True beauty comes from within — literally. How we treat our entire body determines much of how well our body ages and looks. While genetics play a large role, there are healthy behaviors you can adopt and bad habits you can change to preserve or enhance your natural beauty. At Dr. Mok Cosmetic Surgery, we embrace aesthetic procedures and surgeries as part of a holistic framework, these procedures are designed to work in tandem with a healthy lifestyle.
This article is the first in a two part series that takes a look at some of the fundamental components of holistic health and beauty care.
Nutrition and Your Beauty
As they say, “you are what you eat,” and it turns out to be true. The quality of our diet can show on our skin, the largest organ in the body. Many diets are nutrient-deficient yet calorie-dense. Fast food, preservatives, sugars, trans-fats, and fried foods are the worst possible choices when it comes to inflammatory conditions which can lead you to look older, with wrinkled, droopy, sallow, and dry skin. However, foods abundant in antioxidants, flavonoids, terpenes, and carotenoids, that are nutrient and energy-dense, result in plump, well-hydrated, and firm skin. Sugar or glucose is needed to fuel your body, but the healthiest strategy is to embrace a balanced diet by pairing complex carbohydrates with both protein and fat.
Foods to Avoid:
High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener that’s very common in processed foods and is one of the worst “foods” in terms of premature skin aging. When you ingest too much sugar, the body creates excess insulin which can lead to a host of problems, including acne and midsection fat deposits. It can also cause chronic inflammation which can aggravate rosacea and rashes, increase skin oiliness, and may also weaken the collagen and elastin in your skin. When the body’s natural healing ability is compromised, you are more susceptible to scarring, accelerated aging, and wrinkling which can have an adverse effect on your natural beauty.
Exercise and Your Well-Being
We encourage all of our clients to embrace an exercise routine they enjoy as a way to improve their health and their quality of life. Many of our clients lead busy lives, so it’s not always possible to get in a workout every day at the gym. However, it is possible for most people to take a brisk 30-minute walk during a break at work. Just put on your headphones and head out whenever you can. With regard to longevity, research shows that walking 30-45 minutes daily, five days per week, is just about as good as any other type of exercise. Exercise also positively impacts your mental and emotional well-being. It clears your mind and reduces stress, so get out there and enjoy!
At Dr. Mok Cosmetic Surgery, we welcome and support all patients who seek to improve their lives, bodies, and appearance. We carefully assess each person’s unique concerns while encouraging them to accomplish their goals regarding health, beauty and well-being by embracing a holistic perspective . If you have been considering an aesthetic procedure or surgery, and have questions or concerns, please book a consultation with Dr. Mok by clicking on this link.