A Roundup of the Most Promising SAPs (skin age prevention)
Astaxanthin
How it works: Combats singlet oxygen, one of the strongest ROS (free radicals), which directly damages biological lipids, proteins, and DNA.
Visible results: Prevents future UV damage. Diminishes fine lines and improves elasticity
Studies: A clinical study at Creighton University demonstrated that astaxanthin can eliminate free radicals 6,000 times more effectively than vitamin C, 800 times more than CoQ10, 550 times more than vitamin E and green tea, 75 times more than alpha lipoic acid, and 20 times more than beta-carotene. For more on astaxanthin.
How it works: A natural amino-acid that is a potent antioxidant. Australian researchers claim it can extend the HayFlick Limit, the number of times our cells will divide and reproduce.
Visible results: It prevents the cross-linking of collagen and other proteins, one of the causes of wrinkling and loss of elasticity.
Studies: Recent studies suggest this ingredient may also act as a natural anti-glycation molecule. Glucose based cross-linking degrades proteins and creates Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs), which are, in turn, responsible for leading to many age-related illnesses. Test tube experiments have shown the dipeptide to effectively protect proteins from cross-linking, to protect cells from AGEs. For more on carnosine.
How it works: Stabilizes telomeres so that at least they won’t shorten and signal cell death. Maintaining telomere length extends the Hayflick Limit (the # of times a cell replicates) by one third.
Visible results: Prevents the onslaught of fine lines
Studies: Researchers on telomeres won last year’s Nobel Prize
How it works: A neuropeptide that stops facial muscles from moving and causing expression lines. SNAP-8, created by Kinerase, is being marketed as the second generation of Argireline, and is said to be 30% more effective. Our skin is naturally full of neuropeptides, but as we age, the count drops. While Botox smooths wrinkles by paralyzing the muscles through an injection of a solution derived from the botulism toxin, topical ‘Botox’ alternatives attempt to phone in the request to the cells to do the work themselves.
Visible results: Prevents the onslaught of fine lines.
Contrary to what you might think, horsetail does not, in fact, come from a horse's ass. Horsetail, a plant that is fernlike in quality, has been used since ancient Greek and Roman times for medicinal purposes, such as healing cuts and treating tuberculosis.
As far as beauty is concerned, the extracts from the horsetail plant help stimulate the skin and the production of elastin and collagen and protect the skin from oxidation. Hence, you'll often find this ingredient in antiaging products. This restorative ingredient not only helps to tone the skin but is also used to help repair brittle fingernails.
Nutra-Lift Rejuvenating Therapy($40). This well-priced product puts a lot of those $100-plus creams to shame. In addition to matrixyl 3000, this is chock with most of the anti-aging ingredients known to man. The collagen and elastin are from fish, so that should mean there’s no danger of estrogen (as there is if they have been derived from human or other animal cells). Also included is astraxanthin, which is supposed to be 100-500 times more powerful as an antioxidant than vitamin E. Pycnogenol is another antioxidant from the bark of the French maritime pine tree.
It's Cold and Gray, But You Sunscreen Should Stay!
Winter means cold, windy, snowy weather without much sunlight to offset the chill. With less time spent outside and a minimal amount of exposed skin, you may have abandoned daily use of sunscreen. After all, if you’re rarely outside and you’re all bundled up when you do venture out, what’s the point, right? Wrong!Although the sun may not be shining and the hours of daylight are fewer than during spring and summer, abandoning your daily sunscreen habit would be a skin care (meaning antiwrinkle) mistake.
Here’s why:
Even when you’re clothed in layers to defend against the cold, chances are good that a portion of your face, if not all of it, is still exposed. That means damage is still taking place if you didn’t apply sunscreen. Whether it’s the middle of January or you’re heading to the beach in June, you need sunscreen 365 days a year. Of course, in the summer months and in climates that are sunny year-round you have almost daily reminders as to why you should protect your skin from UV damage. But what you must remember when clouds prevail or the weather turns cold and gray are three basic facts about UV damage:
1. Sun damage is about your skin seeing daylight not just “sunshine”.
2. Sun damage begins within the first minute of unprotected exposure.
3. The bad rays of the sun penetrate windows.
I know winter weather can be deceptive to say the least, because without question your skin is not being exposed to the same intense radiation you’ll get in summer or sunny climates. However, even though you cannot feel the sun warming your skin (and may not even be able to see it through the thick cloud cover that’s overstayed its welcome) ultraviolet light is still present and still capable of harming your skin. Ignoring sunscreen during winter months just doesn’t make sense, especially if part of your skin care concern is about preventing or reducing wrinkles.
Still not convinced?
You may not know that the sun’s aging UV rays are no match for cloud cover. Clouds offer some UV protection, but enough skin-damaging rays break right through dreary winter clouds that damage will still occur. It’s also critical to keep in mind that snow is an excellent UV light reflector. So depending on where you live or where you are vacationing not only are UVA rays bombarding your skin from above, but they’re bouncing off the glaring white snow and hitting you from below, too. And for all of you skiers out there, don’t forget that altitude is also a sun enhancer. For every 1,000-foot increase in altitude the ultraviolet radiation potency increases by 4%.
If you’re spending little time outdoors and getting through the typical cold, gray winter months inside a toasty, heated room, you may want to change the sunscreen you use. For example, it may make good sense for you to apply a sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater during summer months or in sunny climates; however, a high SPF rating becomes extraneous when you’re spending most of your daylight hours indoors and the sun isn’t shining; there just isn’t that much time for significant UV light exposure. Of course I’m not implying you should skip sunscreen (no way!), but you’ll likely be just fine applying one rated SPF 15. Regardless of whether you choose to decrease your SPF protection or not, you would never want to go lower than using a sunscreen rated SPF 15. Also, you still have to make sure to apply sunscreen liberally and only use one that contains one or more of the active ingredients that ensures sufficient UVA protection: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone (sometimes listed as butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), ecamsule (Mexoryl SX) or Tinosorb.
It is easy to take the approach that when sunlight is out of sight the need to protect yourself from it is, to finish the phrase, out of mind. It also doesn’t help that between the end of summer and onset of autumn, sunscreen displays and promotions in stores vanish. It seems that as far as the retail industry (and many fashion magazines) are concerned, you only need sunscreen when it’s sunny, and mostly that means summertime. Don’t become complacent about sunscreens just because the stores and media are. It’s a daily habit everyone should stick with not only for maintaining skin’s youthful appearance (and preventing further sun damage) but for its overall health. This and every winter, the goal is to be as sun smart as you are when sunny days are once again the norm.
Well listen to what he has to say about adding years to your life, AND it only takes five minutes a day!
To start your meditation, Dr. Oz says to say the word "yum," drawing out the word out as you say it. "That vibration stimulates your sinuses to release nitric oxide, a very important gas that relaxes your lungs and relaxes your blood vessels," he says. "It's one of the reasons we think meditation may be so effective."
He gives a lengthy list of foods, vitamins and exercises we should be doing to take care of our bodies...just because it's about anti-aging, it does not mean that it's only meant for age groups 40 and up. These are things that we should be doing now, whether your young or old. Taking care of your body knows no age.
STUDY: Natural Arctium Lappa Fruit Extract Improves the Clinical Signs of Aging Skin
BackgroundSubclinical, chronic tissue inflammation involving the generation of cytokines (e.g., interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) might contribute to the cutaneous aging process.
AimsThis study aims to screen for an active ingredient with anti-inflammatory (i.e., reduction of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and matrix-stimulating efficacy which improves the clinical signs of skin aging in vivo.
ResultsIn vitro studies on human dermal fibroblasts and monocyte-derived dendritic cells supplemented with pure Arctiin showed relative to untreated control cells a stimulation of collagen synthesis and a decrease in interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration, respectively. In addition, topical in vivo application of an A. lappa fruit extract–containing formulation for 12 weeks significantly stimulated procollagen synthesis and increased hyaluronan synthase-2 expression as well as hyaluronan levels compared to vehicle-treated control areas. Similarly, after a 4-week treatment with an A. lappa fruit extract–containing formulation, wrinkle volume in the crow's feet area was significantly reduced as compared to treatment with the vehicle.
ConclusionsOur data show that topical treatment with a natural A. lappa fruit extract significantly improves the metabolism of the dermal extracellular matrix and leads to a visible wrinkle reduction in vivo. In conclusion, A. lappa fruit extract represents a targeted means to regenerate dermal structures and, thus, offers an effective treatment option for mature skin.
Youthtopia Age-Correcting Serum With Rhodiola is ORIGINS’ first foray into the antiaging category. In addition to the adaptogenic herb rhodiola, the item contains derivatives of the phytonutrient-rich, Himalayan-grown amalaki tree. “Rhodiola repairs and amalaki extends the repair,” says Lizz Starr, executive director of product development. The serum, launching this month for $50, also contains firming sweet almond extract, collagen-building soy peptides, moisturizing sunflower and cucumber extracts and calming geranium. “There’s a natural, organic trend in the market right now, but women still need to see the benefits,” says Jenny Belknap, vice president of global marketing.
Vavelta may be the new wave in anti-aging treatment
The newest wrinkle in anti-aging treatments might make some youth-obsessed oldsters think twice about leaping into the treatment face first.
Vavelta is a clear liquid derived from baby foreskins, donated by mothers whose babies have just been circumcised. The liquid is injected into adult skin damaged by acne or burns.
The results look promising so far, but it's a bit early to get too excited. Vavelta, developed by a British biomedical company called Intercytex, is at least four years away from being available in the U.S. If it does win FDA approval, chances are Vavelta would be used only in the treatment of burns and acne, at least initially, a company spokesperson says.
The treatment, which claims to be permanent, is different from skin fillers like Juvederm and Restylane because it contains tiny skin cells, called fibroblasts. The cells rejuvenate and revitalize damaged, aging skin from the inside by actually repopulating the lower skin layers with millions of healthy young skin cells.
Dermatologists on this side of the Pond find the idea intriguing - but say it still needs fine-tuning.
"The technique of injecting cells that make collagen, rather than collagen itself, is a very interesting idea," says Dr. Judith Hellman, a Manhattan-based dermatologist who specializes in various anti-aging skin treatments. "Normally, if you inject something into the body that is foreign, the body rejects it. But fibroblasts do not elicit such a reaction in the body."
Calling it "one step after stem cell," Dr. Eric Siegel, dermatologist and founder of the Millburn Laser Center in Millburn, N.J., says further tests on Vavelta are needed.
"There is a lot of potential downside to a treatment like this, such as infection," he says.
Mothers and babies are screened before the foreskins are accepted to be used in Vavelta, says a Intercytex spokesperson, adding that a Valvelta treatment costs the equivalent of about $850.
Noting that Intercytex is in talks now with the FDA about bringing Vavelta here, a consultant to the company notes that one foreskin makes enough cells for hundreds of thousands of treatments because the cells can be grown in cultures and then frozen.
While they're waiting for the viability of Vavelta to be decided by the FDA, wrinkle-conscious Americans can still try other unorthodox anti-aging treatments for the next few years.
Those who aren't squeamish about, well, poop, might take advantage of a one-of-a-kind facial that combines "sanitized" nightingale droppings with natural oils to hydrate the skin. Called the Geisha Facial -- it's been used by Japan’s geishas for centuries -- the treatment is said to break down dead skin cells and draw out any bacteria from the cells more gently than acid peels. Among the celebs said to have tried (and loved) the Geisha Facial is Victoria Beckham.
Another unusual celebrity beauty regimen is "cupping," an ancient Chinese acupressure method said to be favored by Gwyneth Paltrow. There's also leech therapy, reportedly used by Demi Moore to detoxify her body.
The rest of us can resort to more old-fashioned remedies.
"There are things you can do to keep your skin young as we age and the fibroblasts take a little nap, which means we have less collagen," says Dr. Flor Mayoral, a dermatologist who researches new anti-aging treatments. "Take antioxidants and vitamins, don't smoke, get enough rest and eat well. You may age a bit more slowly than your friends, but the truth is that we are all going to continue to age - if we are lucky."
Finally, there's the anti-aging remedy that no sun worshipper wants to hear about.
"I tell my patients, there are no miracles in any jars," says Dr. Siegel. "The best anti-wrinkle cream around is a very good sunblock."
Hit the produce aisle, suggests new research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I (NHANES I)—a survey that asks people to quantify how often they eat various foods—researchers from Unilever linked consuming plenty of vitamin C-rich foods (such as oranges, tomatoes and strawberries) with youthful skin. "Our findings suggest that a higher intake of vitamin C from foods is associated with a lower risk of having wrinkled skin and age-related skin dryness in [middle-aged] women," says Maeve Cosgrove, Ph.D., who led the research.
Vitamin C’s youthful effects on skin may be due to its antioxidant properties, which help protect against ultraviolet rays, and its role in keeping skin firm via collagen synthesis, say the researchers.
Bottom line: Eating more vitamin-C rich foods, such as oranges, tomatoes, strawberries and broccoli, may be a secret to smoother skin.
Holy basil, (Latin name Ocimum sanctum), is a close relative of the herb commonly used in Western cooking. Native to India, its extract has long been used in the ancient system of Ayurvedic medicine practiced in India and other parts of Asia as a rejuvenation drug, to promote a youthful state of physical and mental health.
In the first formal study of the herb, pharmacy researchers found that holy basil extract was effective at actively searching for and eliminating harmful molecules and protecting against damage caused by some free radicals in key organs such as the heart, liver and brain.
The researchers, led by Dr Vaibhav Shinde from Poona College of Pharmacy, Maharashtra, India, studied the herb for anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties.
Dr Shinde said: "The study validates the traditional use of herb as a youth-promoting substance in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. It also helps describe how the herb acts at a cellular level." Source
An adaptogenic herb long used by Russians and Scandinavians to alleviate stress, rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) — or golden root — might be the new longevity wunderkind.
Adaptogens help the body cope with the effects of stress, and recent research at the University of California at Irvine found that fruit flies fed rhodiola lived 10% longer than those not fed the herb.
“Although this study does not present clinical evidence that rhodiola can extend human life, the finding that it does extend the lifespan of a model organism, combined with its known health benefits in humans, make this herb a promising candidate for further antiaging research,” says study author, Mahtab Jafari, PharmD. A typical dose is 100-200 mg a day.
Then slow the aging process with these up-and-coming plant-based ingredients.
Argan oil
Argan oil, made from the nuts of a Moroccan tree species, contains twice as much vitamin E as olive oil. Like other antioxidants, vitamin E slows the damaging effects of free radicals — molecules in your body that start attacking and breaking down healthy cells when exposed to environmental stressors, such as ultraviolet rays and car exhaust. Argan oil is also rich in squalene, a compound that promotes collagen production. Look for argan oil in ingredients lists, or cook with this slightly nutty oil. Because argan trees are a threatened species, make sure that any product you buy comes from sustainably harvested nuts.
Find it in:L'uvalla Age-Defying Day & Night Moisturizing Cream; Pangea Organics Italian Red Mandarin with Rose Facial Cream.
Astaxanthin
To keep those crow's feet under control, get in the habit of putting on sunscreen — every day. Using sunscreen is the “number-one thing” you can do to stop premature aging, says Goldin. Still, not all sunscreens are created equal. Check for creams that contain physical blocks like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, as well as astaxanthin, a carotenoid harvested from microalgae (it's also found in salmon). This antioxidant packs a double punch: Not only does it protect cells from future damage when applied before sun exposure, but it also shores up skin after a day outside by fighting off oxidative damage.
The skin care aisle is flooded with salves and moisturizers that contain green tea — and for good reason — but over the next couple of years, red will become the new green. Recent studies show that red tea, also called rooibos (pronounced “ROY-boss”), contains nearly 50 percent more skin-salvaging antioxidants than green tea. Bonus: This South African tea is caffeine-free and packed with zinc, a mineral that helps the body metabolize fatty acids and keep cells plump.
Find it in:Jason Red Elements Daily Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 15. Or sip Honest Tea Pomegranate Red Tea with Goji Berry.
Turmeric
The spice that makes mustard and curry yellow, turmeric is one of nature's most powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory herbs. Curcumin, a naturally occurring chemical in the spice, slows down the aging process by fighting inflammation-causing proteins called cytokines. Don't like Indian food? Turmeric is just as effective in supplement form.
Find it in:Avalon Organics Lavender Moisture Plus Lotion with SPF 18. Or take 500 mg turmeric capsules three times per day, after eating.
A downtrodden economy — and the worries it brings — can wreak havoc on one’s beauty, deepening frown lines and cultivating crops of gray hairs. It’s enough to prompt beauty devotees to put down their lipsticks and surrender.
But amidst the hopelessness, an enterprising group of marketers is working to widen the scope of beauty to wellness. Wielding an inside-outside approach, they are touting ingestible supplements — pills, candies and drinks — as an integral, but lacking, part of women’s daily beauty routines.
In September, the Nestlé Co. will introduce Glowelle, a dietary supplement billed as a beauty juice formulated with antioxidants, vitamins and botanical and fruit extracts. A daily serving of the juice, or its alternative powder packet form, is said to help stave off aging by nourishing and hydrating skin from the inside out, according to the company.
“Stress and poor diet affect the skin, hair and nails,” said Kimberly Cooper, chief beauty officer of Nestlé’s Glowelle. “Wellness, to most women, is looking and feeling good.”
The beauty juice will steer clear of food retailers. “Glowelle is for beauty insiders so high-end department stores are a better fit,” said Cooper, adding Glowelle has introduced Nestlé to new retail territory, which the company plans to expand its presence in over time.
Dr. Susan Beck, Glowelle’s scientist and nutritionist for research and development, agreed. “Juice is an easy delivery system. It feels easier to drink something, and it’s less work for the digestive system [than a pill],” she said. “Juices easily cross the intestinal layer.”
She added that antioxidants taken orally are metabolized and then reach the inner and outer layers of the skin, unlike topicals and creams that sit on the skin’s top layer.
Beck, who holds a doctorate in nutritional sciences and has a master’s degree in Chinese medicine, noted there’s increasing evidence that antioxidants work synergistically, naming vitamin E and vitamin C in particular. Beck explained that by itself, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects skin cells from free radicals. But once it has disarmed a free radical, vitamin E becomes spent, or inactive. Enter vitamin C, which can regenerate vitamin E.
She continued that, in two separate human studies, researchers found that vitamins C and E worked better to protect the skin against the harmful effects from free radicals generated from the sun when taken together than when taken individually.
Did you know that aloe vera juice is one of the most nutrition-packed and biologically-alive liquids on the entire planet?
Hardly any natural plant can beat its many benefits to your body.
Aloe contains more than one hundred thirty biologically active compounds and thirty four amino acids that act synergistically and create an awesome force for your health. Further, its average pH is a “balancing” 4.55.
It is truly a wondrous ‘gold mine’ of phyto-nutrients
Aloe vera is a desert plant that’s been treasured for centuries for its ability to enhance health. Records show that Cleopatra used it to protect her skin from the sun and stay young-looking, too.
Now you can do the same, and receive all these benefits:
Soothing. Aloe vera enhances fibroblast function. Fibroblasts are remarkable little cells responsible for collagen formation. They also assist in the soothing of minor burns, cuts, scrapes and skin irritations.
Immune support and function. Aloe vera provides natural support for your immune system. Since your skin is the first exterior line of defense and your immune system works around the clock protecting you, aloe vera’s natural immune enhancers give you an arsenal from which to draw.
Helps produce collagen and elastin. Your skin replenishes itself every 21 to 28 days. Aloe vera adds a rich supply of building materials to produce and maintain healthy skin to support a youthful appearance! A daily dose of aloe vera could be just what your skin is thirsting for.
Minerals. Minerals found in aloe vera include calcium, sodium, iron, potassium, chromium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc. What a powerful storehouse! Since your skin absorbs anything you apply to it, using products with naturally occurring vitamins and minerals can contribute to your overall health.
Vitamins. Aloe vera includes vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, folic acid and niacin. Your body simply cannot store some of these vitamins. Using aloe vera contributes to building your defense system against oxidative stress!
Amino acid body-building blocks. Amino acids are your body’s own building blocks. Eight are essential and cannot be produced by your body, but seven of those eight are found in the aloe plant. Aloe vera comes closer than any other known plant to the duplication of essential amino acids.
Olives - In 2001 Australian scientists discovered that the more olive oil people had in their diets, the less wrinkles they had. The oleic acid found in olives and virgin olive oil is the key here. Oleic acid actually soaks through the membranes of skin cells plumping them up, which then makes fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable. Organic extra virgin olive oil contains high levels of antioxidants like phenols, and vitamins E and A, which fight free radicals and thus prevent premature aging. Those antioxidants help neutralize the oxidation process, which is common to all fats, and preserve the properties of olive oil too. I know this may sound crazy but I take a teaspoon of extra virgin oil everyday. Make sure it is the extra virgin olive oil as it is the best for the skin.
Tomatoes - Tomatoes contain lycopene, a skin-friendly antioxidant which is also 100 times more powerful than Vitamin E, which is known by many cosmetologists to be a vitamin for the skin. Don't forget about all the powerful antioxidants in tomatoes that promote healthy skin as well.
Kale - Rich in antioxidants and contains iron that helps bring oxygen to the skin and vitamin A that wards off premature aging.
Salmon - Salmon and other cold-water fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which hold off wrinkles by preventing inflammation and lubricating your skin.
Spinach- Spinach is full of the substance known as lutein. Recent French research has shown that lutein helps skin hydration and elasticity, which in the end helps get rid and prevent wrinkles. You will need at least 10mg of lutein for it to have any effect, which is roughly a 4oz serving of spinach.
Goji Berries- Are packed with vitamin C as well as vitamins B1, B2, B6 and E. They also contain linoleic acid, an essential fat that plumps up the skin and makes it look smoother and younger.
Beans- Beans are really, really good for your skin. They help your body create hyaluronic acidwhich plumps and smooths the skin.
Dark Chocolate - Studies have shown that after drinking a cocoa-packed drink, blood flow to the skin was boosted (meaning it gets higher levels of nutrients and moisture). It also seemed to be more protected against UV damage - the number-one skin ager.
Prunes - Are the fruit that contain the highest level of anti-oxidants which are essential to anti-aging in the skin (blueberries are a close second).
Turkey- Turkey has a protein called carnosine that slows down the cross-linking process in the skin thus helping with wrinkles.
I also found several articles linking consuming too much sugar to causing wrinkles. I suppose that laying off the sugar would be a good idea. Never fear though, because if you read my blog you know that you can use Stevia as an option (check older posts).
Red wine may be much more potent than was thought in extending human lifespan, researchers say in a new report that is likely to give impetus to the rapidly growing search for longevity drugs.
The study is based on dosing mice with resveratrol, an ingredient of some red wines. Some scientists are already taking resveratrol in capsule form, but others believe it is far too early to take the drug, especially using wine as its source, until there is better data on its safety and effectiveness.
The report is part of a new wave of interest in drugs that may enhance longevity. On Monday, Sirtris, a startup founded in 2004 to develop drugs with the same effects as resveratrol, completed its sale to GlaxoSmithKline for $720 million.
“The upside is so huge that if we are right, the company that dominates the sirtuin space could dominate the pharmaceutical industry and change medicine,” Dr. David Sinclair of the Harvard Medical School, a co-founder of the company, said Tuesday.
Serious scientists have long derided the idea of life-extending elixirs, but the door has now been opened to drugs that exploit an ancient biological survival mechanism, that of switching the body’s resources from fertility to tissue maintenance. The improved tissue maintenance seems to extend life by cutting down on the degenerative diseases of aging.
The reflex can be prompted by a faminelike diet, known as caloric restriction, which extends the life of laboratory rodents by up to 30% but is far too hard for most people to keep to and in any case has not been proven to work in humans.
Research started nearly 20 years ago by Dr. Leonard Guarente of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology showed recently that the famine-induced switch to tissue preservation might be triggered by activating the body’s sirtuins. Dr. Sinclair, a former student of Dr. Guarente, then found in 2003 that sirtuins could be activated by some natural compounds, including resveratrol, previously known as just an ingredient of certain red wines.
Dr. Sinclair’s finding led in several directions. He and others have tested resveratrol’s effects in mice, mostly at doses far higher than the minuscule amounts in red wine. One of the more spectacular results was obtained last year by Dr. John Auwerx of the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology in Illkirch, France. He showed that resveratrol could turn plain vanilla, couch-potato mice into champion athletes, making them run twice as far on a treadmill before collapsing.
Red wine contains many other resveratrol-like compounds that may also be beneficial. Resveratrol can also be obtained in the form of capsules marketed by several companies. Those made by one company, Longevinex, include extracts of red wine and of a Chinese plant called giant knotweed. The Wisconsin researchers conclude that resveratrol can mimic many of the effects of a caloric-restricted diet “at doses that can readily be achieved in humans.”
Another researcher in the sirtuin field, Dr. Matthew Kaeberlein of the University of Washington in Seattle, said, “There’s no way of knowing from this data, or from the prior work, if something similar would happen in humans at either low or high doses.”
These colorful fruits top the charts with their antioxidant content and have been shown to help with brain, eye and vascular health. Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells from free radical damage. Free radicals are highly reactive particles - induced by such things as cigarette smoking, sunlight and excessive exercise - that damage cells throughout the body by triggering oxidative reactions. Berries also provide fiber.
Did you know? One way to ensure you are eating the recommended servings and variety of fruits and vegetables is to eat a colorful diet. Most experts agree that the colors in foods, also known as phytochemicals, impart numerous health benefits. As a general rule, have at least three natural colors on your plate at each meal. For added antioxidant content, experiment with fruits and vegetables in new varieties of colors. Look for purple cauliflower, red or yellow carrots, purple potatoes, pink radishes, red cabbage, blood oranges, purple beans and more.
Anti-aging and antiwrinkle are powerful buzzwords that capture the attention of women the world over. Each product sounds more incredible than the last. The claims make it a wonder that plastic surgeons haven't gone out of business.
There is only so much a cosmetic can do to provide the results we long for, and no skin-care product can even remotely work like or take the place of Botox, lasers, or dermal injections, despite the endless assertions from myriad cosmetic companies, including many doctor-owned lines where the doctors themselves offer such procedures.
But there also is good news: There are many products being sold whose ingredients have a proven track record of producing noticeable, sometimes cumulative, improvements in skin. Here is what we know for certain:
Antioxidants reduce inflammation, help skin defend against environmental assaults, and produce a healthier looking visage.
Cell-communicating ingredients, at least in theory, can "tell" skin cells to behave in a normal (meaning younger and undamaged) manner.
Exfoliants can remove built-up layers of problematic dead, rough, thickened, uneven surface skin cells that make skin look more wrinkled and dry. Some exfoliants also have research showing they can increase collagen production while improving skin texture due to the removal of the built-up layers of dead skin.
Last, there are numerous skin-identical substances (i.e., substances that are the same as the natural components in skin that hold skin cells together and protect it) that replenish and restore the skin's external barrier, making it soft and supple, diminishing dryness, and helping skin defend itself from environmental factors.
Abundant research makes it crystal clear that these ingredients are indeed the state-of-the-art ingredients, especially when combined, that can make skin, dare I say it, fight the signs of aging! Without question, these are the types of ingredients you need in any lotion, cream, gel, serum, moisturizer, anti-aging, or anti-wrinkle product you use. If they're not in there, then why bother? And if they're not in an expensive product? That's a red flag that you're paying for fancy packaging and grandiose claims, not a truly elegant product.
Each day scientists are discovering more amazing ways antioxidants keep us alive and well -- and they're still discovering new varieties. But these seven heavy hitters have the most research to back them up. Fill up your plate with the following nutrients and start mowing down those free-radical bastards.
Selenium: The trace mineral does double duty -- it acts as an antioxidant itself and speeds up your body's natural antioxidant-making process. In a study at Cornell University and the University of Arizona of 1,312 patients with skin cancer, those who got 200 micrograms of selenium daily for 10 years reduced their risk of dying from any cancer -- not just skin cancer -- by 18 percent, compared with those who took a placebo. Shoot for the DV of 55 micrograms Best food sources:Brazil nuts (95.8 mcg per nut), snapper (41.6 mcg per 3 ounces), and shrimp (33.7 mcg per 3 ounces)
Vitamin E: The health-conscious side of us appreciates that this antioxidant fights heart disease, boosts immunity, and helps stop cell damage that leads to skin cancer. But let's face it: We love that this vitamin also keeps the ravages of time from showing up on our face. In a Korean study, mice exposed to ultraviolet sunlight were less likely to wrinkle when they consumed vitamin E (along with a host of other antioxidants). Shoot for the DV of 15 milligrams Best food sources:Sunflower seeds (10.3 mg per ounce), hazelnuts (4.3 mg per ounce), and peanut butter (2.9 mg per 2 tablespoons)
Vitamin C: It's not just for colds anymore. Now it protects your DNA and helps your body use vitamin E more efficiently. Research has shown that C has a talent for protecting blood vessels and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. In a six-year study of 5,197 people at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, those who consumed the highest amounts of vitamin C had the lowest risk of stroke. Shoot for at least the DV of 75 milligrams Best food sources:Papaya (187.9 mg per fruit), bell peppers (119 mg per cup), and broccoli (81.2 mg per cup)
Carotenoids: This pigment helps protect your eyes and skin from sun damage. In a study of 5,836 people in the Netherlands, consumption of beta-carotene -- one of many carotenoids -- was found to reduce the risk of macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness. Shoot for: Scientists have no standard goal for carotenoids other than the DV of 2,310 international units (IU) for vitamin A (a form of beta-carotene). Best food sources:Carrots, butternut squash, and spinach
Isothiocyanates: These antioxidants put cancer-causing enzymes in a headlock. In a study of more than 1,400 people at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, researchers found that people who ate more isothiocyanate-rich foods reduced their risk of bladder cancer by 29 percent. Shoot for: Scientists have no standard goal for isothiocyanates. Best food sources:Broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower
Polyphenols: Raise a glass of pinot noir to polyphenols -- they've turned our favorite vice into a virtue. Researchers at Columbia University studied 980 people and found that those who drank up to three glasses per day of wine -- rich in flavonoids, a polyphenol -- were less likely to develop memory-loss problems such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease. In a test-tube study at the Leeds Dental Institute in the UK, the polyphenols in cocoa reduced the growth of two types of bacteria that can trigger gum disease. Shoot for: Scientists have no standard goal for polyphenols. Best food sources:Dark chocolate (the higher the cocoa content, the better), red wine, tea, and coffee
Coenzyme Q10: Its nickname sounds like R2D2's cousin -- and CoQ10 is a cell-protecting machine. It's also been linked with the prevention of migraines, which it may accomplish by guarding brain cells. In a study of 42 migraine patients in Zurich, those who took CoQ10 had half as many headaches over three months as those who took a dummy pill. The enzyme may also help lower blood pressure. Shoot for: Scientists have no standard for CoQ10. Best food sources:Lean beef, chicken breast, and fish (all types).
