When the blood flows better, important nutrients get to the skin that might otherwise be discarded. Besides, the increased circulation will also carry away the toxins that do the most damage. Wrinkles result when collagen declines because it is the supporting fibers that keep the lines away.

We spend so much time applying medications to our skin when we get zits and in washing with special soaps that we overlook one of the most helpful things we can do–exercise. It tones down the production of the testosterone-related hormones that are the major cause of acne. Also, when you exercise, you are less stressed. Stress is a factor in revving up the adrenal glands so they produce these male-type hormones (present in both males and females). Think about it–when have you had the worst outbreak of zits? It usually comes after anything that increased your stress such as a fight with your girlfriend or boyfriend, a problem at work or school, or an exam or job project that had a deadline that was pushing you. Just about anyone can experience a skin outbreak after a stressful event, but those who already have acne are the most susceptible. Exercise can help control it. Keep the stress down and you’ll have fewer zits!

Sweat doesn't have a very good name in refined circles. Some women don't like to exercise because they don't like to sweat. However, without sweat, the pores will clog because the very purpose of sweat is to flush them out and help cleanse them. In the long run, people who exercise have better complexions. Acne is better controlled and even if those who exercise have breakouts, they are not as severe and they clear up sooner. And there's a bonus: you’ll be less likely to lose your hair. Reducing the production of these hormones is sure to have a beneficial effect.

Exercise has specific anti-aging effects on the skin. The most important is the production of collagen, the connective tissue in your skin that keeps it from getting lines and wrinkles and plumps it up so you have the look of youth. As we get older, the collagen-producing cells in the skin decrease in number and they become less active. As a result, our skin loses its firmness and gets drier and more wrinkled. When you exercise, you pump oxygen into the skin cells along with other nutrients, both creating ideal conditions for collagen production.

Cosmetic firms are making fortunes on their so-called cellulite-reducers. These will not get rid of cellulite, but exercise will. Cellulite is the puckering that occurs in pockets of fat when the connecting fibers are pulled tighter. What does work to get rid of cellulite is the toning and pulling of the muscles with workouts such as pilates or weight training. What you do is reverse the tension, which takes away that cottage-cheese appearance. Even yoga works to reduce cellulite because it stretches, tones, and conditions the muscles, firming up the skin. Because yoga uses stretching but also involves controlled breathing, the entire body is toned including the facial muscles. It's the best possible kind of face-lift.

Aerobic exercise such as bicycling or even walking have a cleansing effect on your skin by helping remove the toxins such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, and chemicals that enter your body in other ways such as hair spray, deodorant, and shower gels. Toxins can also come from the foods we eat. By improving your circulation, the most important benefit of aerobic exercise, more toxins are removed. It will make you look better and feel better. People who exercise have better color to their skin.

You can follow a demanding, well-planned workout program diligently, never missing an exercise session and throwing in extras like jogging and walking and still not be healthy or even improve your skin if you continue to eat foods that don't meet your nutrition needs. You need to remember that cooked foods suffer from depletion of enzymes and vitamins absolutely essential to good health and glowing skin. Go ahead and be dedicated about your exercise program, but don't abandon a commitment to a well-balanced raw-foods diet because it takes both to have the glow of good health.

For the kind of blood flow you want and need, be sure to hydrate yourself properly during exercise. This will move along the elimination of toxins also. The accumulation of toxins in the blood flow in the skin accounts for many of the signs of aging and the poor color of those who lead sedentary lifestyles. Water is essential to all living cells, and that includes your skin. Water makes up 60 percent of your body weight. It flushes out the toxins that settle in your skin and rob it of its natural luster. When you exercise, you eliminate a lot more fluid than when you are sitting on a chair, so it's important to replace it and then some to keep the blood flow up to par. Don't just wait until you’re thirsty. Include a plan for taking in fluids as a part of your exercise program.

Avoid adding to the toxins that already assault your body from the air you breathe and other sources by using only toxin-free cosmetics.

By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari