Anti-Aging and Eating Foods High in Anti-Oxidants
March 7, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Healthy, anti-oxidant rich, anti-aging foods can enhance your health, energy, mental fitness and slow many of the signs and changes of aging.
Many consumers have been taught that low-fats foods, such as lean meat, dairy products, yogurt and vegetables are the best foods to keep you healthy and prevent aging and skin wrinkles. But scientist now tell us that simply eating some salad or vegetables every now and then won’t do much. To understand which foods are the best and why, you need to understand how free radicals affect your skin health and increase the aging process.
Most longevity experts say that free radicals are the main cause of aging. Free radicals are oxygen molecules that have an ‘extra’ or free electron. This free electron makes the molecule unstable. It seeks another molecule so they can become stable. When the free radical bonds to another molecule it causes proteins and other essential molecules to not function as they should. This reactive process sets up a chain reaction of which damages the body’s cells.
Recently, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the USDA created a new food classification system that rates the antioxidant content of various food. This list is called ORAC, or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.
A quote from the ORAC report reads, “The development of various chronic and degenerative diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and neuronal degeneration such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease may be attributed, in part, to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has also been implicated in the process of aging. Although the human body has developed a number of systems to eliminate free radicals such as reactive oxygen species from the body, it is not 100% efficient.”
It is believed that the anti-oxidants found in certain foods can protect the body from the damage caused by these free radicals. High ORAC ratings means the food has high anti-oxidant potential and thus rates as a good Anti-aging food.
Here are some highlights from the USDA ORAC list:
Release 1 – November 2007. Values were reported for 277 food items. Release 2 – May 2010. Values were added for 49 food items, including maple syrup, acai, and goji berries, for a total of 326 food items.
Cinnamon: 100 grams of ground cinnamon has a rating of 267,536, making it extremely high on the anti-aging and free-radical-blocking scale. This is why many longevity experts suggest sprinkling some cinnamon on your food or hot drinks.
BEANS: A half cup (dried beans) of small Red Beans has a score of 13727 , Red kidney beans 13259 , Pinto beans11864 and Black beans 4181.
FRUITS: Each ORAC number is for 1 cup. Wild blueberry1 13427; Cultivated blueberry 9019; Cranberry 8983,Blackberry 7701, Prunes (½ cup )7291 ; Raspberry 6058; Strawberry 5938; Red Delicious apple I whole) 5900 ; Granny Smith apple 5381 ; Sweet cherries (1 cup) 4873; Black plum 1 plum 4844 ; other plums have 4118 each and a Gala apple has a rating of 3903.
Artichoke hearts 1 cup, cooked ranked in at 7904. An ounce of Pecans scored 5095 and a single Russet potato cooked came in at 4649.
This list presupposes that the fruits and vegetables are fresh and that they pesticide free. Naturally organic foods and skincare choices like anti-aging masks are best since organic foods and natural skin treatments have no toxic chemicals.
So, if you are concerned with aging skin and are interested in longevity, ensure that the food you put in your body does not have toxic chemicals and are high on the anti-oxidant list.
You can obtain the FDA complete ORAC listing at The FDA ORAC scale here:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=15866
Why Should I Look Out For Parabens and Sulfates? (Pt 2 of 2)
December 7, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Many skincare products are unfortunately rushed to market to meet this demand without any real consideration to research and development. Most of the budget may go into the marketing of the product. On the surface everything looks great. The bottles and jars that the creams come in look appealing. The magazine advertisements are glossy, complete with a youthful looking model or a well known celebrity who may not even use the products themselves. But underneath the jar lid, one can typically find un-pronounceable ingredients chemically formulated to “imitate” their natural predecessor.
WHAT ABOUT SULFATES?
Sulfates is another name for a common skincare ingredient called “Surfactants” which are designed to dissolve oils and hold dirt in suspension so it can be rinsed away with water. Mostly used in skin cleansers and shampoos.
Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lowering of the interfacial tension between two liquids, or between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as: detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.
What all this means is sulfates are used to make the product lather or foam. However, that rich “lather” you get from sulfates may not really be good for your hair and skin as they can strip away natural oils. Despite what many been led to believe, the lather or foam does not actually help you get cleaner.
Natural Surfactants.
As is usually the case there are natural alternatives that do the job much better and safer than synthetics. Natural Saponins (foaming agents) gently cleanse the hair and scalp without stripping away the natural oils. These natural surfactants are a core component of any organic skin care regime. Some recommended organic skin care surfactants include, castile soap, yucca extract, soapwort and quillaja bark extract.
According to Skin Deep – the cosmetic ingredient database, www.cosmeticsdatabase.com , Synthetic Surfactants To Avoid Include: Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl/Cocoyl Sacrosinate, Cocomidopropyl Betaine and Quanternium -7,15,31,60 or Disodium Oleamide which can be a potent carcinogen when mixed with Nitrosamines.
Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate are the most commonly used in shampoos and lathering types of skincare. They rate around 4 on the scale of 1 to 10. Studies and results are conflicting for potential toxicity, so most err on the side of caution.
Time Saving Tip: This class of toxins is quite easy to pinpoint. They are listed on labels as either ending in -eth (Laureth) or contain the phrase PEG (Poly Ethylene Glycol) or PPG (Poly Propylene Glycol).
According to some sources, while many of these particles are too large to penetrate the skin, they can result in allergies and health problems. Increasing use of Sodium Laural sulfate (SLS) in skin care can cause major skin irritations and even organ system toxicity. Other studies show that chemicals like this clog the skin pores and don’t have any benefit to the skin.
Unfortunately, cosmetics are the lowest priority for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Their priority, naturally, has to be the foods and drugs we are consuming. They do not have the funds, staff, or authority to monitor what cosmetics companies are putting in their products. In addition, no ingredient has to be approved for use in products, and according to the FDA website.
There are two major classes of surfactants used in synthetic skin care products:
1) Ethoxylated Surfactants: The chemical reaction required to mix Ethylene and Propylene Oxide together has a serious side effect, that is they can be contaminated with Dioxane‒a potent carcinogen.
2) Amides: These are listed on labels containing the term TEA (Tri Ethanol Amine), DEA (Di Ethanol Amine) and MEA (Mono Ethanol Amine).
Why are these chemicals hazardous? Well, all compounds containing TEA, DEA and MEA undergo nitrosation with other chemicals to form nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic.
So again, it is up to you to be the educated consumer. Understanding what you purchase and how it can potentially affect you and your family.
When in doubt, it is best to choose naturally-based products or wholly organic ones than to use skin care products that contain potentially dangerous preservatives and chemicals, especially ones that are applied directly and/or massaged into the skin.
By Rachelle Dupree
Anti-Inflammatory Herbal Skincare Ingredients
October 7, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
If you suffer from acne, rosacea, redness or uneven skin tone you might want to pay attention to the ingredients in your skincare products. Inflammation, redness and even allergic reactions can be caused by an overabundance of chemicals in your facial products. Whenever possible, choose facial products that contain a majority of natural or organic ingredients. Many of these herbs are used today in anti-aging and anti-acne products like facial masks and all forms of cleansers, toners and moisturizers. There is a plethora of herbs to choose from, the following are some of the most predominant and effective.
Chamomile — This very gentle herb is ideal to replenish and enrich dry or sensitive skin. It’s bactericidal, anti-itching, and antiseptic properties help to refresh the skin and reduce swelling.
Chamomile contains phenolic derivatives, which have an antiseptic and healing quality, which is most helpful in relieving skin congestion. These soften the skin, making it an effective ingredient in any anti-aging cosmetic product.
Chamomile is an ideal ingredient to be used in general skin care, and especially where inflammation may be present, such as in various skin problems, including acne, irritation and other forms of rashes and skin complaints, plus the fact that it promotes granulation and cell regeneration.
Comfrey— Comfrey is a sweet, cooling herb with expectorant, astringent, soothing and healing effects. It reduces inflammation and controls bleeding. It contains allantoin (a chemical compound commonly used in lotions and creams) as well as high amounts of mucilage. It is a superb wound healing herb, but the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) can be carcinogenic and also cause liver damage if ingested in large doses or too frequently.
Used externally for psoriasis, eczema, sores, varicose veins and skin ulcers, arthritis, sprains, bunions, hemorrhoids, sore breasts during lactation, and injuries, including fractures. It is particularly effective in slow healing wounds and to help repair tissue damage. Comfrey is used to stimulate growth of new skin cells.
Lavender—Is a great multi-purpose herb. It’s a skin healer; it stimulates cell growth, reduces inflammation, prevents scarring and balances the production of natural sebum or oil. It is antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory.
Green tea —Very beneficial for sensitive skin types by reducing inflammation and irritation in the skin. Wrinkles, skin sag and other signs of aging have been shown to benefit from Green tea. Green tea gets is power from polyphenols – which are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and help slow down signs of premature of aging.
Rosemary —Helps strengthen the capillaries and has a rejuvenating effect. It contains caffeic acid and rosemarinic acid - both are potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. The antioxidants contained in rosemary also help to protect your body’s cells from damage by free radicals.
Marshmallow —Is a flowering plant and it’s extracts have traditionally been used on the skin to treat inflammation. It’s an excellent therapy for skin rashes or eruptions. The rich, demulcent nature of marshmallow gives it soothing, moistening and calming properties on the skin.
Aloe vera —Stimulates cell renewal, has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. The 20 amino acids it contains are the building blocks of cell tissue. It is beneficial for skin eruptions and for the treatment of bruises and burns. It is also a cellular regenerator.
Beta Carotene —Dermatologists use beta-carotene for its ability to increase cell turn-over and regeneration in the outer layers of the skin, making it effective for diseases and skin conditions. Topical application of beta-carotene in retailed skin care products can enhance the appearance of the skin by restoring suppleness and adding a “glowing” pigment that seemingly evens out the skin tone. Beta-carotene’s antioxidant attributes, such as sun damage protection, are used to prevent the signs of aging in the skin.
Mint— Mint has significant rejuvenating properties. It is an anti-pruitic and antiseptic, natural cleanser, alleviates, itching, infection, and sooths rashes or inflammation. It is a great addition for anti-acne and natural anti-aging skin care.
It is always best to use the herbs in their most natural form; fresh, dried, pulverized or diluted in common carrier oil, like almond, jojoba or hazelnut oil. You can also find many herbal options in essential oils, but use these with caution. The first rule of essential oil skin care is don’t apply undiluted oils directly to skin. They are super-concentrated, and can cause allergies or chemical burns if used undiluted.
Anti Aging with Some Papaya and Peaches
September 11, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
There are innumerable anti aging formula offered in the beauty marts. You must have seen a pile of anti aging products stacked up nicely at a beauty shelf while browsing through a cosmetic store. There is a wave about anti aging formulated products in the market. Now, how easy would it be if you can make your own anti aging concoction at home?
When it comes to anti aging, there is no better a fruit than papaya. Papaya enzymes help to fight free body radicals that cause premature skin aging. Papaya is also a storehouse of beta carotene, Vitamin E and A which consequently help to fight the signs of aging. Not only does the fruit help in preventing the formation of wrinkles, it also helps in erasing age lines that have already developed. It is recommended that people who have an extremely wrinkled skin must use papaya facial pack at least once in a week. Consistent usage of papaya mask will help in erasing out facial lines.
Peach is another great anti aging fruit. The fruit is a good natural source of antioxidants. As a result, it helps to postpone the ugly signs of aging. Peach tree is a native China tree but nowadays the fruit is commercially grown everywhere. Being a rich stock house of potassium, magnesium, calcium and key vitamins, peach is an incredible anti aging agent. Dry peaches are highly rich in sulphur quantities. As such, those who are allergic to sulphur must stay away from dried peaches. Peach pulp may be used to apply all over the facial skin in order to get a taut skin. You may add lemon or rose water in the mixture to enhance its effectiveness.
So, you see there are great anti aging agents lying in your refrigerator! Go, try them!
Anti Aging Masks To Refresh The Face And Tighten The Skin
September 4, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
Aging happens because with advancing age the skin loses its capacity to produce collagen and elastin which keeps the skin taught and looking young. Aging is a continuous and a natural process which can never be stopped nor reversed. It can only be slowed down and can be hidden from the sight of the people. The fine lines which appear on the corners of the mouth and eyes are the signs of aging. It can be caused due to many reasons which are controllable or not in the control of humans.
There are thousands of anti-aging masks which claim to work wonders. For people who are not comfortable with products from the market, there are many home made masks which are good. Before trying anything new one has to understand their skin type so that a person with dry skin ends up using a product meant for oily skin. It would further dry the skin and can lead to signs of early aging. For people with oily skin it is good to use clay anti-aging masks. Clay has an innate quality of anti-aging as it tightens the sagging and loose skin.
There are a number of homemade masks which can be used safely. Powdered kelp with oatmeal is good to make the skin look radiant. Almonds, jojoba oil and olive oil can work wonder with dead looking skin. There are masks for skin which have highly wrinkled. There are various herbal anti-aging masks and treatments which can give new life to an aging skin. Aging can happen due to many external reasons too. Exposure to sun for long hours can cause early aging. Dust and grime deposits on the skin can also make the skin age quickly. To maintain the radiance of the skin it becomes necessary to follow the daily skin care routine. Look for a mask which can exfoliate too.
Anti Aging Masks - Who Needs Them?
August 21, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
The advancing of age is something that is natural and unavoidable. You cannot run away from the fact that you have to look like your grand mother one day, when the effects of age are visible on your skin. There are methods that can lessen the severity of these effects and slow down the process for a little while.
There are a variety of anti aging facial masks available in the markets that help in reducing the ill effects of growing age. One must choose wisely from the wide range and opt for the one that suits your skin type. Unlike creams, these masks penetrate deep inside the skin and work more effectively. There are certain masks that help to keep the facial skin taut and plump. Products that contain elements like honey and egg white are very useful for the rejuvenation of the skin. Papaya is another good element that can be used for the purpose of anti aging masks. The enzymes present in papaya are very useful as they eat away the dead skin cells and help in the generation of new cells. Phytessence Wakame is a natural ingredient that you should look for when choosing the right anti aging facial mask for yourself. It helps in protecting your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun and from other harsh weather conditions like cold weather and winds. Thus it helps in safeguarding your skin from further damage.
You can not deny the fact that pollution around us is on an all time high. This has very harmful effects on the health on the entire body, most importantly the facial skin. So it is extremely important for you to take time off from your busy schedule and pamper your skin. Way to go!
Herbal Anti Aging Products with Skin Vitamins
August 14, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
Natural anti aging products are gaining importance due to amazing benefits delivered by them.
These products are enriche
d with all essential skin nutrients. For this reason, they are increasingly being used for curing all skin issues. They are so gentle that even if you apply them a number of times, your skin will not be damaged. This is because herbal aging resources are incorporated with all natural herbs and agents that work effectively on any skin type.
The herbal facial masks can be used for curing all kinds of aging issues like wrinkles, aging spots, dullness, fine lines and breakouts. They are instilled with best natural vitamins, minerals and natural ingredients. Each facial mask is made up of varied components and so they must be used according to diverse skin types. There are specific products for oily skin, dry skin and normal skin. Formulators have made these products by doing a thorough study of all ingredients that can be used to cure aging issues. That is why they treat all such problems gradually without causing any harm to the skin.
You can go for herbal aging treatments as well for making it look younger and healthier. There is nothing in the world that can stop occurrence of wrinkles as this is a natural phenomenon. However, herbal products can be used to smooth away these aging lines. Such products make skin soft and smooth by hydrating its texture. A good facial product boosts up blood circulation in skin which is vital for enhancing its glow. They even tighten up a loosened skin along with reducing premature signs of aging.
The anti aging products obtainable from market are made with all essential skin nutrients like Vitamin A, C, B6, B5 and H which are imperative for maintaining its elasticity. Research an anti aging product according to your skin type and give these vitamin rich masks a try.
Aging Treatments with Goodness of Nature
August 7, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
Premature aging is one such skin challenge which is faced by individuals at certain point of time. Individuals, especially women take a number of anti aging treatments to make their skin look young and glowing. So, special herbal treatments have been developed to resolve issue of aging. This process gains momentum over time because with increased age, the skin tends to loose its moisture and becomes inelastic.
One of the main factors that cause aging is dryness. A dry skin is more prone to aging process than a normal skin as the skin is not able to adapt to different climatic changes in its dried form. Other reason is too much exposure to sun. Although, sun provides essential nutrients that are important for building skin cells but prolong exposure in mid noon causes skin to be tanned and inelastic. This is because at this time harshness of ultra violet rays is the most that leads to open pores, black spots, blemishes, wrinkles and lines.
This skin condition can be rectified by using numerous herbal anti aging products available in market. Such treatments make use of natural facial masks and cleansers to get rid of tanning and other toxic substances from skin. Such products are totally safe as they have been made with natural ingredients and herbs. They are completely safe to use as they do not involve any kind of side effects. Varied products are available according to diverse skin types. You can even prepare herbal facial cleansers and masks at home to attain desired results.
All such products are prepared with the goodness of natural herbs. They provide wonderful anti aging benefits that are difficult to attain otherwise. You can make a selection among wide assortments of such products to select a product according to your skin type to have a sparkling and glowing skin forever.
Anti Aging Facial Masks - Experiment with Rose
July 16, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
People always associate rose with beauty. The flower has been used as a beauty enhancer since times immemorial. Remember Cleopatra’s famous rose milk bath?
The retinoic acid found in rose helps to regenerate dead skin cells. The healing and harmonizing properties of rose have no equal. Rose works miraculously especially on dull, dreary and aging skin. It helps to lend a unique pink glow on your face. Furthermore the flower gives off a very delightful scent. It is this combination of inherent beauty qualities and enchanting smell that makes Rose the king of all flowers.
The beauty secrets of rose are accepted unanimously across different cultures and countries. Almost every beauty concoction makes use of rose in one form or the other. Anti aging products especially contain substantial amounts of rose oils. Rose extracts help to make skin taut and healthy. As such, people who are dealing with the problem of drooping facial skin must use such products that essentially contain rose extracts.
Readymade anti-aging rose facial masks are readily available. Rose contains such essential constituents that help to tighten the skin and make it look baby-soft. The wondrous flower is also equipped with strong moisturizing and exfoliating agents. It adds a zest of freshness and sparkle on the face.
After peeling off the mask, you may choose to splash some rosewater on your face. It will enhance the effect of the facial mask.
Anti aging rose facials, rose tonics and rose petal creams are easily obtainable. If you indulge in treating your skin regularly with rose water, you can delay aging signs considerably. Daily usage of rose makes the skin soft and velvety. Rose can be used alone or it may also be used in combination with other beauty enhancing constituents. You will be amazed by the instant results!
The Myriad Benefits of using Anti Aging Facial Masks
July 14, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
Here is something that you all have wanted to hear- The unwanted process of skin aging can be reversed and there are more than 100 ways to do it! The beauty marts are sprawling with products that promise counter aging. Of all these anti aging products, anti aging facial masks enjoy phenomenal popularity. Anti aging facial masks are known by many other names like rejuvenating facial masks, exfoliating masks, counter aging masks, clay masks etc. All perform the same task- skin tightening.
It is very interesting that many oldies look young while there are many not-so-old people who look overly aged. It is the skin that makes a person look young or old. When the exterior skin layers begin to thin down, the facial skin starts to sag down. This loss of elasticity makes the skin look older. At times, a person exposes himself to excessive heat, dust, chemicals and pollution. This makes the facial skin droop down. This is the reason why it is always stressed that a person must start to take steps against aging since the very beginning.
Before you begin with your mask application, clean your facial skin and adjoining neck area with water. You may as well use a good quality cleanser to clean off all the dust and makeup. Steam bath is also recommended by skincare experts but it is not mandatory. If however you choose to indulge in facial steam, what better? While the mask is on, you may also place cucumber slices or cooled chamomile bags on your eyes. That helps a great deal.
It is rather easy to prevent skin aging than to find ways to battle it. There is an array of herbal beauty skin products. These products do not allow the signs of aging to settle in, in the first place.
