Archive for April, 2011
Sugars and refined foods or carbs that turn into sugars and fats can promote premature aging, wrinkles and sagging skin, as well as heart disease, obesity, and many other illnesses and conditions that are serious and will shorten a life span. In addition, sugars suppress the immune system and contribute to the formation of AGE – advance glycation end products – molecules, which have an adverse effect in the body and in the destruction of collagen and elastin. AGE’s also aid in the formation of free radicals, and decrease antioxidants in the body. All this contributes to acceleration in the aging process. One way in which to decrease this damage to the system and look younger is by eliminating sugars and processed foods from the diet. Processed foods are also high in sugars. Consuming natural and organic foods will help in the reduction of sugar content and in other environmental pollutants, such as pesticides that damage the body.
Consuming organic foods high in antioxidants will help strengthen the immune system and keep a youthful appearance, as well as promote longevity. Consuming organic fruits and vegetables is a great way to increase antioxidant consumption and a way to promote a healthy state. In addition, including other foods such as whole grain, seeds, and nuts is beneficial to creating a healthy and balanced diet to combat the signs of aging. Fruits and vegetables with a rich blue, purple, red, and orange color are higher in antioxidant content. Some of these food items include prunes, blueberries, blackberries, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, plums, oranges, red grapes, mango, acai berry, pineapple, peach, tangerine, red apples, tomatoes, carrots … and many other delicious foods.
In addition, good oils, such as omega 3 found in fish, olive oil, and sunflower oil, are an alternative to unhealthy fats and oils, which end up damaging the body. Another great addition to an organic diet is dark green or cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, cabbage, turnip, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, radish, and other veggies. Garlic and ginger are beneficial as they have antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties. A good organic diet should be supplemented by the inclusion of moderate exercise to improve the body’s fitness, muscle elasticity, and blood circulation. The benefits of exercise have been proven. Exercise along with an organic diet, and the use of organic beauty and anti aging creams and beauty products may be as well called the fountain of youth method.
Raw foods will have a higher amount of antioxidants, phytochemicals, enzymes, and vitamins that are beneficial to cell protection and you should aim to eat foods as close to their natural state. The cooking process will destroy many of these properties, so plant base foods are recommended in a natural state. These are not only delicious, but also good for you. In addition to an organic diet, nourishing and hydrating the body by drinking plenty of water to aid digestion and flush away toxins from the body is recommended.
Hormone free foods and foods that are non-chemically engineered are better choices to maintain and promote a healthy state as well as to promote a long life and youthful appearance.
Aging is a natural process of the human body; however, what we eat and the activities in which we indulge can have an effect on our skin and appearance accelerating aging. A high diet in sugars can have an effect on how young or old you look. Sugar is included in the processed foods we eat and in the natural foods that we consume, such as fruits. Sugar takes the form of sucrose, dextrose, and high fructose. These may appear in product labels as such or as corn syrup or corn sugar. Sugar increases the insulin levels in the body, which in turn will inhibit or slow the release of growth hormones and depresses the immune system. Because insulin is also responsible for promoting fat storage, when you consume too many sugars, you are promoting the increase of fat in your body and the high triglycerides in the blood, which causes heart disease. In addition, there is a lot of glucose (sugar) in the system, it will prevent the amount of vitamin C that is allowed to enter the system since they have a similar composition. This means that with less vitamin C in the system, you are prone to illnesses – vitamin C is an antioxidant and an anti aging vitamin. Fructose, malts, honey and sucrose, are types of sugar that are unhealthy if consumed in high amounts.
The negative effects of sugar in the body are many, starting with a depressed immune system and followed by tooth decay, osteoporosis, mineral imbalance, anxiety and depression, hyperactivity, problems in concentration, rise in triglycerides and bad cholesterol levels, drowsiness, diabetes, kidney damage, stomach problems, wrinkling, gray hair, weight gain, colitis, Crohn’s disease, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, food allergies, free radicals increase, toxemia, eczema and skin disorders, pancreas damage, enlarge liver, fatty liver, kidney disease, fluid retention, hormonal imbalance, migraine, fogginess, blood clots, cancer, fermentation of colon bacteria, and many other conditions that age the body.
Sugar is also responsible for the formation of harmful molecules called advance glycation end products (AGE), damaging near proteins, collagen and elastin, and contributing to the formation of wrinkles. Collagen and elastin are proteins that support the firmness and elasticity of the skin. In addition, these harmful molecules will deactivate antioxidants, and will convert the existing collagen in the body into a type of collagen less strong, and more fragile. A more fragile collagen will lead to sagging of the skin. This has been observed in some people with diabetes, which show early signs of aging. It seems that many diabetics have 50 times more AGE’s in their system than individuals who are not diabetic.
To promote a younger appearance and to prevent wrinkles and sagging skin, it is important to lower or eliminate the consumption of sugars. Using products to restore collagen in the skin and promote the growth of collagen, as well as taking vitamin B1 and B6 – AGE’s inhibitors – will help in keeping a youthful look. In addition, it is important to consume foods high in antioxidants. Two ingredients that help block AGE’s are aminoguanidine and alistin. These are contained in many anti aging products. In general terms, sugar is the number one enemy of youth.
In every human body, hormones are at work, sending chemical messages via the bloodstream from the brain to vital organs. Hormones are responsible for the rate of growth, reproductive functions, appetite and digestion, and various other bodily functions. Several different glands such as the pituitary gland, thyroid, liver, and female and male sex glands create hormones. As people grow older, production of key hormones can diminish, causing many of the changes people associate with the process of aging.
Certain hormones, such as estrogen, the female hormone are necessary for bone density and prevention of heart disease. When estrogen levels decrease, estrogen therapy is often needed to provide protection from these ailments. Other hormones that affect aging are melatonin and HGH (human growth hormone). When these hormones decrease, the signs of aging can increase and sleep cycles can be disrupted, causing stress and wrinkles. While there are hormone replacement therapies that will work to restore a balance in the system, there are other beneficial ways to combat the signs of aging.
Most often women complain about the lines and wrinkles that form around their eyes. When hormones decrease in the body, subtle signs of age can appear in this area, making it necessary to adjust skin care tactics. What worked in a woman’s early 20s is not likely going to be as effective in her 30s or 40s, but simple changes in diet and exercise can do wonders, as well as the addition of a rich eye cream. Specially formulated eye creams can reduce puffiness, wrinkles, and dark circles in the eye area.
Start with making sure you are eating a healthy diet and drinking enough water. These steps might seem elementary and simple, but are the basics of great skin care. Proper exercise is also beneficial to preventing the signs of aging, as circulation is increased with exercise and your internal organs will benefit as much as your skin. Sleeping for at least six to eight hours each night is another way to prevent premature wrinkles. If you have already noticed the appearance of fine lines or even actual wrinkles, apply a thick and nutrient filled eye cream before bed. The moisturizing effect plus the additives will have the hours you are resting to restore the look of youthful skin.
The best eye creams will include natural ingredients such as vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that works to reverse damage caused by free radicals by eliminating them from your system. Japanese sea kelp is another ingredient that is used to reduce wrinkles by increasing the skin’s hyaluronic acid content. As the main reason skin wrinkles is the decreased amounts of elastin and collagen, eye creams that include these important proteins will help to return firm skin with increased elasticity.
Organic eye creams and nutrient filled eye creams should be researched to make sure you are purchasing the best cream for the money instead of buying the cream with the best advertising campaign or the lowest price. In order to be effective, eye creams need to work on restoring balance to your skin cells, returning them to a more youthful appearance.