Loving & Normalising Stretch Marks: One Mark At A Time!

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Stretch marks! There isn’t a single person on this planet who doesn’t have them somewhere on their body. But unfortunately, most of us are still not aware of what stretch marks are. What we only know is that we need to hide these marks and feel ashamed for having them ― as if they are shameful on our bodies. But, unfortunately, this is all our so-called today’s society teaches us.

Stretch marks occur when our skin does expand or undergo changes rapidly. They appear on our skin as our bodies change and grow ― be it pregnancy, puberty, or growth spurts. Instead of seeing them as shameful marks, they should be celebrated. Those marks prove that we are growing and living the way we should be!

These marks are more common on female bodies as they tend to go through more bodily changes compared to males. Changes like pregnancies, breast growth during puberty, and multiple of them, are seen in women all because their bodies grow with age, and their skin adapts to this natural growth. We need to accept the fact that stretch marks are completely normal and out of our control.

We witness so many products and YouTube tutorials claiming to reduce/ remove stretch marks; it is no wonder why women look at them with embarrassment and shame. We consider it as if we have committed some nasty crime, and the proof of the same has been planted on us in the form of stretch marks.

Not anymore! It’s high time that we start normalising them because, well, they are normal!!

How can we cut the shame and start to show more love to our stretch marks?

Women who make a point publicly and share their views & experiences with stretch marks are an important reminder of this. These body positivity people commonly celebrate their marks. From finding people stereotyping it to ‘you’ accepting it and your body, here are some of my favourite women who are normalising stretch marks. #LinesAreWorthy

Sohini Ghaie

_{“We appreciate seeing tattoos on other people’s bodies, and they are imprinted in a person’s skin deliberately. But stretch marks are beautiful innate tattoos that are signs of a struggle of the phase of our life that has made us who we are today! We are in the year 2022, and we need to get over the reel beauty and focus on the aspect of real beauty. I lost a huge amount of weight during the lockdown. I can still see the stretch marks on my waist. But that’s okay. I take it positively and just remind myself how beautifully I have transformed and how this is an evident scar that shows me what I am today. These are beautiful imperfections that aren’t shown in movies because they are supposedly ugly.}

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A post shared by Sohini Ghaie (@pandathinksof)

But on the contrary, it shows how raw you are. How real you are! It’s there… we need to accept it instead of visiting dermatologists and burning our wallets. Stretch marks used to bother me when I was in my early 20s. But today, I am 29, and I have come a long way. And I defined beauty for myself. I work on myself mentally and physically. When we give our definition of beauty, then it doesn’t matter what society tells us. We need to tell ourselves that we are beautiful no matter what and don’t think what the society says because Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Logo Ka Kaam Hai Kehna,” says the Mumbai based digital creator.

Brynta

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A post shared by brynta (@bryntstagram)

Self-love and plus-size fashion influencer Brynta shares things like stretch marks and discolouration from her specific perspective as a South Asian woman. As she writes in one post, “As a woman (from the South Asian community), I was shamed for every little imperfection, which included textured/discoloured skin, of which I’ve had for most of my life…Fair and lovely, turmeric masks that burned our faces, cellulite gel, and so many other things were given to us as ‘remedies’ for what the world deemed as a problem.”

Dhruti Shah

“Most women often consider stretch marks a result of carelessness and find them ugly. They aren’t aware that these marks are as natural as any other body part. With each passing day, we should open up and discuss body scars and size more often. We should accept and love our bodies the way they are. Stretch marks shouldn’t be undermined or seen as a flaw in one’s beauty. Scars might not look nice on one’s body, but that doesn’t invalidate a person’s beauty. Women should take pride in one’s bodies, especially in such intimate areas. Also, having stretch marks doesn’t make you any less beautiful, so don’t let anyone make you feel otherwise,” shares the Gujarat based girl.

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A post shared by Jen Dela (@alltheway_fit)

Olivia Muenter

“The first time I noticed my own stretch marks was when a friend noticed them. As I got older, my stretch marks became my most dreaded physical benchmarks when it came to what would be a decade-long obsession with losing and gaining weight. As I started college and no longer had weekly hours-long sports practices, stretch marks started to appear on my breasts and higher up on my hips. It wasn’t until a couple of years after I graduated college that I discovered things like body neutrality and health at any size, both concepts that I was mainly introduced to by, surprisingly, influencers.
These were people who proudly posted on Instagram about their bodies and their insecurities. They taught me that I could be happy at any size—that I deserved to be. They also reminded me that I wasn’t the only person in the world who was a size 14 or had stretch marks.”
Olivia

The best way you can normalise stretch marks is to walk with confidence and show them more. People are more likely to start doing something when they see other people doing it, especially when they’ve been afraid to do so.

The first step is the most important but is the hardest one. Put on your favourite bikini regardless of your marks. Wear whatever you want to wear this summer, and get ready to flaunt them. Post a picture without getting it edited and let the stretch marks shine. Share body positive posts and pictures on Instagram that show off stretch marks in all their glory. Together we can do this!

If you have been stretch mark-shamed, do write to us. Share your thoughts and inspire the world! #LinesAreWorthy

Highlights

Protein is made up of smaller molecules called amino acids forming the building blocks of your body.

It plays a vital role in almost all biological processes of the living organisms.

It contributes to maximizing breast milk production during lactation.

To maintain proper functioning of your body, protein in your diet is a must.

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Are you conscious about your protein intake and wondering how much protein is enough for your body? Or you belong to the category of not knowing about how essential protein is for your health. If you are planning a well-balanced diet, then don’t miss out on your protein requirements. It is a well-debated question of how much protein is needed by women. Let’s take a look and find out.

If your body does not get enough protein then you may suffer from muscle loss, fatigue or weakness. On the contrary, if your protein intake is too much then that may result in weight gain, kidney issues or irritability majorly to people who are predisposed to kidney disease. The amount of protein required by your body depends on your overall growth, body shape goals, age, muscle mass and overall health. Our body cannot store protein, therefore, recommended amount of protein supply is essential to your body regularly.

What is Protein?

Protein is made up of smaller molecules called amino acids forming the building blocks of your body. It plays a vital role in almost all biological processes of living organisms. To maintain the proper functioning of your body, protein in your diet is a must. Protein has keratin, it is good for skin, hair, nail and helps in the development of all these. Therefore, the consumption of protein is extremely important for maintaining muscle mass and the overall growth of your health.

“Protein is a macronutrient that every cell in our body needs. Proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids, and is found in every cell throughout our body, so an adequate amount of protein intake is important for keeping our muscles, bones and tissues healthy,” says Kristen Smith, M.S., R.D.N., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The functions of protein in your body are immense, including building muscles, transporting nutrients, fighting infections, some are enzymes, some are hormones, etc.

“Our body is in a constant state of turnover and growth when it comes to muscular tissue, and we need those individual amino acids to go in there and repair,”
says Alex Caspero, M.A., R.D., author of The Plant-Based Baby and Toddler.

Ketogenic low carbs diet - food selection on white wall Free Photo

While a good amount of protein will boost your body and muscles, lack of it can be equally detrimental. Its deficiency can lead to multiple health problems causing subtle changes in your body leading to severe concerns. Protein’s insufficiency in children can result in stunted growth, major characteristics of Kwashiorkor caused due to malnutrition and several other diseases.

Why is protein essential for women’s health?

According to a study, women who consumed about 110 grams of protein per day were at lesser risk of heart attacks. Sufficient intake of protein decreases the risk of heart attacks and coronary disease in women.

Bone loss happens naturally as women age and it is quite prominent after menopause with very low levels of estrogen, a hormone essential for bone growth. Including enough high-quality protein contributes to the maintenance of sufficient muscle mass necessary for the overall improvement of bone density and strength. Protein contributes about 50% of the volume of bone and about 33% of its mass.

“Protein increases the feeling of fullness and when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, leads to body fat loss while muscle mass is maintained.”

Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers must prioritize their nutrition. A balanced diet containing all macro and micronutrients, particularly protein consumption is crucial and improves the growth and development of the fetus and the mother. It also contributes to maximizing breast milk production that is why breastfeeding women require nearly two times as much protein as non-nursing women.

How much protein do women need?

A survey reports, 50% of women are not aware of the protein requirement of their bodies. The protein requirement of every individual is not similar and cannot be calculated collectively. It depends and may vary on factors like muscle mass, level of activity and overall health. According to several studies, it is prominent that protein deficiency can adversely affect your health.

Protein needs are crucial for women’s health. Its deficiency can adversely affect the overall quality of life. Awareness is essential with regard to common accessible and affordable sources of protein (both animal and plant-based).

Official nutritional organizations say women should intake approximately 46 grams of protein a day, but this can vary depending upon the health concerns. Though there is no predetermined value and it can vary with changes in your health, you can use this online protein calculator to have some idea about your protein requirements.

How do I get protein in my diet?

Generally, all essential proteins are present in animal protein, therefore, meat, fish, eggs, or dairy products are rich sources of protein and are enough to provide all essential amino acids in the right ratio. If you are a vegetarian and follow a vegan diet then you can mix and match lentils, legumes, nuts, soya milk, tofu, chia seeds, fruits and vegetables in your daily diet as much as possible.

It is not only the quantity but the quality of your protein that holds utmost importance, so be sure to look for lean cuts of meat and forgo pre-made items, such as already marinated meats, as their sodium levels may be high. You also need to watch out for the amount of cholesterol and saturated fat you consume and make sure to vary your protein sources throughout your diet.

Develop a holistic nutritional diet plan for your health and well-being. Don’t forget to include your protein sources carefully.

If you’re looking for more food and nutrition tips from Infano, check out our other blogs here.