Preventing Stretch Marks
Eat Foods That Promote Collagen Production
Collagen, along with elastin, is vital for providing the skin with strength and elasticity. There are many foods that help with the production of collagen in our bodies and you may find many of them are foods you like!
- Soymilk, soy cheese, and other soy products contain genistein. Genestein is what gives soy products the ability to produce collagen. Genestein also helps to block enzymes that can age the skin.
- Dark green vegetables such as kale, spinach, collards, and asparagus are rich in Vitamin C and help the body manufacture collagen.
- Olives, both black & green, cucumbers, and celery are foods that are rich in sulfur and aid in collagen production.
- Lycopenes found in red fruits and vegetables boost the body’s antioxidants, which increases collagen production. Some examples are beets, red peppers, blueberries, blackberries, and tomatoes.
- Pecans, almonds, cashews, avocados, tuna and salmon are excellent sources of omega acids, and create collagen production.
The thing to remember is your diet plays a large part in your body’s ability to produce collagen. If you eat a balanced diet, not only will you improve your overall health, but you will see a noticable difference in the quality of your skin tone.
How To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
You’re pregnant! Congratulations! You can’t wait to hold that precious little one in your arms and you’re ticking off the days until that time comes. It truly is a joyous experience but, Mother Nature says you have to wait nine months until you get there. Mother Nature also says along the way you may experience fatigue, nausea, backaches, constant trips to the bathroom and oh, one more thing, stretch marks!
Statistically, between 75% and 90% of pregnant women (90% of white women) get stretch marks during pregnancy. They start showing up everywhere – on your belly, breasts, upper thighs, upper arms, and your buttocks. The good news is, there are some measures you can take to try to limit the possibility of getting stretch marks while you’re pregnant.
- Eat a healthy diet. Not only is this good for your health and the overall development of your baby, but it helps to ensure that you stay within the recommended weight gain of twenty-five to thirty-five pounds. Gaining weight slowly during your pregnancy allows your skin to adjust to the stretching that takes place.
- Take your vitamins as recommended by your doctor. Vitamins are import while you are pregnant and they go hand-in-hand with a healthy diet.
- Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water helps keep your skin healthy. Toward the end of your pregnancy when it seems like you live in the bathroom, skimping on your water intake will not do you any favors.
- Keep your skin moisturized during and after pregnancy. Creams designed to prevent stretch marks will help keep your skin strong and supple. These creams are formulated to encourage collagen production.
It’s important to take care of yourself during your pregnancy and after your baby is born. We all want to get back to our pre-pregnancy weight as quickly as possible, but take it slow. Rapid weight loss can also make your skin susceptible to stretch marks. In addition, you want to keep yourself strong and healthy as your body recovers from childbirth and you deal with the new demands in your life that motherhood brings.
Once again, congratulations! Enjoy your pregnancy and most of all, enjoy all the wonderful experiences of being a mother!!!
Bodybuilding Stretch Marks – How To Prevent Them
If you think only pregnant women get stretch marks, think again. As a bodybuilder you too are at a high risk for developing stretch marks. As you work toward acheiving a lean, well-sculpted body, you are putting your skin under a great deal of stress. If you gain muscle too fast, your skin won’t be able to keep up and you will end up with stretch marks.
There are some measures you can take to help prevent stretch marks while bulking up.
- Keep your body hydrated. When your body is hydrated, your skin is hydrated as well. This is the most important tip when it comes to preventing stretch marks.
- Be conscious of what you put into your body and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Include plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, and foods that promote collagen production.
- If you don’t think you are getting enough vitamins and minerals from your diet, take supplements.
- Avoid steroids since they are known to cause stretch marks.
- Resist the urge to bulk up fast and develop muscle at a slow, steady pace. This allows your skin time to adapt to the stretching it has to do to accommodate muscle mass.
Bodybuilding is both intense and rewarding. The last thing you want to see as a result of your efforts to achieve the body of your dreams are stretch marks. Take is slow and easy and bulk clean!
