Author: Lydia Patel

Five SuperFoods Proven to Boost Your Brain Power!

Five SuperFoods Proven to Boost Your Brain Power!

If you’re looking for a little extra brain power, what you eat may play a big factor. Research shows that what you eat is one of the most powerful influences on everyday mental processes. Here are some of the best foods to eat for a 

Study: Seven Alcoholic Drinks A Week Might Save You From Heart Failure

Study: Seven Alcoholic Drinks A Week Might Save You From Heart Failure

Photo by Neha Deshmukh on Unsplash Now here’s something we can toast to! It’s well-known that consumption of red wine has great health benefits, but recent studies show that other alcoholic beverages in moderation might boost your overall health, too. The Study In a recent 

Can Smiling A Lot Really Cause Wrinkles?

Can Smiling A Lot Really Cause Wrinkles?

Nobody wants to frown all day, but can it actually be better for your skin long-term? Whether you’re talking, frowning or smiling, a crease forms on your skin the moment you move one of your facial muscles. When it comes to your smile, the largest of the lines that form are the “nasolabial folds”-those big arcs of skin that stretch down from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth. Different ethnicities age differently, and your skin’s natural melanin concentration and oil production play a role in how quickly your smile grooves will start to leave their mark.

But here’s one factor you can control: ultraviolet radiation exposure from sunlight. “This is actually the number-one cause of winkles,” says Dr. Marc Glashofer, a dermatologist in New York. “The more sun your skin soaks up, the more its connective tissue breaks down, leaving it less firm and less elastic.”

Skin Care: What You Need to Know By Allison Menor

Beauty is something that is always best achieved from the inside out; especially as we age and certain nutrients become depleted. That’s when the available pool of circulating antioxidants that would normally be available to protect and rejuvenate the skin has diminished and isn’t what it used to be. Replenishing nutrients from the inside can have a powerful anti-aging impact on the outside – on the skin that you see. It’s almost a conundrum but swallowing antioxidants has a better effect for rejuvenating the skin than applying them directly. This is because choosing a well absorbed-soluble antioxidant allows it to migrate through the circulatory system reaching, permeating through and nourishing the skin better when swallowed than when rubbed on.

The skin has 3 layers and the outermost – the one you see that is called the epidermis, actually consists of five layers of its own. Swallowing a nutrient penetrates these layers from the inside out but rubbing it on often doesn’t work. The innermost layer of the epidermis is where visible skin is made and it takes two-weeks for it to migrate its way out to the surface; by then its cells are usually spent. Swallowing the correct antioxidants nourishes these inner layers as they work their way outwards so that they retain vibrancy and look younger when they become visible. Unhealthy habits especially smoking, consuming a poor diet is lacking in nutrients, inclement weather, stress, and harmful UV rays from the sun over time cause harm to the skin. However, just as easily as those unhealthy habits may cause damage, a healthy routine can work to prevent that damage from recurring.

Collagen

Collagen is the primary protein in connective tissue and is present in joint, bone, cartilage, tendon, ligament, muscle, and in hair, skin, and nails. Collagen works for skin care, directly helping with aging related issues that would normally seem untreatable. As we age, we start to experience bone and cartilage loss mostly around the mouth and nose. This will often cause our skin to lose elasticity and leave a ‘skeleton-like’ appearance. Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of hydrolyzed collagen – collagen where its units have been broken down to improve digestion and absorption. One study published in the “Archives of Dermatological Research” found that 10 grams of oral hydrolyzed collagen per day for 60 days improved the skin’s ability to absorb moisture, making it look healthier and controlling the appearance of wrinkles.†

Click here to read: Collagen Restores Youth to the Skin in Women; Beauty From the Inside Out

A Healthy Diet

When it comes to fruits and vegetables, the color pigmentation is often the healthiest aspect. The more vibrant the fruit is in color, the more nutrients it contains. Plant pigments like berries, resveratrol, carotenoids, lutein and astaxanthin travel through our body and reach the skin and function as antioxidants by improving the look and health of the skin. The antioxidants found in berries are known to help improve collagen production as well. Berries are also high in vitamin C, vitamin E, riboflavin, and soluble and insoluble fiber as well, which are all crucial nutrients for skin health. Recent studies even show that these antioxidants are also known to protect the skin from UV damage – the number one cause of wrinkling and aging of the skin. Clinically proven serums for skin can also protect and repair skin creases and make them healthier overall. Reputed clinics such as bhmd (Beverly Hills MD) and similar ones have skin serums that can visibly change the skin’s appearance.

Read “Superfoods for Skin Protection” by Nicole Crane, BS, NTP by clicking here!

Cocoa

The kiwi fruit and black raspberries are both rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants that will help combat unhealthy free radicals, which may in turn delay the onset of aging. Studies have shown that the Kiwi extract found in Cocoa works to protect our genes and DNA and actually slows the aging process at the gene level. Cocoa will also protect, heal, and rejuvenate the skin improving hydration and the skin’s texture, density, and elasticity, reducing laxity, discoloration and improving the appearance and health of the skin. Recent research published on Science Daily has shown that black raspberries could even yield possible skin protective activities helping to minimize mutations caused by the suns dangerous ultraviolet radiation.†

Grape Seed Extract

Grape Seed Extract is an up and coming skin care supplement jam-packed with high levels of very powerful and beneficial antioxidants with shocking protective properties. The important ingredients that are found in Grape Seed are called Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins or OPCs; these are complexes of flavonoids-polyphenols that are found in the grape seed and they have been proven to have antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and ant allergic activities. The sagging and wrinkling of the skin is often the result of long-term free radical damage typically caused by sun exposure but also by smoking. Women specifically are always searching for new ways to prevent and treat this issue. Grape Seed Extract works to repair damaged skin by strengthening and protecting cell structures from the oxidative stress of free radicals generated by the sun or smoking. Grape Seed Extract even influences Vitamin C and Collagen production in our bodies, which will also assist us in rejuvenating already aging skin. Grape Seed Extract is an incredibly safe and effective supplement that promotes cell health and skin elasticity, making it seem more youthful, in a process that works almost like a natural face-lift. Grape seed extract is an anti-aging superstar that should be incorporated into everyone’s daily routine.†

Click to read more – Grape Seed Extract: Independent Research Studies

What are some other methods you use to steer clear of wrinkles? Join the conversation and leave us a comment!

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Could These Four Superfoods Slow Aging?

Could These Four Superfoods Slow Aging?

Photo by Jenn Kosar on Unsplash The health and beauty industry racks in billions of dollars every year from people trying to maintain a youthful appearance. This secret fountain of youth is a never-ending challenge – from wrinkle creams to serums, an endless amount of 

Tired and Drained? Your Thyroid Might be to Blame

Tired and Drained? Your Thyroid Might be to Blame

Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash It’s a tiny gland that frequently gets overlooked and misdiagnosed called the thyroid. Can’t sleep or lose weight? Feeling blue?  Twenty million Americans have this issue and 60% of them don’t realize it. Detection is becoming more common but 

Could You Have a Magnesium Deficiency? Here’s What You Should Know

Could You Have a Magnesium Deficiency? Here’s What You Should Know

Are you feeling exhausted or noticing strange muscle cramps that are throwing off your workouts? You might be suffering from a magnesium deficiency. Dubbed the “invisible deficiency” by some experts because it’s so hard to spot and diagnose, magnesium deficiency is more dangerous than many people think. Here’s what you need to know about magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium, an important mineral

The mineral Magnesium is best known as a counterpart to Calcium for improving bone health but that is only a small part of Magnesium’s story. The National Institutes of Health lists Magnesium as being necessary for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It is necessary for protein synthesis and maintaining normal muscle and nerve function, keeping the hearts rhythm steady and normal, and for energy production. Magnesium is also needed for blood glucose control (blood sugar), and blood pressure regulation.

Click here to read, “Magnesium and Its Many Benefits” by Mike Parenti, CN

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) refers to the average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%–98%) healthy individuals. The RDA for Magnesium is 420mg a day for men over 30 and 320mg a day for women over 30. An adult body contains approximately 25 g magnesium, with 50% to 60% present in the bones and most of the rest in soft tissues. Less than 1% of total magnesium is in blood serum, and these levels are kept under tight control. Assessing magnesium status is difficult because most magnesium is inside the cells or in bone. The most commonly used and readily available method for assessing magnesium status is measurement of serum magnesium concentration, even though serum levels have little correlation with total body magnesium levels or concentrations in specific tissues.

Groups at Risk of Magnesium Deficiency

The following groups are more likely than others to be at risk of magnesium inadequacy because they have medical conditions (or take medications) that reduce magnesium absorption from the gut or increase losses from the body:

  • People with gastrointestinal diseases or who have had surgical resection or bypass of the small intestine, especially the ileum, typically leads to malabsorption and magnesium loss
  • People with type 2 diabetes and increased urinary magnesium excretion can occur in people with insulin resistance and/or type 2 diabetes
  • People with alcohol dependence
  • Older adults generally have lower dietary intakes of magnesium than younger adults. In addition, magnesium absorption from the gut decreases and renal magnesium excretion increases with age. Older adults are also more likely to have chronic diseases or take medications that alter magnesium status, which can increase their risk of magnesium depletion

Europe approves important health claims for magnesium – click here to read them!

Causes & Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

Loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue — the initial symptoms of magnesium deficiency are also common side effects of other health conditions, making it difficult to diagnose. To make matters scarier, this condition can be difficult to detect with medical tests. Since only 1% of magnesium is found in your blood (most of it is in your bones or organs), a simple needle prick often won’t help determine your levels. It may be what you’re eating – rather than what you’re not eating – that’s putting you at risk for magnesium deficiency. The main culprits: soda, caffeinated beverages and alcohol.

Click here to read Independent Research Studies on Magnesium information and benefits!

Whole Foods vs. Supplements

Your best bet when it comes to correcting a magnesium deficiency is to take preventative measures. You should only use magnesium supplements under the direction of a doctor – and be sure not to exceed 350 non-food milligrams of magnesium per day. Food sources are a great start to fighting magnesium deficiency, so focus on amping up your consumption of leafy greens – one cup of cooked spinach provides 157 milligrams of magnesium. Legumes are a solid choice too, with a cup of cooked white beans coming in at 113 milligrams of the nutrient. And if you’re a fan of squash and pumpkin seeds, one cup packs in a whopping 649 milligrams. Other great options are nuts, including almonds and cashews, most types of fish, and whole grains.

Do you have a magnesium deficiency? What are some ways you stay on top of it to keep your body as healthy as possible? Share your story in the comments!

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