Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Alpha lipoic acid is a very powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory agent. Since it is almost non-existent in foods, we need to take it as a supplement on a daily basis. Alpha lipoic acid is unique among antioxidants because it is soluble in both fat and water. This means that it can reach all areas of the cell to provide free radical protection. It also makes it exceptionally compatible with the skin due to its fat solubility.
Perricone readers know that I strongly discourage eating foods that contain sugar or other forms of sweeteners, as well as foods that rapidly convert to sugar when eaten. Unfortunately, many of these foods are our mainstays—such as breads, pasta, potatoes, cookies, snack foods and so forth.
As a dermatologist, one of the reasons that I so vehemently discourage this is because these foods are highly damaging to the skin. When we eat foods that raise our blood sugar such as those described above, we are setting ourselves up for the creation of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs), which is the topic of my next book due out this fall. These AGEs are formed when a sugar molecule attaches to a protein. Collagen is the protein substance of skin, tendon, bone, cartilage, and all other connective tissue. As you might guess, the sugar molecule has a high affinity with the collagen protein. Once it attaches to the collagen it glycates the protein causing it to stiffen. This leads to wrinkled and sagging skin.
Perricone readers know that I strongly discourage eating foods that contain sugar or other forms of sweeteners, as well as foods that rapidly convert to sugar when eaten. Unfortunately, many of these foods are our mainstays—such as breads, pasta, potatoes, cookies, snack foods and so forth.
As a dermatologist, one of the reasons that I so vehemently discourage this is because these foods are highly damaging to the skin. When we eat foods that raise our blood sugar such as those described above, we are setting ourselves up for the creation of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs), which is the topic of my next book due out this fall. These AGEs are formed when a sugar molecule attaches to a protein. Collagen is the protein substance of skin, tendon, bone, cartilage, and all other connective tissue. As you might guess, the sugar molecule has a high affinity with the collagen protein. Once it attaches to the collagen it glycates the protein causing it to stiffen. This leads to wrinkled and sagging skin.
Labels: Alpha Lipoic Acid, Dr. Perricone, skin, supplements
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