Our skin is made up of living cells that are among the most actively dividing cells in our body. Old cells are constantly shed from the surface of the skin and replaced by newer cells coming from below. The efficiency of the cell renewal process is dependent on a good supply of oxygen and nutrients, which means that our body must be in tip-top shape.
Doctors often look at the colour of the skin to determine the general state of health of the body.
Many people believe that by taking enough food, the body automatically gets all the nutrition it needs. This is not true because you can be overfed and overweight, and still be undernourished. This happens when you take too much animal fats, sugar, processed foods and fast foods which are rich in calories but not particularly nutritious. The first thing to do is reduce the intake of these foods and take a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fibres and low in fats and calories. Avoid sudden dieting as it could leave folds of excess skin and cause hairloss.