We’ve all heard the “fountain of youth” programs. There must be dozens of them: pills, creams, Bo-tox injections, etc. As aging baby boomers we’re in search of quick, perfect and easy “fountains” for ourselves. Let’s face it, we each want to slow the ticking of our own aging clock.
At the tender young age of 30 I decided I wanted to stop growing older. Why would I want to get any older? Thirty seemed the perfect age to be -- forever. As a New Age explorer, during the late 70’s I roamed the Redwood hills of Northern California seeking truth. This is how my quest to have more control over how I age, which is called anti-aging, began. At this time I am pleased to report that indeed my quest for youth is paying off. Now at the “calendar” age of 55, except for a few silver hairs I both look and feel not much over 35 years old.
As I began to research the subject, I found that the mind/body connection to anti-aging became clear. After all, Google has over 14 million hits on the subject. “Youthing” is the term I now use to explain anti-aging. Youthing is an idea whose time has come. What did I discover during my quest? I found that multiple disciplines -- including but not limited to breathwork, firewalking, fasting, yoga, and hypnosis -- all helped me to shape my future. Lessons in dancing, they were.
Most of us assume that anti-aging is just about “sticking around” for a little longer, but this is only a small part of the quest. Youthing is a state of being . It's an awareness. Youthing is really about “stepping up to the plate” and taking your power into the very fabric of our reality -- into every cell of our bodies. We can all have more control over how we age; the best part is that youthing doesn't involve buying pills or cremes, or joining a club. Youthing is a training system that teaches each of us to let go of old counterproductive and worn-out beliefs, programs, and assumptions. Essentially, we learn to automatically say ”yes” to a long and healthy life, and without even thinking about it -- without using our old habits, which leave us as they’re replaced by new ones.
When we expect to slow down the aging process, we can create -- each at our own cellular level -- conditions that justify this belief. As Deepak Chopra wrote in AGELESS BODY, TIMELESS MIND ( Harmony Books,1993): “Aging seems to be something that’s happening to you when in fact it is something your body has learned to do. It has learned to carry out the programming fed into it by you, the programmer”.
What is easy, fun and very effective is hypnosis. Hypnotherapy is simple, very effective, and can be fun depending on its purpose. Whether sessions are done in person or by telephone, they can set the stage for stretching beyond set limitations. Hypnosis is the art of placing the conscious self in a state of strong suggestibility. During this time the conscious self is very open to change; it can literally set aside any limiting beliefs that may have been interfering with one’s ability to change.
It’s a proven fact that our bodies are constantly creating new and healthy cells to replace old and damaged ones, and every new cell gets its “replacing” instructions from the DNA contained in the old cell. So, it stands to reason that if our DNA programs our new cells with the healthiest and most youthful information possible as a blueprint for development, the body’s cell memories will change for the better, by being “younger”. This process is called “Cell Transformation”. The question arises: can hypnosis really be used in order to literally tell our bodies cells to be younger? From my experience, I strongly believe that the answer is yes.
Lets wrap this up. Youthing is the process of participating in the act of a successful anti-aging program. It involves one’s past, present and future. Here's why: the past is forever with us. We can't do away with it; we can't change it. But we can make it work for us, because addressing and healing childhood traumas (with regard to induced and conditioned beliefs about aging) can be explored and corrected. Also, learning to forgive ourselves and others can do wonders for us and for our present youthing goals. Finally, seeing ourselves alive, fit, and healthy, now and and in the future, is a vital part of everyone’s youthing process..
I’m currently working with energy medicine that is directed toward youthing techniques. It is very effective; I could write so much more about it. But remember this: your body is the most valuable possession you own. By consciously programming your mind and body to remain youthful, the old paradigm -- of collective conditioning -- is broken. As Richard Bach put it so concisely in his classic 1977 book, ILLUSIONS: “Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours.” Don’t limit how you age. Find out how it is to feel good!
Copyright Ray Page
Friday
Forever Young: Anti-Aging -- Why Not Me?
Give Your Body the Anti-Aging Nutrients it Needs
We all know that taking care of our bodies will help us to live longer and enjoy life more, but sometimes it seems like such hard work! At every restaurant and grocery store, we find food that tempts us to eat, eat, eat, and forget about things like fat and calories and sugar. What we need to do is take things like fat, calories and sugar in moderation along with a healthy balance of vitamins and minerals, in order to keep our bodies healthy and combat the aging process.
It's good to remember, too, that every grocery store and almost every restaurant offer us delicious, healthy, nutrient-packed alternatives to the jelly doughnuts and double cheeseburgers we crave! The next time you go shopping, add some healthy choices to your grocery cart; things like berries, leafy greens, veggies, lean meat, whole-wheat bread, and low-fat dairy products.
Sometimes, even if we are trying to eat healthy foods, our diet doesn't provide us with the amount of vitamins and minerals that we need. This is when we need to look to vitamin supplements. There are a number of anti-aging vitamins on the market, and one of them is right for you. If you need some help deciding which anti-aging vitamin you should buy, ask a pharmacist or your doctor. Your doctor can also tell you if you should be taking a multi-vitamin along with your anti-aging supplement in order to make it more effective. If you have always thought that vitamins were only for older people, give them a second chance! You'll feel energized and healthier if you make them part of your daily routine.
The types of foods we eat and the vitamins we take are very important in providing our bodies with anti-aging nutrients. But there is another important part to the anti-aging strategy: exercise. This may actually be the most important part, because when you exercise, your body is able to process and use all of those healthy foods and supplements you have been providing it with. Exercise not only makes anti-aging vitamins more effective, it helps to burn extra calories and fat that your body has stored up. If you currently don't exercise, just start with simple activities like walking for five or ten minutes a day. Once your body gets used to this, you can walk for longer, or add another activity such as bicycling, aerobics, yoga, or swimming. Exercise will help you feel healthier, and will slow your body's aging process.
From Ancient China and India: East Meets West in New Anti-aging Cream
It is interesting to see how scientists are combining ancient knowledge with the latest scientific breakthroughs to create truly effective anti-aging skin care products.
This article will examine Avon’s Anew Alternative Night Cream, a wonderful combination of modern science and ancient wisdom from the Far East. It combines high-tech tetrapeptides with a unique blend of ancient Eastern herbs to reverse facial sag.
I can personally attest that within one month my chin line was more defined, my skin tone more even and my neck noticeably firmer.
The active ingredients, described in detail below, work to: protect the skin from inflammation caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi; improve circulation to speed repair and invigorate the skin; and control the body’s inflammatory response (as your own hormones did in younger days).
Indian Himalayan Herb Protects
Extracts of the Himalayan neem tree, often called Nature’s drugstore, have been used medicinally for at least 2,500 years. The tree is prized for its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Anew Alternative contains extract of the neem tree’s flower (Malia Azadirachta) to prevent skin inflammation.
Chinese Herb Invigorates
The benefits of Szechuan lovage root extract (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Root Extract) were first documented in the Shennong Bencao Jing published in 500 A.D. (representing a compilation of herbal information believed to be 5,000 years old). The Bencao Jing is the earliest extant Chinese pharmacology tome and is still widely referenced today. Lovage root extract is known to invigorate blood and improve circulation. When applied to the skin, lovage root extract not only speeds healing but also improves skin tone.
Tetrapeptides Control Inflammation and Allow Skin to Heal
Finally Anew Alternative contains palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3. Tetrapeptides actually reverse skin sag by reining in the skin’s inflammatory response.
In our younger years, the inflammatory response is a good thing. It is the body’s way of walling off an injured area and preventing spread of infection. When its work is done, hormones shut off the inflammation.
However, as hormone levels decline with age, inflammation runs rampant. Older, hormone-depleted skin takes longer to heal and eventually doesn’t completely heal at all.
I find it very interesting that once you understand how skin care anti-aging ingredients function, you begin to realize that we are not just talking cosmetics and vanity, but that many such treatments can actually result in a better quality of life.
In the case of Anew Alternative with its combination of ancient herbs and modern tetrapeptides, the result is skin that heals better and is less prone to infection.
As another example, in the case of pentapeptides, the result is thicker skin that forms a stronger barrier against infection. Pentapeptides stimulate the growth of new collagen beneath the surface of the skin and plump out wrinkles from within.
Pretty amazing stuff.
Sunday
Guide on Anti-Aging Skin Care For Aging Adults
Wrinkles, facial lines, pouches, folds, and blemishes.
These are just to name a few of the many signs of aging in the face. Older people, most especially the women, dread these signs once they appear on the face. However, these changes in the skin and facial features cannot be avoided as these are inevitable part of aging.
Some adults falsely believe that wrinkles and other facial signs of aging only appear once they get older. Unknown to many, wrinkles begin to develop in a person's face starting from birth. With this, many adults only begin taking care of their face when they are already in their 50s or 60s. Hence, it is highly recommended for everyone to start taking care of their skin when they are still young. Maintaining a sound anti-aging skin care regimen is also a must even for those who are only in their 20s.
Meanwhile, there are two best ways for one to take care of their aging facial features: One is through artificial options and the other by means of natural methods. In artificial options, the use of chemicals and surgical procedures are among the treatments to choose from. However, most of these treatments are only temporary and the effects will eventually wear off. When this happens, the person will then be forced to undergo the procedures and pay for the expensive fees again.
On the other hand, the natural anti-aging skin care methods are a lot safer and cheaper compared to the artificial options. Treatments, regimens, and products under the natural method also have lasting effects. With natural anti-aging skin care methods, one is sure to maintain a healthy physical and mental well-being.
Anti-aging treatments: keeping the skin healthy through natural ways
If a person decides to undergo any natural anti-aging skin care method, he needs to change the old lifestyle he's used to and adapt to a new one. However, good results do not happen overnight. Better appreciate small changes, and in time, a more beautiful and vibrant skin will come out naturally.
The following are natural anti-aging therapies that are proven to give better results:
* Quit smoking.
Premature wrinkles are among the many side-effects of smoking. This bad habit also speeds up a smoker's aging process, and what's worst is that it dries the skin. Clearly, smoking is indeed a very harmful vice to one's health and skin. A person should definitely avoid smoking if he wants to have or maintain a healthy and good-looking skin.
* Eat a lot of collagen-enriched foods.
Adding collagen-enriched foods in one's diet helps keeps the skin healthy and vibrant. Collagen provides anti-oxidants in the body, thus, protecting the body system from free radicals. It is important to eliminate free radicals in the body for these can cause skin complications.
* Always equip the skin with sunscreen protection.
Perhaps the most essential anti-aging skin care method is to regularly apply sunscreen protection on the skin. Sunscreen skin care products not only protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun, but these also help keep the skin moisturized; preventing wrinkles, facial lines, and other premature aging signs.
Thursday
How Are Antioxidants Linked to Anti-Aging?
Antioxidants have been widely praised in the media. Many know they are linked with anti-aging properties. However this is not new, it all began with one man’s theory a half a century ago about how free radicals were associated with aging, and science has been trying to catch up with it ever since.
As Dr. Nicholas Perricone, M.D., states in his 2001 book, “The Wrinkle Cure”: “When it comes to aging, it’s not Father Time that’s public enemy number 1. It’s the very busy, very nasty little molecule called the free radical.”
The Free Radical Theory of Aging was published by Denman Harman in 1956. He theorized that aging is a result of free radical damage of the cells of the body. This is also called oxidative stress.
Today, a great deal of experimental evidence supports the premise that length of life is determined by the crucial balance of antioxidants with free radicals in the body. Oxidative stress is being shown to be at the root of disease and aging.
One example is that the life of the fruit fly was up to 30% longer when it was genetically altered with an addition of enzymatic antioxidants. Not only that, but the altered fruit flies also showed a reduced amount of age-related oxidative damage.
Studies of humans have also shown evidence of free radical damage playing a large part in human aging. One 1996 study compared markers of free radical damage in the blood and found evidence of the highest oxidative damage associated with the disabled elderly, an intermediate amount with the healthy elderly, and the lowest levels with the healthy adults.
The study also found that higher blood levels of antioxidant Vitamins C and E were associated with less disability, and signs of free radical damage were associated with more disability.
We need to rethink our concept of aging. We accept disease, disability, senility, wrinkles, and all the other many signs of aging as natural. Instead, we should view this as ‘unsuccessful aging’ – ie., aging associated with deterioration, disease and disability.
Successful aging is what happens when the human body is able to fight off oxidative stress, and continue to regenerate and repair itself. Successful aging is getting older healthily, without significant pathological conditions.
What the evidence is telling us is that it is crucial we take antioxidants and free radicals very seriously if we want to ‘age gracefully’ and avoid the many pitfalls of ‘unsuccessful aging’.
Even young people can be victims of unsuccessful aging, if they are not providing their bodies with the necessary balance of having have enough dietary antioxidants to fight off the free radicals.
In our modern culture, many of us are guilty of not getting adequate nutrition. It’s ironic, when we are the richest we have ever been that we should be feeding our bodies so poorly.
An interesting example of how a person can seriously damage their body with the wrong diet was seen in the Documentary ‘Super Size Me’ by Morgan Spurlock who ate only McDonald’s for a month. In just 30 days of having a junk food diet as his sole source of nutrition, his health was spiraling downwards and out of control.
The fact that he gained 25 pounds in a month was the least of his worries. He experienced a toxic liver, a significant increase in cholesterol, headaches, depression, a lower sex drive and poor skin. He returned to normal after his experiment ended.
Unfortunately a great many of us continue to do damage to our bodies, by smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, eating junk food, and not eating our vegetables. When the media began warning us of free radicals, many of us did not understand the massive damage we were causing our bodies or how to prevent it, especially as most of the signs of damage are invisible until it is too late.
Free radical damage is accumulative and spreads like wildfire over time. Do your body a favor. Feed it a diet rich in antioxidant nutrition. Make it a habit, eat your fruits and vegetables, take your vitamins, and try to stop or cut down on damaging bad habits. You will thank yourself in 20 years.
Use antioxidants wisely to age successfully. Maybe like the fruit fly, you too can live 30% longer.
Tuesday
Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care
From facial lines to wrinkles, from blemishes, folds, and pouches --- these are just a few of the many signs of aging around the facial area. For older people, especially older women, these signs are considered scary and dreadful once they appear on their faces. But nature has it that these changes cannot be avoided simply because we grow old, and that this is an inevitable part of a person's aging process.
Some adults seem to believe falsely that wrinkles and other facial signs of aging only appear once they get older. But little do they know that wrinkles develop from as early as birth. Many adults only begin to take care of their face when they are already around their 50s or 60s. Thus, it would be highly recommended for everyone to start taking care of one's skin when they are still young. For those in their 20s, maintaining a sound anti-aging skin care regimen is a must to ensure healthy skin as they grow older.
In the meantime, there are two other methods that people should consider especially for their faces. One is through artificial means, and the other is a natural method.
The use of chemicals and surgical procedures are among the most common treatments available. Most of these treatments, however, are only temporary, and the effects of the procedure eventually wear out. In case this happens, the person will be forced to undergo the same procedure for maintenance reasons, and pay for the same expensive fees again.
On the other hand, natural anti-aging skin care methods have been proven to be safer and, in many cases, more affordable compared with cosmetic surgery. Natural anti-aging skin care methods, people can be sure to have a healthy physical and mental well-being. There are anti-aging methods that could provide an all-natural way of keeping healthy skin. By quitting smoking, this could greatly impact the appearance of one's skin, since wrinkles are considered to be one of the many side effects of smoking. This bad habit dries the skin and, at the same time, speeds up a smoker's aging process, making him or her look older. Almost everyone knows that smoking can cause harm to both the lungs and the skin. From this, people should be more than aware of the dangers of smoking to be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle and good-looking skin. Another way in preventing premature aging of the skin is by using the right sunscreen protection that is suited for one's skin type. Several sunscreen products offer not just protection from the sun's harmful rays. These products also help retain the skin’s moisture. Moisture helps prevent facial lines and other premature aging signs. Collagen enriched foods such as animal tendons and chicken skin can also do the trick.
Is There Antiaging Nutritional Supplement Hype?
The Antiaging Nutritional Supplement Hype
When it comes to nutrition, there is no better reason to use a supplement than just that; nutrition. Nowadays, there is even more reason to use supplements as an antiaging nutritional supplement not only takes care of supplementing your nutrition, but it also aids in antiaging benefits. You can’t expect to look ten years younger with these supplements, but you can expect to feel more confident, keep a fresher look, and feel healthier too. Too many times do we hear products that claim to work miracles, but are these claims really reality?
Where are the facts?
In many cases, you may notice that an antiaging nutritional supplement shows the ingredients on the bottle, but many times the small print also explains that their product has not been given the seal of approval per say, from the Drug and Food Administration. What this means to you as a consumer is the fact that just because the antiaging nutritional supplement claims to promote antiaging, does not mean it actually does.
It’s important to remember who we deal with when we go to purchase products of this nature. If the company isn’t well known or their product is still in a testing phase, it’s probably a good idea to leave the product alone. There is no reason to waste money in finding out an antiaging nutritional supplement doesn’t even work the way it claims to.
How can you trust it?
Because of all the hype that gets thrown around about new revolutionary products that hit the market, it is close to impossible to separate the truth from the fantasy. When there are so many of us who are desperate to bring youth back into our lives, it can be easy for us to believe claims that are simply far fetched. One way to make sure you don’t fall victim to purchasing a useless product, is to use the Internet to your advantage. By reading user reviews of different antiaging nutritional supplements online, you can arm yourself with the knowledge of how the product has worked for other people, giving you and opportunity to decide whether it might just work for you.
This type of research also gives you the opportunity to learn how long a product has been on the market, the specific benefits people are discovering with the products, and it is one of the best ways to compare products. You will probably find that many of the antiaging nutritional supplement products on the market offer different benefits from others, which gives you an opportunity to find one to meet your specific needs.
How Exercise Can Help With Anti Aging
In our quest for the fountain of youth people have taken up a new form of treatment, Anti-Aging Clinics. Here you can get injections of human growth hormone HGH and injections of nutrient supplements, however a simpler and perhaps easier away to do this is by changing your diet and exercising.
Strength training has been proven to help the body naturally produce HGH. The more you train the more your body produces HGH. Strength training is taking exercises to specifically strengthen certain muscles. You can do this by spending 20 minutes a day 3 times a week at your local gym or fitness center. Or if you have some simple equipment you can do this at home. Just some simple squats can stimulate the body to make HGH and help you lose weight as well. It will take about 24-48 hours for your body to build up HGH.
Research has found that for every hour you work out your body will make $10,000 worth of beneficial chemicals that it needs. This means that with some simple exercise you will not even need to go to an Anti Aging Clinic your body will produce the chemicals naturally.
Try to strength train on a regular basis. As well as getting the HGH you will also improve bone mass and get more oxygen to your body tissues and organs. This will help them function better. You will feel better when you lose weight in this way as well. This is what the HGH injections at the Anti aging clinic will do for you. However nothing beats the natural treatment that your body can do for you.
So instead of jumping on the bandwagon and running to the nearest Anti Aging clinic, give yourself a break and let your body do it the natural way. Strength training coupled with diet will go a long way towards achieving your goal of not only a great looking body but also very possibly prolonging your life.
As well as exercise try to adjust your diet to a healthier one with more fruits especially berries and whole grain cereals. Try to add some fish to your diet (not shellfish) to make a complete diet. Cut down red meats, salt, fats and refined sugar and you will find your body rewards you as you feel better and have more energy. This change of diet coupled with strength exercises will also help you to lose and keep off those pounds.
You can also add natural nutritional supplements to your diet to ensure you are getting enough of the essential nutrients. These, when taken at a proper level will also help the anti aging process.
Male "Menopause" - The Alternative Anti-Aging Approach
If you are a male over the age of 40 and are suffering from weakness, impotence, pain, stiffness, drooping muscles, depression, anxiety, or heat intolerance, you may be experiencing “andropause”.
Andropause is a syndrome resulting from the deficiency of hormones, especially testosterone. It’s onset and symptoms may not be as dramatic as female “menopause”, but its effects can be just as serious. It is interesting that hormone replacement is quite routine in women but barely even addressed in men. The decline in hormone levels in both sexes has an adverse impact on one’s state of health. Starting around age 25, DHEA and testosterone levels begin a progressive downward trend. With falling hormones, it is much harder to maintain muscle mass. Things begin to sag and fat begins to form increasingly thick layers around the lower back and abdomen. Stamina is affected and exercise intolerance occurs. Osteoporosis is well-documented in women and occurs in men as well. This can result in hip and vertebral compression fractures. Wrinkles that carve deep crevices in the face are partially due to testosterone deficiency. Libido is reduced and even impotence may develop. These changes are all a result of male “menopause”.
Hormone replacement has been available for women for decades and the positive results continue to multiply. In Anti-Aging medicine, it is expected that maintenance of hormone levels in the youthful range (that of a 25-30 year old) will provide substantial health benefit. Proper monitoring of hormone replacement is a relatively recent innovation that makes this therapy much safer. We can now insure proper dosages in the accepted normal physiologic range. Cancer risk is greatly reduced by this refined approach to replacement therapy.
The decline in testosterone occurs as a result of multiple causes and treatment should be directed accordingly. Aromatase (an enzyme that converts Testosterone into Estradiol) increases as we gain years. This increases raises the free estrogens and lowers the free Testosterone. Prostate cancer is correlated with high circulating estrogens. Aromatase inhibitors, such as chrysin, nettle extract, and Arimidex can inhibit aromatse. Testicular atrophy leads to decreased testosterone production. A course of treatment with HCG stimulates testicular development and can boost Testosterone production. A complete vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant supplement plus a proper diet help to correct nutritional deficiencies. DHEA and possible melatonin replacement also serve as alternatives and as adjuncts to testosterone therapy. A diet that includes a large amount of legumes, especially soy, is helpful in providing the necessary building blocks for our bodies to manufacture hormones. Maintaining cholesterol in the normal range (not to high or to low) is also critical for hormone synthesis. Testosterone replacement can be accomplished by the use of creams, pills or even injection. It is best if the physiologic patterns natural to the body are mimicked, which makes injection less favorable. Creams containing natural testosterone are well absorbed through the skin, bypass metabolism by the liver, and are easy to apply, thus making them superior to pills. The potential risks of testosterone administration include increases in red cell mass, worsening of sleep apnea, changes in plasma lipid levels, and fluid retention. There is some concern that testosterone replacement might exacerbate benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). There is no change in PSA with testosterone therapy. You are not a candidate for this replacement therapy if you have an active testicular or prostate cancer. Finally, testosterone supplementation may produce adverse side effects if administered to men with normal levels, hence the importance of monitoring.
With proper replacement, you can expect to regain muscle mass, increase bone density, increase stamina, increase libido, reduce your risk for a variety of cancers and Alzheimer’s disease, and live an improved quality of life.
Natural Antiaging Skincares
Nothing has been more better pursued by people than antiaging methods. Since it is such a heart subject it involves a lot of mystique and unfounded beliefs. Sometimes myths are better looked at and believed than the naked truth because they are more popular since they are usually spread by word of mouth, and they come from tradition. There are some natural antiaging skincares that are traditional.
The best way today to keep fit and healthy is exercise. With the age the body metabolism slows down, and same slows down the blood circulation, the body oxygenation. Exercise keeps the body going and with it increases the blood circulation to all of the parts of the body including the skin. Good exercise provides good blood circulation, this provides adequate oxygenation to the skin making it supple and radiant.
Probably everyone knows the term - beauty sleep. People say that if you sleep four hours before midnight you will not get wrinkles for a long time. And the true is that sleep plays a major role in the way your skin looks. Research has proved beyond any doubts that good sleep does really affect the skin cells life circle and elasticity. Getting regular sufficient sleep is one the best antiaging skincares you will ever get at absolutely no cost.
The human body's composition is mostly made of water. Hence if there is a depletion of water many complications set in, aging of skin being one of the most minor of them, though one of the most visible. One of the best antiaging skincares that are affordable and within everyone’s reach is drinking plenty of water, that's definitely.
There are also a number of herbal and natural cosmetic products today that are freely available on the market which make exceptionally good antiaging skincares aids. Here's are some examples: there is the sun block which prevents the damage of skin due to sun burn and UV rays, there is the lipstick which keeps your lips moisturized and protected from sun, there is the moisturizer which will keep the skin supplied with the water it needs, and the list goes on.
The true is that you cannot stop aging, but you can definitely slow it down if you are willing to regulate your habits in your life and observe a few ground rules for your skin care on a daily basis. Antiaging skincare does not need to be something extraordinarily expensive or complicated.
If you respect nature, believe me, it has it's way of saying 'thanks' to you and your skin. So choose natural antiaging skincares first and you'll be rewarded.
OPC Review - An Anti Aging Miracle?
I've only recently been introduced to OPC nutritional supplements. They've been around for over 50 years - why haven't I heard of them before? From what I've been reading, they sound like the next great frontier in anti-aging nutritional supplements.
If you are new to OPCs, here is a brief synopsis: OPC stands for oligomeric proanthocyanidins and is a molecular compound that is extracted from pine bark and grape seeds. Jacques Masquelier from France received the patent for the pine bark extraction in 1951 and then from grape seeds in 1970. In 1985, he got a US patent for his OPC.
Why should you care about the history of OPCs? Because whenever a good thing is discovered, there are always new products developed that claim to be the same thing, but really aren't. More about that later.
As expected with any research on nutritional supplements, there are widely conflicting reports on what OPCs can do. Here is a list of some of the claims I read:
Prevents heart attacks and strokes
Strengthens capillary walls
Reduces varicose veins
Relieves leg cramps & pains
Protects smokers from oxidative stress (lowered risk of heart attacks)
Reduces swelling and edema
Improves collagen and helps with the following ailments
Lupus
Liver Cirrhosis
Hypertension
Cancer prevention
Asthma
Allergies
Diabetes
Periodontal disease
Impotence
Hemorrhoids
Impaired vision & macular degeneration
ADHD
PMS symptoms
Seriously, can it REALLY do all that? How come everyone isn't taking this miracle supplement? Here's what the sources DO agree on:
OPCs are powerful antioxidants.
There is plenty of debate on the health benefits of antioxidants. I won't go into that here. If you believe in antioxidants to help combat the damage of free radicals, then OPCs should be on your shopping list of nutritional supplements. This is one supplement you'll have to pop the pill for. I doubt you can eat enough pine bark and grape seeds to get the full benefit of OPCs.
Varicose Veins
They seem to provide relief from problems associated with varicose veins. This was one study that seemed pretty conclusive.
Swelling from surgery or injury
OPCs seemed to reduce the swelling from surgery in breast cancer patients, facial surgery patients and sports injuries. You can see the possibilities here.
Gingivitis and plaque formation
They used an OPC gum for this study, but it seemed to work pretty well on the test subjects.
Blood clots after long plane rides
They found it significantly reduced the risk of blood clots on plane rides around 8 hours long.
What about all the other claims? Although testing has been done on many of the claims, sometimes the results were in animal studies or evidence SUGGESTS that a benefit may be there but there is no DIRECT evidence. So does that mean it doesn't work on all those other claims? Not at all. Medical testing is a slow and arduous task. As with all supplementation, proceed with caution and follow directions for use.
Are they safe? Apparently, yes. They are considered non-toxic. Side effects are pretty rare and can include digestive distress or an allergic reaction. One thing to note: if you take a blood-thinning drug, you should consult your doctor first. High doses of OPCs may have some anticoagulant properties.
Are all OPCs the same? Apparently not, although that doesn't mean you won't get some benefit from the various brands of OPCs. I would suggest you look for OPCs endorsed by or with Masquelier's name on them. It is a patented product, so you should be using the original patented formula. Currently there are several places on the internet to find them. See the website below for sources.
How Diet Can Help Anti-Aging
For centuries people have been searching for the fountain of youth. Although this is in itself a fantasy you can increase your chances of living longer by making a few adjustments to the way you eat. Basically it all boils down to one factor diet. The old saying “you are what you eat” holds true when it comes to anti-aging. Eating better is the key to better health and increasing your chances of living longer.
What do we mean by eating better? Here are a few points:
Cutting down our salt, and pure sugar intake
Cutting down but not eliminating carbohydrates
Eating more of these foods:
Fruits
Vegetables
Legumes and lentils (peas, beans) etc
Whole grain breads, rice and cereals
All fish except for shell fish
Added to this list are foods that give extra boosts of phytochemicals that help the immune system and a variety of body functions. Blueberries, cranberries and strawberries all contain phytochemicals. These are readily available in grocery stores. However to get the benefit of the phytochemicals, these berries must be vine ripened and picked within the last 48 hours. You can also grow these small fruit trees and shrubs yourself and enjoy that fresh from the garden taste.
Other “super foods” include:
Chlorella, is a small green algae which is loaded with, proteins, carbohydrates, all of the B vitamins, vitamins C and E, amino, enzymes and rare trace minerals
Spirulina is a complete plant based protein that helps the auto immune system. It also contains trace mineral contents it helps with blood sugar maintenance and brain function.
Sea vegetables (like seaweed), this would include seaweeds like kelp.
Broccoli Sprouts, you can get these at many grocery stores in the produce section or at the health food store.
Quinoa is a grain protein and is a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates.
Soybeans and soy products like tofu or soymilk. These are also available in the produce section of the grocery store.
Flax seed- this is a good source of Omega-3 oils, which are helpful in heart conditions.
Diet is very important when it comes to anti-aging and with these suggestions you can easily make a few adjustments to your diet. At first it is a little hard to adjust but once you get into good eating habits you will feel better and look better. Plus you will be able to have more energy to do the things you want to do and get more out of life. Research has proven that when you add exercise to healthy eating you can indeed prolong your life by just a few simple changes to your lifestyle.
Monday
Resveratrol as Anti-aging Antioxidant
Resveratrol supplements are the latest antiaging fad. Aging is breakdown, but broken things can be fixed. Aging is characterized by a progressive deterioration of physiological functions and metabolic processes.
The healthy reputation of dietary antioxidants just got more support, with one type turning in a spectacular anti-aging performance. Research studies continue to find more interesting benefits from this red wine compound, including potential anti-cancer and anti-aging activity. As to its antiaging potential, resveratrol activates a cell's survival defense enzyme, which prolongs the time cells have to repair their broken DNA.
Newspapers, magazines and TV over the last few years have been filled with news of the anti-aging, antioxidant and seemingly miraculous properties of red wine. Wine lovers are probably already aware that red wine contains a powerful antioxidant: resveratrol. Resveratrol appears to work as a powerful antioxidant helping quench free radical damage in the body, but also has a unique mechanism of action that may prove to have significant life extension properties.
Antioxidant resveratrol action is very important for the heart health because it can reduce the blood pressure by opening the arteries hence increasing the blood flow through them. Antioxidants slow down cell damage and the progression of degenerative diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and improve organ, eye, skin, teeth and gum health.
The primary health component of wine that researchers have uncovered is called resveratrol. Resveratrol is also found in a number of other foods and berries, such a peanuts and blueberries but grapes, particularly winemaking grapes such as Muscadine, are the clear winner.
Resveratrol maintains cell viability and exerts an anti-oxidative action by enhancing the intracellular free-radical scavenger glutathione. Resveratrol is an active polyphenol found in red wine that has anti cancer effects. Resveratrol is known to fight cancer tumor growth. Resveratrol protects heart tissue from cancer chemotherapy drug. Resveratrol is known to be protective against oxidative cardiovascular disorders.
Red wine contains tannins and resveratrol, substances which could explain the drink's anti-cancer properties. Consumption of red wine is associated with a slight but statistically significant reduction in the development of lung cancer, as reported in the journal Thorax. Red wine has been shown, in some experiments, to be more effective than other alcoholic beverages in decreasing some of the risk factors of coronary heart disease. Many believe that the proven benefits of red wine explain the “French Paradox ” in which the French have lower rates of heart disease yet consume a high fat diet.
NFI's resvinatrol complete contains the powerful red wine antioxidant, resveratrol, called « The Fountain of Youth » in a formula that includes several other important antioxidants. Resveratrol, just one of the powerful antioxidants in Resvinatrol Complete, is being heralded by scientists and researchers as an anti-aging miracle drug that can help ward off the effects of age-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease, strokes, obesity, diabetes and Alzheimer's.
Resvinatrol Complete provides today's health-conscious consumers with an exciting combination of powerful antioxidants found in red wine, chocolate, pomegranates, red raspberries, and soy.
Seeking and Buying Effective Antiaging Products in Today's World
If you are like many women (and not a few men) in the 21 st century, you regularly are on the hunt for effective antiaging products. Each and every week, there literally are a number of different antiaging products being introduced onto the marketplace. As a result, as you search for antiaging products, it can be a rather confusing and complicated process in many instances.
If you are seeking an effective antiaging product at this point in time, there are a number of factors and pointers that you should keep and bear in mind. First of all, products that contain antioxidants are valuable for their antiaging properties. Therefore as you seek an antiaging product for your own skin care needs, be on the alert for those antiaging products that do contain antioxidants within their makeup.
In addition to looking for antiaging products that contain antioxidants, you need to keep some other facts in mind as you seek antiaging assistance. In this regard, you need to remember that you will need to develop an antiaging regimen if you really want to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. To this end, you will want to obtain a number of different types of effective antiaging products.
You will want to ensure that your regimen includes cleansers that are designed to include antiaging properties. In this regard, you will want to avoid cleansers that dry the skin or that are too harsh.
In addition to cleansers with antiaging properties, obtaining an effective exfoliating product is also in order. If you want to keeps your skin as youthful looking as possible, it is important that you remove accumulated dead skin cells with regularity.
As part of your antiaging, you will want to include a moisturizer. Keeping your skin supple is a vital step in combating the effects of aging. Finally, you can avail yourself of some of the other antiaging products that are available on the market such as toning and firming gels and creams.
By adopting a thorough skin care and maintenance program that you utilize on a daily basis, you will have developed a true antiaging routine. Further, you should start such a routine early in life for the maximum benefit. In the long run, your skin will be far healthier. Additionally, you will be able to better control the look and appearance of fine lines and wrinkles through such a regular skin care regimen.
Of course, in the end you need to understand that there is no Fountain of Youth. There are no skin care products that have antiaging qualities that will reverse the sands of time. Rather, the best you can hope for when it comes to the antiaging products that are available on the market today is to reduce some of the appearances that are associated with the aging process. Specifically, and has been mentioned, through a comprehensive antiaging regimen, you will be able to reduce the look of some fine lines and wrinkles.