There are many spices that have been touted to have anti aging properties but none has been more hyped up than Turmeric. Even though this spice has been around for centuries, very little is known about it.
Tumeric is a spice widely used in Indian cooking. The crushed power is readily available in most Indian stores. It is yellow in color and has a distinct smell. Besides cooking it is often used to dye clothes in the Orient. The stains caused by turmeric are very difficult to remove.
When turmeric is added to food, it brings a certain flavor. However, the right amount of tumeric should be added—too much and the food will not taste right.
Turmeric has been analyzed in the laboratory and found to contain many chemicals, the chief one with health benefits being curcumin. In the Orient, health care practitioners have used curcumin to combat various cancers and Alzheimer’s disease. Others claim that is may also possess anti inflammatory activity. Other ingredients found in fresh turmeric powder include vitamins, potassium and minerals.
Turmeric is widely used by the Chinese and Indians to treat a wide variety of digestive disorders, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, parasites, liver disease and open wounds.
However, recently there have been suggestions that turmeric may also possess anti aging benefits. Many health food stores sell turmeric in a pill and advocate it for skin rejuvenation and improving skin texture. There are many anecdotal reports that turmeric can delay the onset of aging and protect the skin against the sun. Unfortunately, all the positive benefits of turmeric are based only on individual reports. As far has as the skin is concerned, turmeric has been found to sooth the skin, decreases the itching and dryness in eczema and improves hydration. Some even compare its health benefits to aloe vera. Individuals who have used turmeric regularly point out the fact their skin is wrinkle free and smooth.
Turmeric is available as a powder, liquid or as tincture. Even though the product is relatively safe, excessive use has been known to result in peptic ulcers. Even though it can be used as a food flavoring agent, some alternative health care practitioners recommend taking turmeric on a daily basis to obtain the medical benefits.
Even though clinical trials are lacking to confirm the real benefits of turmeric, you can rest assured that with turmeric not only will your food taste great but if you are lucky, you will have a skin which is young and beautiful looking.
Turmeric powder is best bought as a powder and sells for less than $3-$4 per pound. Research has shown that turmeric is a best anti-aging tip to be added as a spice or supplement to your daily intake of nutritional supplements.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
How Collagen Pills can Help?
In the search for the fountain of youth, everyone is going to extremes. For the past few decades, people have been splashing themselves with holy water from various rivers of the world, then applying sediment from the Dead Sea and now we have collagen pills. Can a collagen pill help you achieve your goals?
Every major cosmetic and beauty company sells some type of collagen pills which are touted to reverse aging. First the basics-Collagen is an essential component of our body. It provides structure, support and keeps us looking young. When collagen disappears from the body usually with age, the tissues shrink, fine lines appear and the skin becomes wrinkled. While collagen generally disappears with age, individuals who smoke or have extensive history of sun exposure can develop premature aging.
So this is where the collagen pills fit in.
The collagen pills have been formulated so that they can replace the collagen lost from your skin. The collagen pills release the collagen molecules which then incorporate into the tissues. Further, the collagen pills also contain certain ingredients that will help the body stimulate its own synthesis. The overall result is a firmer, younger and smoother looking skin.
Other chemicals that can also augment collagen pills are zinc, copper and iron. All these three minerals can stimulate collagen synthesis. Individuals who only take collagen pills will not see a great difference in their skin unless they take some of these essential mineral. One does not have to buy extra vitamins- there is ample iron, zinc and copper in most fruits and vegetables.
A very important fact about collagen pills is to take it with lots of water and food. This is to prevent it from being broken down by the acid in the stomach. When the collagen pills are taken as a whole, they quickly get absorbed into the blood stream and start working. The results of collagen pills on the skin are not immediate. Remember the collagen has to find its way to the tissues and has to be incorporated into the new growing skin. This takes about 5-14 days. The maximum cosmetic benefit after collagen pills appear at the end of 4 weeks. Unfortunately, a few individuals do not see an anti aging benefit after collagen pills- but there is a reason for that.
One of the chief reasons why collagen pills do not work in all individuals is because people are not compliant with the therapy. The pills have to be taken in regularly. Some of the collagen does get broken down in the stomach but most of its gets absorbed. So if one takes the collagen pill on a regular basis, the anti aging effects will appear. Those who have problems with acidity should take the collagen pills with n anti ulcer drug or food.
Every major cosmetic and beauty company sells some type of collagen pills which are touted to reverse aging. First the basics-Collagen is an essential component of our body. It provides structure, support and keeps us looking young. When collagen disappears from the body usually with age, the tissues shrink, fine lines appear and the skin becomes wrinkled. While collagen generally disappears with age, individuals who smoke or have extensive history of sun exposure can develop premature aging.
So this is where the collagen pills fit in.
The collagen pills have been formulated so that they can replace the collagen lost from your skin. The collagen pills release the collagen molecules which then incorporate into the tissues. Further, the collagen pills also contain certain ingredients that will help the body stimulate its own synthesis. The overall result is a firmer, younger and smoother looking skin.
Other chemicals that can also augment collagen pills are zinc, copper and iron. All these three minerals can stimulate collagen synthesis. Individuals who only take collagen pills will not see a great difference in their skin unless they take some of these essential mineral. One does not have to buy extra vitamins- there is ample iron, zinc and copper in most fruits and vegetables.
A very important fact about collagen pills is to take it with lots of water and food. This is to prevent it from being broken down by the acid in the stomach. When the collagen pills are taken as a whole, they quickly get absorbed into the blood stream and start working. The results of collagen pills on the skin are not immediate. Remember the collagen has to find its way to the tissues and has to be incorporated into the new growing skin. This takes about 5-14 days. The maximum cosmetic benefit after collagen pills appear at the end of 4 weeks. Unfortunately, a few individuals do not see an anti aging benefit after collagen pills- but there is a reason for that.
One of the chief reasons why collagen pills do not work in all individuals is because people are not compliant with the therapy. The pills have to be taken in regularly. Some of the collagen does get broken down in the stomach but most of its gets absorbed. So if one takes the collagen pill on a regular basis, the anti aging effects will appear. Those who have problems with acidity should take the collagen pills with n anti ulcer drug or food.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Antiaging | Collagen Creams
There are many of us who simply hate getting old. This is not something new. Since biblical times men has been in search for the magic bullet to reverse aging. And after thousands of years, we are still at square one. There is no magical antiaging cream, lotion or potion out there which can turn back time. The internet is inundated with almost everything underneath the sun that can reverse signs of an aged skin. In reality, the majority of these antiaging creams only empty your pockets. In the last few years however, there is some evidence that certain anti aging ingredients may help lighten up scars and fines lines on the face. Antiaging Creams known to contain copper peptides, Argireline and Matrixyl have been shown to even out lines and erase scars. Another product which has been postulated to reverse the signs of aging is collagen. Collagen is a natural component of body tissues and plays a vital role in maintaining tissue support, hydration and providing nourishment.
When levels of collagen in the body decline the tissues will appear shrunk, wrinkled and the skin will show evidence of sagging. Collagen is the key. If collagen can be resynthesised, at least some features of aging can be slowed or reversed.
In the body, collagen is synthesized from precursor amino acids, ascorbic acid and copper. A number of collagen creams are widely sold on the cosmetic market. However, the question is how much collagen does get absorbed through the skin?
There are no clinical data on collagen creams and their efficacy; there are some testimonials by individuals who claim that such collagen creams have improved their facial features. But the fact is that the majority of beauty and cosmetic firms who sell antiaging creams | collagen creams rarely have any other evidence to back up their claims.
Now some cosmetic companies have come up with another approach to collagen. The latest ingredients like Argireline and Matrixyl are said to increase the synthesis of collagen in tissues and boost strength and elasticity. This leads to a younger and smoother looking skin. Further, many cosmetic firms are now adding a variety of anti oxidants and extracts from plants to fight aging and boost the synthesis of collagen. So far, the merits of such newer collagen creams remain unknown.
The only sure way to temporarily reverse signs of aging is surgery or BOTOX. Short of that, one is going to be spending a lot of money buying collagen creams containing antiaging ingredients which have little value.
But all is not lost. For those of you who want to prevent aged skin, eat healthy, exercise and quit smoking. The real antiaging creams will perhaps be available one day- but this is in future.
When levels of collagen in the body decline the tissues will appear shrunk, wrinkled and the skin will show evidence of sagging. Collagen is the key. If collagen can be resynthesised, at least some features of aging can be slowed or reversed.
In the body, collagen is synthesized from precursor amino acids, ascorbic acid and copper. A number of collagen creams are widely sold on the cosmetic market. However, the question is how much collagen does get absorbed through the skin?
There are no clinical data on collagen creams and their efficacy; there are some testimonials by individuals who claim that such collagen creams have improved their facial features. But the fact is that the majority of beauty and cosmetic firms who sell antiaging creams | collagen creams rarely have any other evidence to back up their claims.
Now some cosmetic companies have come up with another approach to collagen. The latest ingredients like Argireline and Matrixyl are said to increase the synthesis of collagen in tissues and boost strength and elasticity. This leads to a younger and smoother looking skin. Further, many cosmetic firms are now adding a variety of anti oxidants and extracts from plants to fight aging and boost the synthesis of collagen. So far, the merits of such newer collagen creams remain unknown.
The only sure way to temporarily reverse signs of aging is surgery or BOTOX. Short of that, one is going to be spending a lot of money buying collagen creams containing antiaging ingredients which have little value.
But all is not lost. For those of you who want to prevent aged skin, eat healthy, exercise and quit smoking. The real antiaging creams will perhaps be available one day- but this is in future.
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