PQTD #114 Paleo Skin Care

One of the most ignored facets of paleo living and even nutrition is our skin!  Not only is our skin the largest organ of our body by far, it is also a great indicator of whether or not we are healthy on the inside of our bodies.

Most of us have abused our skin for decades: putting all sorts of lotions, creams, petroleum-based oils and dyes on it in the forms of soap and shampoo, dishwashing liquid and other artificial chemicals such as makeup in the case of women.  Did you know that all of these chemicals pass right through your skin into your body?  Well, they do, and they are all toxins that your body has to deal with as chemical invaders. 

Check out your labels; not just for your skin, but for household cleaning products as well.  These products, besides being expensive, are very toxic to your body, and to your precious gut micro biome!  You can have a perfect paleo type of diet, and undermine all of your efforts by allowing these products to touch your body, or even to be inhaled.

What should you do?  First, the only moisturizer you should use is coconut oil!  It is amazing, inexpensive, and really does a wonderful job of moisturizing and protecting your skin.  In addition, it enters your body right through your skin, and into your bloodstream, just as, say, Sodium Laurel Sulphate does (a really toxic ingredient in almost all commercial soaps that is a petroleum based industrial strength degreaser)- avoid SLS!  But the coconut oil does wonderful things when it enters your body, as a precious medium chain triglyceride it is incredibly healthy for you.  So there is your moisturizer.

Shampoo?  Get a good one like Dr. Bronner’s, which is just real, olive oil based soap with actual real fragrances and essences - no chemicals.  Trader Joe’s has a couple of good ones as well. 

You probably have already experienced great improvements in your skin and hair health is you have had a paleo diet and lifestyle for any length of time- a diet of real natural foods, without grains and industrial seed oils gives your body all it needs to create glowing skin and shining hair.  And now, substituting real, natural substances for chemical ones will keep those chemical products from ruining your paleolithic results!

Toothpaste?  First of all, make sure it has no fluoride- fluoride is basically a neurotoxin, and actually harmful to the teeth and bones over the long term.  Get it out of your water if you possibly can, too!  There are some good natural toothpastes- Earthpaste is one that I know of, but I prefer brushing with a mix of baking soda and Himalayan Sea Salt.  And, when showering, “oil pull”, this is when you swish coconut oil around in your mouth, and ultimately spit it out, after it has killed and absorbed all the “bad bacteria” in your mouth and around your teeth.

And for the ultimate total body supplement, that is quite cheap, wonderfully effective, and really makes you feel more relaxed, glowing, and healthy than any other one thing?  Perfectly Paleo Exercise is one, outdoors in Nature, but this one is ideal as a supplement- take a long bath, in hot water, with epsom salts!

I am not kidding with this last!  Epsom salts are just pure magnum sulphate. Virtually all of us in modern times are very deficient in magnesium, since it has been “farmed out” of our soil by and large.  Magnesium is crucial for every function in the body, and is wonderful for freeing us from anxiety, depression, nervousness- well, here is a direct quote:

Magnesium is an essential mineral for staying healthy and is required for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Multiple health benefits of magnesium include transmission of nerve impulses, body temperature regulation, detoxification, energy production, and the formation of healthy bones and teeth.

And in laymen’s terms?  It just feels really, really good and relaxing!  The magnesium flows directly into your bloodstream as you relax in the tub, finally getting all of this vital nutrient that it needs.  Just try it, and watch skin problems, sore joints and muscles, dry skin, and even cuts and scrapes almost magically improve and start to heal, instantly.

Lastly, for cleaning your counters, tub and sinks- ditch the chemicals!  Use white vinegar in a spray bottle for all cleaning- you will be amazed at how effective it is, and also it is totally non-toxic.  Heavier duty cleaning on your sink?  Baking soda along with vinegar!  And really heavy duty cleaning, totally non-toxic??  Washing Soda is pure sodium carbonate, a natural mineral, and can scrub away anything safely.  Wash clothes, scrub toilets- Pure Washing Soda is your heavy duty natural cleanser.

Done cleaning?  Relax, and take a bath in epsom salts!