Chelated Zinc

Healthy Skin comes from within! If you are like me, you've probably spent hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars on skin care products. We try to capture that picturesque, dewy and youthful complexion! With so many different products on the market, different types of procedures ranging from facials, chemical peels, skin resurfacing and all the way to injections, the beauty industry have become popular for us women; this goes for men too. We too, try and achieve the ultimate complexion. However, it wasn’t until I became a Nutritionist did I realize that the thousands of dollars that I had spent on products and procedures were not just the only solution to clearing up my skin conditions. This is where most of these skins conditions start from within our body! WHY SHOULD WE TAKE CARE OF OUR SKIN? Our skin is our bodies largest organ measuring around 22 square feet and over 6 lbs! It is our protective casing, our insulating shield, packed with a large number of sensors filled with nerves that communicate with our brain! Our skin is also the biggest showcase for things going wrong within our body – think hives as an example. Our skin plays a vital role on the outside of our organization as well as the for the inside of our body leading us to the case that healthy skin comes for a healthy inside! Just like our kidneys and liver work to detoxify toxins, bacteria and other harmful substances out of the body, our skin also does! Generally, our skin is one of the top 3 detoxifying organs in the body, and anyone who has ever completed a cleanses can attest to having some “ skin break out” during or post-cleanse. Ever wonder why this happens? Well, it is our skin detoxifying those built up toxins inside and passing through our skin. So how does this play in daily life when we find ourselves suffering from the following skin conditions below? Eczema Psoriasis Acne Hives Skin rashes ( chicken-like bumps ) Premature ageing Cellulite WHERE DOES IT START? Our digestive tract – that is where it starts! When we think about it, our digestive tract is responsible for breaking down all the nutrients from our food, absorbing all those phytonutrients, minerals and vitamins. Our digestive tract is the common link to inflammation in our body, the creation of certain hormones, metabolising foods, housing both harmful and good bacteria and excreting wastes from our collection. A healthy digestive tract is essential for so many important health factors, our skin health included. When we look at the link between the skin as mentioned earlier conditions they all have been shown to correlate “ leaky gut“, an imbalance in intestinal flora, lack of protein absorption, inflammation, celiacs disease and other autoimmune disorders. HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR DIGESTIVE TRACT: Being aware of our digestive health is an excellent starting point for optimal skin health, and there are a few different ways we can support our digestive tract for healthy skin. 1) GETTING ON A HEALTHY DIET Eating a diet rich in fibre, fruits, vegetables, nuts & seeds, salmon and avoiding those foods high in refined sugar, processed, gluten-containing and being mindful of alcohol consumption. 2) WATER! WATER! WATER! Water is so essential for many functions in our body; skin and digestive health included. Water helps flush those toxins out of the body, increases motility of our bowels, as well as retains moisture in our skin making it dewy and youthful looking. 3) CONSUMING PROBIOTICS Probiotics are an essential component and game changer in my skin health! They are healthy bacteria that help fight off the harmful bacteria in our digestive tract; they assist in our digestion by keeping us regular, helping our body absorb all the nutrients from our food as well as reduces inflammatory conditions from food sensitivities. Often Dr’s have been known to prescribed “ Anti-Biotics” for acne – Think of Probiotics as “ natures anti-biotics “ as they do the same job without destroying our healthy gut flora! 4) TAKING OMEGA-3 FISH OILS Rich in Omega 3 fatty acids known for the influential role in our heart, brain and skin health! Omega 3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation in our body, skin included. They are essential for the appearance of our skin as well as well as a preventive in early ageing. 5) SUPPLEMENTING WITH COLLAGEN / BONE BROTH Collagen is the most abundant form of protein in our body and makes up around 90 % of our body! We have over 28 different types of collagen in our body, and it is Type 1 collagen that we find in our skin! Collagen is what holds the elasticity and structure to our skin as wells help keep cellulite away. Not only are Collagen and collagen-rich bone broth great for skin conditions, but both of these staples in my diet are also excellent for digestive health !. Loaded with essential amino acids such as Glycine, Proline and Lysine – these amino acids help heal gastrointestinal disorders, increased our absorption, reduce inflammation in our body and assist with the health of our skin from the inside out. CONCLUSION: Following a good skin regime, both nutritionally, as well as the products that we use topically, will all lead to a more healthy looking complexion. These are a few of my favourite and daily necessities for my skin health. For more information in regards to DIY skin care products, routines and more information about my favourite tips above make sure to check out www.organika.com for great recipes, blogs and information. -RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS- Active Acidophilus Super Active Multi-Dophilus Probiotic that forms part of a natural, healthy gut flora. A comprehensive blend of probiotics that promote healthy microbial balance and supports the function of the digestive tract. Enhanced Collagen Bone Broth Chicken Promotes healthier hair, skin, and nails. Supports bone, joint, and gut health. Pure Bone Broth in a convenient to use nutrient-packed powder. – Chelan Wilkins, RHN – National Education Trainer

Try these immune booster supplements this cold and flu season If cold and flu season is usually rough for you, you might want to consider some immune booster supplements to get you through. They can help to strengthen your immune system, and fight the symptoms that creep up on you unexpectedly like that mysterious sore throat that appeared overnight. Here are our top five supplement picks for immunity: 1. Echinacea It’s a pretty purple flower with some mega-powerful immune boosting power. Echinacea contains polysaccharides known for boosting immune health and supporting the respiratory tract. It’s natural support for cold relief targeting infections, while reducing the duration of a cold so you can get back to your life. 2. Beta Sterolins Beta sterolins are a source of phytosterols that have immunomodulatory effects. Easy to take on the go, they’re chewable to help start supporting your immune system fast. 3. Bee Propolis Bee Propolis is a resin collected from the hive. It’s a tacky substance packed with antioxidant power and anti-microbial benefits. For the bees, it helps to protect the integrity of the hive, filling cracks like caulking, and resisting invaders and infection. Bee Propolis can be taken as a tincture, capsules or in a spray. It’s absolute magic when it comes to dealing with throat or oral infections. That’s everything from a scratchy throat to cold sores. 4. Garlic Garlic is one powerful plant. Containing the compound allicin which packs an anti-bacterial punch, it’s basically nature’s antibiotic. In herbal medicine its used to relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections. 5. Astragalus Root This powerful root helps to support healthy immune function to help protect against infections and prevent colds. Studies have shown astragalus to have anti-viral properties and stimulates the immune system. The dried root is used medicinally and can be taken in supplemental form, or steeped as a tea. What are your go-to remedies for cold and flu season?

Are you aware of the role of fats in the body? In the last instalment, we walked through the different types of fat. We also busted some common myths about the effect of certain dietary fats on our body. This time, let's chat about all the different things fats are in charge of - from keeping our cells in check to producing energy. Let's dive right in! Q: So what do fats do in the body again? A: Fatty acids (what we commonly refer to as fats) are one of the three macronutrients that the body needs to ingest in order to properly function. For instance, every one of our trillions of cells require fats as an integral part of the cell membrane. The right fats let nutrients in and wastes out of the cell. They are also required for proper communication between cells. We make over 200 billion new replacement cells every day, all of which require healthy fats to make their membranes super functional. That’s just one of their many roles. The body requires them for manufacturing sex and stress hormones, maintaining your brain, regulating blood sugar and pain response, immune system functioning, controlling inflammation and carrying fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E and K. They are also an excellent energy source, once you’ve used up your carbohydrates. Q: How do I use fat as an energy source? A: Fats are an excellent source of clean energy that you can tap into when your carbohydrate energy and stores are used up. Fasting depletes those carbohydrate stores (known as glycogen), switching you into fat-burning mode. You can use your stored fats, or use those you get from your diet. One of the easiest-to-use fats are medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). They travel directly through the portal vein to the liver. Here, they can be directly used for energy as ketone bodies. Ketone bodies are a form of energy that can be used as an alternative fuel when carbohydrates and blood sugar levels are very low. You do this without any aid from insulin, helping with blood sugar regulation challenges. Ketones can also cross the blood brain barrier, fueling the energy-intensive brain. Using ketones for energy helps the body to also burn adipose fat for fuel as well; the foundation of the ketogenic diet. You can also use these fats when you are not in ketosis for a slow, steady energy source. That way, you can forgo the peaks and crashes that can come with a refined carbohydrate diet. Coconut is an excellent source of MCTs. It does however also contain many long-chain saturated fats, so separating out the MCTs allows your body to use the fats in this direct-to-liver pathway. Q: How do I know if I’m digesting my fats properly? A: First, let’s talk about how we digest the fats that we eat. Fat digestion happens in the small intestines. Bile (made in the liver, housed in the gallbladder) and lipase enzymes (made by the pancreas) are an essential part of the equation. They're required to break fats down for transport out of the digestive system. Long-chain triglycerides then travel through the lymphatic system, whereas short- and medium-chain triglycerides travel directly through the portal vein to the liver. If your dietary fats don’t get digested and absorbed, you may have feelings of fullness, diarrhea or stools that float in the bowl. You may also suffer from emotional or hormonal imbalances, or brain, immune, inflammation and blood sugar issues - so many symptoms can be due to not eating or absorbing enough good fats. Q: What happens when I don’t get enough good fats in my diet? A: Not enough good fats in the diet means the body is scrambling to make do with whatever fats you are eating. If it runs out of raw materials to work with it will not be able to fulfill some of its functions properly. Cellular function and repair suffer. Hormones are unable to properly fill their roles - potentially leading to imbalances. This includes PMS, menopausal symptoms, infertility, anxiety, depression and chronic inflammation. Behavioural issues, mood disorders and mental health challenges can all be contributed to by insufficient healthy fats in the diet. Immune function suffers, pain is more painful, the cardiovascular system takes a blow. All over, not a great place to be. Fats in a meal also tell you when you’re full. You have little sensors in your stomach that sense fat, which triggers satiety hormones. This helps to control your appetite. Without dietary fats, the body also thinks it's starving for fats. It will hold on to any energy it can (usually from refined or excess carbohydrates) and store it as body fat. Skipping fats in your meals is doing the opposite of what those years of fat-free fad diets promised! Keep learning with us! Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @organikahealth to get updates on new blog posts!