Anti-tox secrets for your skin

24 Sep 2008 09:52 AM | Posted by Editor

Following our feature on Why anti-tox is the new detox, here are some of the most practical ways to improve your overall health through diet and skincare. Relax, it’s actually very achievable and booking in for a massage is one of the first steps. Enjoy, your body will thank you. And your skin will glow for Australia.

Your healthy skin hit list

Add these anti-tox, skin-boosting nutrients to your daily diet.

Essential fatty acids
We tend to get enough omega-6s and 9s in our diet – it’s the omega-3s we usually lack. The best source by far is oily fish like salmon but eggs, walnuts and soybeans also contain omega-3s. 

An ‘ACE’ idea
Antioxidant vitamins A, C and E are the three amigos for your skin. Eat a rainbow diet as brightly-coloured fruit and vegetables are rich in vitamins A and C. Nuts and seeds will boost your vitamin E. These guys are also amazing protective agents to have in your skincare products.

Magic minerals
Zinc, selenium and silica are key for healthy skin. Lean meats, nuts, eggs and oysters are all good sources.

Your sample anti-tox diet

This sample day’s diet shows that doing the best thing for your health can be delicious, too!

Breakfast
Bowl of fruit-free muesli sprinkled with sunflower seeds, pepitas and linseeds, topped with low-fat calcium-enriched soymilk plus cafe latte (no sugar!)

Snack
Piece of fruit

Lunch
Rainbow salad of baby spinach, green beans, grated carrot, red capsicum, walnuts, chickpeas and dressing of your choice

Snack
Handful of almonds

Dinner
Grilled Atlantic salmon served with stir-fried Asian greens and baked sweet potato plus glass of red wine

Beverages
Water and herbal tea as desired

Your best-ever skin boosters

The skin is your biggest organ and like your liver it is one of the body’s key detoxification systems. Adopting regular anti-tox beauty habits is a glow-getting idea.

Dry skin brushing
“This stimulates the circulatory system and the lymphatic system,” says yoga instructor Kris Noble. Using a Pola Body Brush with soft, natural bristles, start at your feet and use a light pressure to brush small circles towards your heart. Get into the habit of doing this daily before you shower.

Massage
More stimulation for your circulatory and lymphatic systems – plus it feels amazing! When you make a booking, tell the massage therapist why you need a rub down and let them advise whether Swedish, deep tissue or remedial massage is best for you. Aromatherapy massage using blends such as Jurlique Lemon Body Oil can be wonderfully uplifting. 

Self-massage
The lymphatic system sits just under the skin, so it can be boosted by light self-massage. Noble advises using gentle pressure to work between the toes and into the ankles plus in and around the armpits and breasts. This simple technique stimulates the lymphatic system, assisting in reducing fluid retention. Try L'Occitane Honey Massage Nectar to make the experience even more pleasant. 

Skip the sauna
In spite of the emergence of a sauna trend in the US, there is little evidence to support steam rooms or saunas as detox aids. You sweat to cool down, not to extract toxins. “Sweating for the sake of sweating has no benefit,” says professor of dermatology Dee Anna Glaser. “Sweating heavily is not going to release a lot of toxins.”

– Kate Fitzpatrick