitamins and antioxidants, almost next in effectiveness to fruits and vegetables.

Higher vitamins and nutrients in organic milk

A recent research conducted by the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences and the University of Newcastle has revealed that organic milk is 50 per cent higher in the alpha tocopherol compound of Vitamin E, 75 percent higher in beta carotene, which is used by our bodies to convert to vitamin A, and has almost three times higher antioxidants (lutein and zeaxanthine) than non organic cow milk.

The report also stated that organic milk contains higher levels of omega three essential fatty acids. This is mainly because organic cows are not only pastured grazed, but are also fed with more quantity of red clover than conventional cows. Red clover contains large amount of omega three which ultimately reaches us through the organic milk.

Another research from the University of Liverpool showed that organic milk contains 68 per cent more omega three essential fatty acids. Omega three deficiencies has been the major cause of various health problems such as heart disease, inflammations (in skin diseases such as eczema), cancer, arthritis, etc.

Powerful antioxidants in organic milk

Both beta-carotene and Alpha tocopherol, the most active of vitamin E compounds, function as powerful antioxidants. While the former helps reduce the risk of developing cancer, the other counters the harm caused by free radicals, which cause ageing. Beta-carotene is useful for strong eyesight, greater resistance to infections, good skin, bone growth, tooth development, reproduction and gene expression. Major studies have found that these nutrients don’t have much value, if taken as supplements, instead of directly from food items.

Lutein and zeaxanthine antioxidants, which are vitamins in the vitamin A category, help prevent cataracts, macular degeneration (deteriorating eye sight as we age) and atherosclerosis (when the blood vessels block up). Women get 17.5 per cent of the required intake of vitamin E and men 14 percent by drinking a pint of organic milk a day. A pint of milk also provides the same quantity of beta-carotene as a portion of some vegetables such as Brussels sprouts.

Benefits from meeting organic requirements

Grass or grain, feed for organic farm cows has to be grown without pesticides. Cows reared in organic farms and fed on a rich diet of forage, fresh grass and clover, develop to become healthier. It is mandatory for United State Development Agriculture (USDA) organic labeled milk to come from cows that has not been treated with bovine growth hormone (BGH) to increase milk production.

Another vital requirement for organic cows is that they must have access to pastures. Studies have found that organic milk has more Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA). CLA promotes metabolic rate, immunity to diseases and muscle growth, and at the same time, brings down abdominal fat, cholesterol, and allergic reactions. Cows that are grazed on pastures have been found to produce 500 per cent more CLA in its milk than cows that are fed fodder. There has been increased in the interest of organic milk after recent research on animals showed that CLA is beneficial in cancer treatment.

Non-organic cows

The research found no additional nutritional benefits in non-organic cows. Such cows are fed on a cheaper diet, high in energy rich concentrates to increase milk yields. Non-organic farmers also freely use GM cattle feed, urea and solvent extracted feeds and waste from food factories.