Beauty Bites!: Discover the Secret Beauty Benefits of Exercise
Exercise is traditionally associated with many bodily benefits such as getting in shape and improving blood pressure. However, not many people are aware of the beauty benefits you can get from exercising regularly. Galen T.Z.R. explores how exercising can give your skin and hair a beauty boost.
My 24-year-old brother and 26-year-old sister, Kelvin and Agnes, found out that they could saved thousands on cosmetics expenses when they began exercising regularly (at least twice a week) 5 years ago. Before they started being physically active, they would spend close to a thousand dollars yearly on cosmetic products to achieve clearer and smoother complexion, and to get rid of their late night dark circles. So before you go spending hundreds and thousands on beauty products, take a gander at what exercising has to offer in the cosmetic department.
Glowing Skin
One of the easiest ways to restore color to dull skin is to exercise. Exercise helps to improve the circulation of the blood, and blood carries oxygen. The blood cells in our body need oxygen in order to retain the skin’s natural rosy flush. The tiny capillaries in our body "nourish our skin cells with oxygen", says Noelle S. Sherber, Medical Doctor, a board-certified dermatologist based in Baltimore, Maryland. “It gives you that great post-workout glow.”
Improving Acne
Exercising regularly, be it cardio, weight lifting or aerobic, causes you to sweat, which will help to cleanse the pores of your skin. It is a myth that sweating causes acne as it clogs pores. Sweating flushes the toxins in your body and “corrects the hormonal imbalance that can cause adult acne,” says Maurco C. Romita, Medical Doctor, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Ajune Center for Beauty Synergy in the New York City.
Disclaimer: just as quick as our bodies expel the dirt and grime, they can also be reabsorbed, so make sure that you wash your face as soon as you are done!
Skin Cell Turnover
Sweating also helps to improve cell turnover. According to Anna Lotan, founder of Anna Lotan Bio-Cosmetic Laboratories, cell turnover is a process of "new skin cells shedding off the (old) skin." Slow cell turnover rate will leave you dull skin and acne as the top layer of the skin is filled with dead skin cells. Also, the slower the cell turnover rate, the faster your skin age. Regular exercise and mild exfoliation is the key to regain glowing and younger skin.
Healthier Hair
The improved circulation from exercising nourishes your hair follicles and keeps your hair strong. Exercise can reduce stress level as your brain produces a hormone called endorphins, which is also commonly known as “runner’s high” among cardio enthusiasts. During a 2015 interview with the Glamour Magazine (United Kingdom), Kate Hudson, a popular American Actress, mentioned that she feels “really good” about herself while running.
Stress is a common cause for "sudden hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair,” says Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, Medical Doctor, a board certified in general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry for Mayo Clinic.
Improve Dark Circles & Eye Bags
Sleeping late at night to watch television shows or use the Internet, and getting up early the next day seems to be the norm for many Singapore youth. The appearance of dark circles is often associated with this common and unhealthy habit. Additionally, dark circles are the second most common skin problem (after acne) among Singapore youth.
Exercising regularly can improve the overall appearance of dark circles and eye bags. People who exercise regularly tend to sleep better and earlier, according to a 2013 survey by National Sleep Foundation, a nonprofit organisation based in the United States of America. However, late-night exercising may not help with sleeping early as it raises your body temperature. The National Sleep Foundation advises people to exercise at least 3 hours before bedtime.
One of the most common causes for puffy eyes among Singapore youth is the overconsumption of salt. The skin tissue under your eyes absorbs the excessive sodium, and causes fluid retention. An average Singaporean, aged 15 - 50 years old, takes about 3527 mg of sodium a day, according to Ng Hooi Lin, a Nutritionist for Singapore Heart Foundation. However, the recommended dietary allowances by Health Promotion Board advised Singaporeans to go no more than 2000mg of sodium a day. Exercising regularly can keep the sodium in your body balanced. Sodium is an essential nutrient to allow our muscles to function optimally during exercise. Also, sweating flushes out sodium in our body, which is why you would experience salty taste from your sweat.
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