THE FOUNDATIONS OF BEAUTY
Genetic Foundation: There is little you can do to alter your genetic inheritance. Every genotype has its strengths and weaknesses. Some persons have abundant energy, others a figure that lacks conventional beauty, so the emphasis must be on vitality, which, working through the body, increases its attractiveness. Your body and your beauty are constantly changing. The body you see in the mirror is your phenotype. Neglect it and regardless of how good your genes are, you lose your inheritance.
Molecular Foundation: Every part of the body is multilayered. The beauty of its lines and surfaces starts from the bones, through the muscles, through the fat layer, to the skin. It is impossible to look your best unless the skeleton, the muscles and the skin are all in good condition. Nutrition and exercise are key features in maintaining health. The bones must be exercised. When the muscles exert force on the skeleton, which they must do, they stimulate metabolic activity on the bones. The skeleton is just as much alive as the rest of you.
ORGANIC STRUCTURE OF BEAUTY
The Skeleton: The chief supporting structure and the most stable shape-maker, it needs exercise for its health. An age without good nutrition leads to deterioration of the bones. Dairy produce is particularly rich in bone-forming materials. Vitamins A and D, found in fish oils and liver, are also essential.
The Muscles: Accurately exercised, they can dramatically change your shape. They are very sensitive to stress. Worry and anxiety are always reflected in muscular tension. High-quality protein is necessary for the maintenance of muscles.
The Lipid Layer: Mostly composed of triglycerides, this should be about 10 mm (a finger) thick in women, certainly not less. The layer under the skin is hormonally controlled and in women this results in smooth, rounded lines. When we eat so many saturated fats in our diet, this layer becomes very thick. Lipids are also used to fill in cavities in the frame, and internally organs are protected by fatty sheaths. Lipid deposits are not as well supplied with blood as the muscles. Massage helps to reduce the layer.
The Skin: This is at the mercy of the outside world (wind, sun, dirt, over-washing, poor cosmetics) and the inside (overweight, crash dieting). The skin is versatile, tough and vulnerable-a complex hormonal gland, a temperature regulator, an organ of touch and pain.
Apart from these structures, the soft organs of the abdomen deserve special care. Unlike the organs of the chest, they have no rib cage to protect them and their shape depends on exercise, good nutrition and ideal weight.
