Ganoderma
Anti Aging Supplements - Fight Wrinkles From Within
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.
If you prefer
using natural health and beauty products,
see this article.
I have studied computer programming, shiatsu and various natural
therapies including herbs, macrobiotics, oriental healing and
swedish massage.
.