Anti-Aging

You may have heard of the term "age spots" if you have been following the recent beauty trends. There are already a lot of anti aging products that are purportedly helpful in reducing the appearance of these said spots sold in the beauty market. This is in response to the growing need of people who are plagued by this skin problem.

The problem I see here is that most of us are sun loving people. We start going to the beach or spending time outdoors at a very young age. As a result, our skin ages faster due to the effects of UV rays. When UV rays penetrate the dermis layer, it facilitates a kind of abnormal melanin production process. Because of that, those tiny spots on the skin appear.

You can see a lot of products that can treat this problem being approved on national television. These products claim that they can eliminate the falls in just one week. But is it really possible?

Actually, age spots only occupy the surface layer of the skin. This is not like scars that go deeper. You have higher chances of reducing this problem if you do something about it. The first step to doing this is by using an effective lightening moisturizer. It should be able to correct abnormal melanin production and strengthen your skin's youthful functions.

Look for a product containing the ingredients Phytessence Wakame, Extrapone Nutgrass, Maracuja, and CynergyTK. These are all natural ingredients so you will not have to worry about irritation or photosensitivity.

Extrapone Nutgrass is a lightening ingredient unlike any other. It can target darker areas of the body to reduce pigmentation. According to statistics, this element can reduce the visibility of those spots by up to 40% during the first few weeks of use. That is already a marked improvement. But when combined with Maracuja, which is a special kind of emollient, the effects are better. Maracuja has skin-like emollient properties that make skin softer and smoother.

CynergyTK and Phytessence Wakame also help a lot because these ingredients support the youthful functions of the skin. CynergyTK helps in smoothing out wrinkles. It provides the dermis with functional keratin that triggers the endless regeneration of collagen. Phytessence Wakame is a sea weed that supports hyaluronic acid. This is the acid that lubricates collagen in the body.

If you want a faster and more natural way to reduce the visibility of age spots, try a product with these ingredients.

Millions of people look for skin care products every year that will help them look great, with a glowing skin, smooth, soft and radiant, some skincare creams are very expensive and others are more affordable, however sometimes the most popular brands are not the best for your skin.

The problem with some of the most popular brands is that they budget is more focused on marketing than on research and development to bring the best possible products, so when they launch a new product, usually it is just similar to what they have done before but with different colorants or a little more moisture, etc.

So when looking for the best skin care brand i prefer to buy only the creams that contain natural ingredients, because i know that they will not hurt my skin and that it will stimulate the natural regeneration of my skin, especially if i want to keep a young looking skin.

You have to be careful because many of the skincare creams on the market include chemicals and other synthetic ingredients that although may help in some ways to cover up imperfections that contain alcohol, parabens or petrolatum which will harm more your skin, provoke dryness and cause wrinkles .

So for me the best skin care brand is the one that contains organic ingredients and have been proven to improve the health of my skin by protecting it from free radicals and making it look younger and more radiant.

Some of the best natural ingredients are Manuka honey, wakame kelp, functional keratin, coenzyme Q10, avocado extract, herbs, plant extracts and many others that have proved to give my skin the nutrients that it needs.

For example hyaluronic acid is a vital element of our skin that keeps it young and glowing, but as we age we lose hyaluronic acid, but Wakame Kelp increases hyalurnoic acid in our body.

Nowadays, diet therapy has been an important way for people to resist aging. A kind of healthy and regular diet can effectively help people resist aging. In fact, the real health risks are not caused by infectious diseases and acute diseases but by diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. These diseases are mainly caused by the imbalanced diet. Therefore, eating in a right way is rather important. Right diet can provide essential nutrients for the cells inside the human body. The human body is composed of approximately 70 trillion cells. When the cells get enough nutrients, people can get adequate energy to maintain life activities. The cell therapy has been developed to help people keep healthy and resist aging.

The cell therapy mainly includes three steps. The first step is to provide essential nutrients for the cells; the second step is to create excellent environment for the cells to survive; and the last step is to increase the anti-oxidation ability of the cells.

The foods we eat in our daily life can be divided into two categories. The first category is acid foods which produce acid substances like carbon, sulfur, phosphorus and chlorine inside the human body. These foods mainly include meat, wine and staple food. The second category is alkaline foods which can produce alkaline substances like potassium, sodium, calcium and iron inside the human body. These foods include fruits and vegetables. The cells need a kind of comprehensive and balanced nutrition. Therefore, the ratio of acid foods and alkaline foods inside the human body must be balanced. The cells can depend on themselves to conduct self-restoration to some degree if people do not absorb balanced nutrients at the beginning. However, if people always make such a mistake, the cells will gradually lose the normal functions and cause various diseases.

What's more, more than 70% of the human body is composed of water, including blood, gall, pancreatic juice, saliva, urine and so on. These kinds of water are called "body fluid". The PH value of body fluid suitable for the cells to survive is about 7.0 to 7.4. However, few people pay attention to the PH value and body fluid usually more and more acid. Then the cells must use the alkaline substances to neutralize the acidity. Thus, people can not use enough nutrients to improve the physical conditions. In fact, the aging of the human body is caused by the aging of the cells. To increase the anti-aging ability of the cells is an important way to resist aging. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the anti-oxidation ability of the cells. Free radicals inside the human body can attack the cells and accelerate the oxidation of the cells. People should often eat the foods which can eliminate free radicals and other anti-oxidation substances which contain vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene .

In short, the cell therapy can effectively help people resist aging, and the key is to improve the healthy and balanced diet.

There are four key factors that will either create health or illness in us. They are so simple, yet often ignored and forgotten. Let's look at the first key factor.

1) Diet – Our diet nowdays quite heavily on processed foods which do not contribute to good health. If you eat like most people, you'll probably most have too much animal products, fats and refined foods in your daily diet. Three things can happen to the foods that we take into our stomach:

a. They can be digested and assimilated as nutrients for our body use and growth;

b. They can ferment in our stomach as in the case of improper food-combining eg undigested sugars from eating fruits on a full stomach after meal; Egypt

c. They can putrefy, or rot and decay also in the case of improper food-combining eg undigested proteins from eating chicken (protein) with potatoes (carbohydrates) in the same meal.

Fermentation and putrefaction are one of the exogenous toxins in our body that cause aging and
illness. Exogenous toxins are toxins taken from outside the body, not self-generated. Examples include all junk food, tobacco and alcohol, polluted air and water, putrefaction and fermentation in the stomach from improper food combining which typically happens in meat-eater, and drugs and medicines.

A plant-based natural whole food diet of fresh vegetables and fruits plus some nuts and seeds will give us the essential nutrients that our body need.

2) Exercise, sleep and rest – Find time to exercise on a regular basis and getting proper sleep and rest. Proper sleep and rest are as important as eating a healthy diet and exercising. A good night's sleep helps to revive, rejuvenate and revitalize our body and brain, contributing to youthful appearance besides being energetic and in a good mood all day long.

Chronic sleep loss has been proven to contribute to all health problems. Therefore, get the right quantity and quality of sleep and do not overlook its benefits. Sleep is not a luxury, it is one of the main Pillars to health, a necessity!

3) Psychology – Engage in productive activity and constructive work; learn to control our own emotion and anger; and develop the interpersonal communication skills and social skills that are critical for a successful life. Having positive thoughts are important as just like we are what we eat or digest, what we think is what we are as our thought process is a powerful form of energy. Most people do not believe in positive thoughts because they do not see value in them.

However, studies and other evidence have shown that by having positive thoughts all the time, our life will be positive and our day filled with optimism. If our thoughts are negative, it will not only weaken our body, mind and spirit but also affect our health. Another great thing about having positive thoughts is that it slows down aging, making us feeling and looking younger than most people of our age; and improves our health and well-being!

One of the ways to keep our thoughts constantly positive is to surround ourselves with constructive, positive and happy people as these people radiate energized and healthy aura from which we can benefit.

4. Environment – Get fresh air and pure water! Our own home may be a source of environmental pollution. Toxic chemical gases released from new furniture and new paints are some examples. Even cosmetics and personal care products such as shampoo and deodorants contain harmful chemicals in them. Avoid exposure to excess chemicals.

It's only when we provide our body with all the necessary requirements of health, that they can perform the self-healing mechanisms at their best to restore and optimize health!

Anti-aging herbs and spices are relative to what is being "aged", ie., Which of our systems. For the alcohol abuser it's the liver, for females but not males, it may be the reproductive system, and for those with a family history of dementia it may be the brain. When we focus on anti aging herbs and spices we need to decide what is it we are worried about and then direct our energies to that concern. The distinction between herbs and spices is what part of the plant is being used.

Here is a short list of herbs and spices specific to the issues associated with aging. Also it's good practice to remember that one can also overcome the aging process not solely by herb and spice consumption or substitution, as much as by eliminating harmful plants or foods such as alcohol, excess salt and sugar which occurs when herbs are used as seasonings or flavorings.

Brain Herbs:

With the brain a major consideration is blood flow since this one organ demands the most blood of any organ. Anything that impedes blood flow or reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients is detrimental to the brain. When blood is thinner and not heavy or thick then more blood flows faster and easier to the heart then keeping brain cells alive and well. With that in mind the below are recommended:

Gingko – ( Ginkgo biloba )

It is one of the top 5 medications prescribed in Germany to improve memory, improve attention span and memory as well as increase blood flow through the brain as a blood thinner. There are over 400 studies published on its efficiency and many of the studies have a target group over age 50.

Gotu kola – ( Centella asiatica )

Often used to improve memory and has been cited as being able to overcome stress and fatigue. Steven Foster in his book, Steven's Foster Guide To Herbal Dosages, has broken out what dosage to use and what type compound to be aware of for effective clinical response.

Liver Herbs:

Milk Thistle – ( Silybum marianum )

For over 2,000 years this herb has been reportedly used for liver malfunction. The liver, being a filtering organ, is affected by reducing the quantity and types of harmful chemicals allowed to enter the organ. It is used to stimulate new liver cells which is a characteristic of this organ to reproduce and has been known to be an effective anti-oxidant which limits the toxic effects of oxidants.

Dandelion – ( Taraxacum officinale )

In animals it has been shown to increase bile production which is a digestive enzyme that helps aid in digestion. By helping increase the digestability of consumed foods the work of the liver as a cleanser is reduced. The effects of the leaves and flowers for the liver is not known at this time.

Reproductive Herbs:

Black Cohosh – ( Cimicifuga racemosa )

For women this herb has been known to reduce the severity of hot flashes and improve mood, also used for depression and to improve sleep. Primarily believed to affect beneficially ovarian function during menopause.

Saw Palmetto – ( Serenoa repens )

For men this herb has been used to prevent prostrate conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) a preventative herb.

Circulatory Herbs:

Garlic – ( Allium sativum )

What more is there to say about this wonderful root herb? Known to reduce bad cholesterol, lower blood pressure and as a blood thinner. There are many forms of garlic preparations and one should consider the dosages carefully and choose products with approved constituent ingredients in the formulas. Garlic is a great herb to use for food seasonings in many dishes.

Hawthorn – ( Crataegus spp.)

Shown to improve blood flow to the heart muscles itself which then improves the heart's ability to pump more blood into the circulatory venous and arterial system. Used after heart attacks and as a supplement for those suffering from congestive heart failure. As with all herbs one should not use Hawthorn extract with other medications and only upon disclosure to the treating physician.

Information in this article is derived from, and we recommend, The Herb Companion as a source of valid information often using the search by the American Botanical Council and Stephen Foster.

For more information on specific herbs refer to the HerbFest web site.

Chronic inflammation is a type of inflammation that silently attacks the body causing disease and degeneration, and is also known as "silent inflammation". As the connection between silent inflammation and a host of diseases becomes clear, the case for diet and lifestyle changes that can combat infection has become stronger. While it was always known that some conditions such as arthritis and acne were a result of acute infection in the body, there is mounting evidence that silent infection plays a role in heart disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes and some cancers, as well as in the aging process. Chronic inflammation can be present undetected in your body for years, until it manifests in disease.

Silent inflammation has been linked with the buildup of cholesterol deposits in the arteries which can lead to heart disease. In a similar way, the risk of Alzheimer's disease increases with inflammation of brain tissue, as this results in the buildup of amyloid plaque deposits in the brain. Having type 2 diabetes, or eating sugary foods contributor to silent inflammation in the body as a result of elevated blood sugar and insulin levels. Recent studies have also confirmed the link between inflammation and several types of cancers. Making the necessary lifestyle changes to fight inflammation, can protect you from it's devastating effects.

There are molecules in the body called prostaglandins which play an important role in inflammation. It has been found that of the three main types of prostaglandins, two of them (PG-E1 and PG-E3) have an anti-inflammatory effect, while the third type (PG-E2) actually promotes inflammation. When there is an imbalance in the body between these prostaglandins, inflammation can result. Prostaglandins are made in the body from essential fatty acids. You can assist your body in making anti-inflammatory prostaglandins by eating vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds such as sesame and sunflower seeds. On the other hand, foods that cause a spike in insulin levels, such as sugary foods, or foods with a high glycemic load promotion production of PG-E2 and increase inflammation.

A typical anti-inflammatory diet focuses on fighting inflammation through the consumption of foods that lower insulin levels. To actively reduce pollution, you should eat food that has a low glycemic load, such as whole grains, vegetables and lentils, and consume healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, fish, extra virgin olive oil and fish. Spices such as turmeric, ginger, and hot peppers also reduce inflammation. At the same time, you also need to reduce consumption of foods that are pro-inflammatory, such as red meat, egg yolks and shellfish. Sugar is a key culprit in inflammation, and therefore you should also cut back on sugary foods. Inflammation can also be reduced by taking supplements such as fish oils which are high in Omega 3 fatty acids.