Anti Aging

Choosing antioxidants to supplement your regular skin routine is an approach that has been validated scientifically. A study by French scientists found that woman taking vitamin C, vitamin E, and betacarotene had 23% fewer new wrinkles, and a reduction in existing wrinkles of 8%. Antioxidants stop the breakdown of collagen and elastin by free radicals.

Foods with the highest levels of antioxidants, as measured by the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbence capacity), listed from the highest: prunes, raisins, blueberries, kale, cranberries, spinach, raspberries, brussel sprouts, plums and broccoli.

Vitamin A is another important nutrient for the skin. A deficiency in vitamin A will reduce the effectiveness of skin treatments. Vitamin A is needed for the normal growth and renewal of skin cells. Our skin cells are constantly replacing each other, and new ones are pushed up to the surface as the old ones slough off. Not only is vitamin A an antioxidant, but it also nourishes the fat layer underneath the skin. Vitamin A keeps skin supple, and may prevent skin damage.

Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include dry and rough skin, localized breakouts, fragile skin, wrinkle prone skin, poor skin texture, and splitting nails.

One thing to remember with taking vitamin A supplements is not to exceed the recommended daily dose, as it can build up in your body if taken in excess. Taking 10000 IU per day is fine.

Vitamin C is another important beauty supplement. Not only does it help in skin repair by building collagen, but lower levels of vitamin C in the skin are associated with aging and UV damage. Taking 500mg to 2000mg per day, in divided doses, is recommended.

An excellent antioxidant supplement to take is alpha lipoic acid (ALA), especially if you’re taking the other antioxidant vitamins C and E, and coenzyme Q10. Alpha lipoic acid is not only an antioxidant in its own right, but it has the capacity to recycle these other antioxidants. Alpha lipoic acid is also an anti inflammatory agent, and improves insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is associated with obesity and heart disease. ALA increases the rate at which glucose is removed from the bloodstream, and helps the body detoxify metals that have accumulated. Alpha lipoic acid also prevents the cross linking of fibers, which leads to aging and the development of wrinkles.

Alpha lipoic acid is produced by the body, but only in small amounts. It is used by the cells in their production of cellular energy, and we only benefit from its antioxidant effects if the amount of ALA in our bodies is greater than that which our cells need for normal functioning. And, unfortunately, the levels of ALA in our body decline as we age.

One advantage of alpha lipoic acid is that it is both fat and water soluble. This means it can work in all parts of our body, making it very versatile. Most antioxidants are either fat or water soluble, but not both. For example, vitamin A is fat soluble, and vitamin C is water soluble.

Taking about 50 to 100mg of alpha lipoic acid supplements a day has been suggested, though this supplement has not been tested on pregnant or breast feeding women.

References: Nature and Health, April/May 2006

To learn more about why good anti aging best skin care regimens include beauty foods and supplements, see this article. Included are foods you should be eating regularly to nourish your skin. For a review of anti aging skin care treatments, see this article.

Tags: alpha lipoic acid, anti aging, beauty, beauty food, beauty supplementalpha lipoic acid, anti aging, beauty, beauty food, beauty supplement

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The Fountain of Youth - Right at Your Fingertips

Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down, or even reverse the effects of aging on our skin and body? It is an enigma for which so many have searched the answers to for years. Now, with advanced modern science making breakthroughs and discoveries every day, the answers have become apparent to the age-old quest for the proverbial fountain of youth.

In large part, your everyday lifestyle choices contribute to the way you age, and at what rateyour body ages. Diet, environmental factors, exercise and the topical skincare products and skin care regimen you choose, all affect the way you are going to appear now and ten, twenty, and thirty years down the road. It’s no surprise your lifestyle plays a pivotal
role in how your body and skin age over the years, since we’ve always known diet and exercise affect our energy levels, appearance, moods, and fitness level.

However, several key foods have been found to be very effective weapons not only against aging in general, but also against skin disorders ranging from acne, rosacea, thin skin, and photo aging (sun damage). These foods can even help reverse and repair sun and other environmental damage done to theskin. This powerful weapon is a goup of chemical compounds called antioxidants, and what they accomplish in high doses, along with adequate exercise, can mimic a surgical facelift over a relatively short period of time!

Think about all of the damage your skin is exposed to on a daily basis. It is your largest and most vulnerable organ, exposed to toxins and other damaging elements, like the sun, every day. These elements will actually accelerate the aging process by producing harmful compounds called free radicals, which can damage cells and in turn damage the skin. Antioxidants actually fight free radicals, and reverse some of the damage already done by them in the body.

Precautions to be taken to prevent these nasty little free radicals from wreaking havoc on your skin include wearing sunscreen every day, getting regular moderate exercise, using preventive skin care (cleansers, lotions, gels, creams, etc.) formulated with powerful antioxidants like Vitamin C and Alpha Lipoic Acid, and making sure your get an abundance of
antioxidants in your every day diet.

Some examples of foods high in antioxidants include berries (strawberries, bluberries, raspberries, etc.),citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits, etc.), and vegetables rich in color, such as broccoli, zuccini, spinach, and summer squash.

While there are many foods to be enjoyed while living by the
“anti-aging” diet, there are also foods that need to be either avoided all together, or strictly minimized. These are refined sugar, caffeine, and all starchy and white flour products. The resulting surge of insulin created by these foods produces more free radicals and breaks down the cell’s defenses against damaging elements, leaving you wide open to more skin damage
(ie. wrinkles, skin disorders, and other premature aging effects).

These foods are highly inflammatory by nature, and while they may taste good going down, know that they are destroying good cells and allowing for future damage by weakening the cell’s defenses further. Eating these foods results in less tone and definition. The skin “droops”, hence the creation of fine lines, wrinkles, and dull color. You will know a person that has a high sugar and high carb diet by looking at their face. They may have almost a “doughy” appearance to their skin, lacking the sharp definition and tone enjoyed by those who follow a healthy diet based on the anti-aging principles.

So, there you have it, some of the core concepts that will get you started to minimizing and even reversing the affects of aging. This is really just the tip of the iceberg. There is actually a lot more information on these concepts available that would be well worth your time to learn. What
you do with these principles is up to you, it’s just a matter of making some minor changes for a longer, happier and healthier life. I’d say that is definitely worth the investment!

Visit Revitol Skin Care System for more information on an effective advanced natural skin care system that scientifically reverses the signs of aging using the ingredients mentioned in this article and as publicized in numerous articles and studies. Danna Schneider is the founder of CosmeticsGalore Cosmetic Enhancement Product Reviews

Tags: alpha lipoic acid, anti aging products, anti wrinkle, antioxidants, free radicals, wrinkle creamsalpha lipoic acid, anti aging products, anti wrinkle, antioxidants, free radicals, wrinkle creams

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Alpha Lipoic Acid (or ALA) has received a great deal of attention recently as more and more individuals are learning about its numerous benefits. Although Alpha Lipoic Acid comes in various forms, creams are often the most easy and effective way of applying ALA.

A high quality Alpha Lipoic Acid cream can act as an effective antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory daily skin cream, as ALA has been shown to be one of nature’s most advanced and powerfully effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances. It has also been shown to be especially useful in reducing fine lines and wrinkles, treating enlarged pores, bringing a healthy glow to dull, pallid skin, and reducing the appearance of under-eye bags/puffiness and blemish scars. Furthermore, when ALA is combined with substances like 100% pure, fresh Aloe Vera, Green Tea Extract, and Vitamins A& E, the benefits of an Alpha Lipoic Acid cream can be limitless.

Why does Alpha Lipoic Acid work so well? Well, ALA is considered to be a super antioxidant that is both water- and fat-soluble. As a result, ALA can penetrate any part of a cell that needs protection, and it plays an integral role in quelling inflammation, which is the condition that precedes lines and wrinkles. Quite simply, it truly acts as a wonderfully beneficial anti aging skin care product!

However, do not confuse Alpha Lipoic Acid with Alpha Hydroxy Acid. Alpha Hydroxy Acid (or AHA) is an entirely different substance with altogether different benefits. Furthermore, do not be afraid of the term “Acid” in Alpha Lipoic Acid creams. When using a high quality, reputable Alpha Lipoic Acid cream, your skin should not experience any kind of a burning sensation, unlike what the term suggests!

For more information on Alpha Lipoic Acid Cream, you can visit http://www.sensationalskin.net/.

Paige Hallett is a skin care product consultant at Sensational Skin, and holds a Masters Degree in Business from Pepperdine University. For more information on Alpha Lipoic Acid cream, please visit http://www.sensationalskin.net/

Tags: ALA, alpha lipoic acid, alpha lipoic acid creams, anti aging skin, benefits, Skin Care ProductsALA, alpha lipoic acid, alpha lipoic acid creams, anti aging skin, benefits, Skin Care Products

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