Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
If you ask my male friends what the biggest organ in their body was, they would tell you that it is sometimes hard and full, sometimes soft and empty, sometimes it rules over their brain with its yearning for attention, it gets harder to hide as you get older and somewhat less attractive, a woman knows how to satisfy it best and it resides below the chest and above the knee ... the stomach!
Yes, the stomach, as part of the digestive system, is indeed a big organ and all of the things mentioned above. But, the biggest organ in the human body is the skin.
The skin forms a continuous layer over the surface of the body.
It protects the internal tissues and organs from infection and mechanical injury. It also serves an important role in thermoregulation (temperature control) and keeping the body hydrated. Additionally, the skin contains numerous sense organs which are sensitive to touch, pain and temperature. Without these organs, the body is more vulnerable to severe injury.
It also regulates oil secretion, synthesises vitamin D, stores fat in its deeper layers and protects us from ultraviolet light.
It is so clever, and so good to us, that it can repair itself by growing back if damaged or removed.
No other part of the body's living tissue, except the liver, is able to perform this everyday miracle.
If you have "good" skin, it adds to your beauty and can make you look a lot younger. There are different types of skin on our bodies. For example, the skin on the bottom of our feet has about 20 more layers than the skin, say, on our face or arms.
The skin on our lips is thinner and transparent. And, who doesn't love the smell and sensation of a baby's skin against our face?
To protect your skin is an investment in your health, and looks, for life. It is impossible to keep that baby skin but it is possible to have skin that others will be envious of.
You need to protect your biggest organ from the outside and inside because skin is also porous. It is two-dimensional and dynamic.
However, skin is also waterproof. So before you buy that expensive face cream that claims to stop the clock, read the ingredients on the back, and ask the sales lady if she knows the water content of the product.
If it is mostly water, it will do very little because the skin is designed for water to sit on the surface until it is evaporated.
If this was not the case, you just might drown tonight in the shower and swimming would be impossible!
When it comes to water and your skin, the relationship is simple - water from the inside, and often. Drink up. All living cells shrink when they are not hydrated, and this is what gives you that wrinkly appearance if you are thirsty or been too long on the coffee or alcohol.
Further, try to avoid watery sun block that will just slide off soon after you put it on, or evaporate after five minutes in dry climates.
Use a waterproof sun block from a reputable beauty and health sales outlet. Remember that moisturiser and sun block should be two different products, too.
One is designed to sit on your skin (sun block) and the other is designed to sink in (moisturiser), so how can they come from the same bottle?
And, remember that you are attacked by sunlight through windows, while underwater, in the car, and on overcast days, too, not just walking in the park or out fishing. Men, teenagers, and children must wear sun block every day, not just women. Also, all men must consider using a quality moisturiser at night, especially for the eyes, cheeks and neck.
Nourishing skin from the inside is easier than you think. We all know what constitutes a healthy diet. A good rule of thumb is to eat from all five food groups every day. Particular foods that are good for the skin include those that contain vitamin B, that help prevent dry flaky skin; vitamin A and E, which protect the integrity of each individual skin cell membrane and keep the immune system functioning strongly; vitamin C which aids in special skin protein productions, as well as fighting local infections and sun damage; and of course, all that clean pure water that you should be drinking.
There are other things in foods that help you look younger.
Did you ever hear of the "super salmon"? I have read about the benefits of eating oily fish, such as salmon, for years and people like Oprah have done cooking shows where half of the conversation has been about salmon and its many benefits to many parts of the body.
I'm just lucky that I also love the taste and texture. If you are not a fan (of salmon, not Oprah!), it's the omega-3 high density lipids (fats) that is the wonder ingredient and you may get this by eating other foods such as nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocados, and other seafood.
Salmon just happens to contain heaps of this compound, along with other vitamins and minerals.
Omega-3 high density lipids keep skin soft and strong. It also makes each skin cell more resilient to everyday damage. Think of it as putting the best oil for your car into the engine next time.
Omega-3 high density lipids are the best oils for your skin, and won't do any damage to other parts of your body, like clogging arteries.
Oh, and do not smoke!
The skin needs oxygen, not toxic fumes, to get that nice pink youthful glow.
Wrinkles are unavoidable because we have muscles in our face that constantly move and cause folds, just like in a piece of paper - once the fold is there, you can never get it out, only soften it to the best of your ability.
Wrinkles are also unavoidable because although skin is always renewing itself by pushing brand new skin cells up from the deeper layer to the surface, along the way, the skins gets damaged inside and out.
The skin copy "machine" that makes new skin cells gets a bit rusty as we age and some new cells are already damaged from a lifetime of sun-baking; eating the wrong things, physical damage, chemicals in the air, unsuitable beauty products, stress, alcohol abuse and more.
So, protect your biggest organ from the inside and outside and it will thank you by looking and feeling great!
Good luck everyone.
