The Newest Anti-Aging Weapon

Posted by zqxyear1 on February 20, 2011 Comments Off

Everyone in the skin care world is talking about sirtuins. What are they? Sirtuins are a family of proteins found in organisms ranging from bacteria and plants to humans.

You may have heard of studies that show animals on calorie-restricted diets live longer, are healthier and show fewer signs of age than those fed normal diets. Though we don’t fully understand why, it appears that sirtuins are the key. A growing body of research shows that sirtuins may slow the pace of aging by delaying cell death and protecting cells from DNA damage. 

It’s unknown whether calorie-restricted diets have the same effects on humans as on fruit flies and monkeys, but it may turn out not to matter-we’re learning that you don’t need to starve yourself to put sirtuins into action.

A research company called Sirtris demonstrated that resveratrol, an antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes, stimulated expression of sirtuins. Mice placed on high doses of resveratrol improved insulin resistance, prevented weight gain and increased lifespan by 20 percent. When put on a treadmill, the mice were also able to run twice as far and twice as fast than those not given resveratrol (check out this episode of 60 Minutes to learn more).

Of course, beauty companies are anxious to profit from sirtuins. Already, Avon has launched its anti-aging Anew line, which has ingredients that upregulate sirtuin expression, and German and Spanish companies recently joined forces to develop a red wine powder that can be used in topical creams or added to food and beverages.  

Bottom line? While I’m excited about discoveries that show sirtuins can slow the pace of aging in an experimental setting, it remains to be seen what role they may play in skin care. For now, I suggest taking the supplement OPC Synergy by Standard Process, which contains extracts of grapeseed and red wine. And drinking a glass or two of the vino can’t hurt, either!

Wishing you great skin!

7 Steps to the Perfect Pouty Lips

Posted by zqxyear1 on December 12, 2010 Comments Off

Have you ever carefully applied your favorite lipstick … only to look in a mirror an hour later and discover that it’s bleeding through the edges of your lips?

There are ways to slow the signs of lip aging! Time and time again, I’ve encountered patients and friends who invest tons of time and money in skin care - only to virtually ignore their lips. Don’t make that mistake.

  1. If you smoke, stop! The repeated action of pursing your lips around a cigarette creates “wrinkles in motion,” that is, wrinkles caused by repeatedly moving your skin a certain way. Eventually, those wrinkles will remain even when your lips are at rest.
  2. For that same reason, limit your use of drinking straws and anything else that causes you to repeatedly purse your lips.
  3. When you’re slathering SPF on the rest of your body, it can be easy to forget your lips. If your signature shade of lipstick isn’t sun-friendly, always start with a base of SPF lip balm.
  4. In fact, the lips are a very common site for skin cancer because they don’t naturally secrete vitamin E-rich sebum - the oil that helps protect your skin. Pick up a bottle of vitamin E oil or lip balm with vitamin E. Not only will it help protect your pout against skin cancer, it will also prevent the signs of aging.
  5. If your lips feel flaky, it’s perfectly fine to exfoliate them, although there’s no need to exfoliate on a regular basis. Use a fine scrub (nothing too abrasive), and be sure to follow it with a hydrating product. In addition to vitamin E, I love glycerin-based balms, which will help lips hold on to water.
  6. Curious about “lip plumping” glosses? In general, they do work - by irritating the delicate skin on the lips and causing them to swell slightly. (They’re not dangerous, but a word of warning: When I tried one, my lips burned for an hour, even though I’d washed it off immediately!)
  7. If you’re really interested in plumper lips, consider dermal fillers. Contrary to common fears, the latest dermal fillers (like Restylane, Juvederm, Hylaform, and the newly approved Perlane) can look very natural when a skilled doctor performs the procedure. Ask him or her to go easy on you - a little goes a very long way when it comes to lips.

Food for sport

Posted by zqxyear1 on December 7, 2010 Comments Off

Sports nutritionist Wendy Martinson shares her tips on how to eat well to get the best results, whatever your favourite activity or sport.

Wendy advises Olympic athletes and England football players on their diet. She is a consultant sports nutritionist to the British Olympic Association, and is a registered dietitian who works with the NHS as a clinical nutrition service manager.

Can I eat more when I’m doing lots of exercise?
If you’re doing lots of exercise, you’ll use more energy each day than if you did little or none. So if you don’t want to lose body fat, you need to eat more food each day.

But still make sure that you have a balanced diet. Aim for larger portions of carbohydrate-rich foods such as wholegrain pasta, rice, sweet potato, porridge and breakfast cereals.

Is it better to eat a diet high in starchy carbohydrates or protein when I’m training? 
Carbohydrates are the fuel that power your exercise regime.

Protein is needed in moderate amounts for muscle growth and repair, but the main form of energy used during exercise is carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are the most important fuel for muscles, and an essential energy source for the brain and central nervous system. They play a vital role in sports where precision, quick decision-making, dexterity and co-ordination are needed.

Carbohydrates are stored as glycogen in the muscles and liver. These stores are small, so a regular intake of carbohydrate is necessary to keep them topped up. Low glycogen stores will result in poor performance and increase the risk of injury. The proportions of carbohydrate and protein required will vary depending on the sport, so it’s best to seek advice from a qualified professional on your individual requirements.

How should I time my meals and snacks around exercise?
Once you’ve eaten a meal or snack, allow between one and four hours to pass before you start exercising. Your body needs time to digest. The amount of time will depend on the amount of food you’ve eaten.

If it’s an average meal, eating around two hours before you exercise works well. The meal should be high in carbohydrate, low in fat and low to moderate in protein. Too much protein or fat will slow down the movement of foods from the stomach, and will make you feel uncomfortable.

Food and drink also plays a part in recovering effectively from training. Good recovery is crucial to prevent a midweek slump in energy levels, and to aid muscle growth and repair. When you finish training, aim to have a carbohydrate-rich food or drink within 30 minutes.

Do I need to drink when I exercise?
Dehydration is when the water content in your body falls below its normal level. It can have a major effect on exercise performance. It’s important to start any exercise session well hydrated. Do this by drinking water, squash or diluted fruit juice regularly during the course of the day.

For any exercise that lasts longer than 30 minutes, drink fluid while you’re doing it. The more you sweat, the more you’ll need to drink.

Water is usually enough for low-intensity exercise up to 50 minutes. For higher-intensity exercise lasting more than 50 minutes, or lower-intensity exercise lasting hours, a sports drink would be of benefit.

The carbohydrates in a sports drink will help to maintain energy levels, and the salt helps to keep you hydrated.

My friend exercises to lose weight, but I exercise to build muscle. Should our diets be different?
Yes. To lose weight, or more specifically body fat, the amount of energy that you consume has to be less than the amount of energy you burn. You’ll need a diet and exercise regime that makes this happen.

There are key steps you can take to reduce the energy content in your daily diet. Reduce fat, which is the most concentrated source of energy, and reduce alcohol. Eat fewer sugary foods, such as sweets, chocolates, cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks, and eat regular but smaller portions of complex carbohydrate foods, such as wholegrain bread, rice and pasta.

Protein foods such as chicken, fish, lean red meat and low-fat dairy foods should be included in moderate amounts. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables. It’s important to control portion sizes, too.

But to build muscle you need to combine resistance training (also called strength training) with a diet that includes enough energy to enable your body to make muscle.

This energy should come mainly in the form of carbohydrate-rich foods, but you’ll also need a little more protein to provide muscle. Large amounts of protein aren’t required.

A particularly effective approach is to eat small amounts of protein and carbohydrate before and after the resistance training session. A low-fat milkshake can work well.

Should I take extra supplements when I’m playing sport?

There are many different supplements on the market. Some of them are based on solid research, and others aren’t. Athletes need to consider supplements with extreme caution. In the past, some supplements were found to have been contaminated with banned substances.

First, ensure that you have a balanced, healthy diet that suits your sport. Consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist with expertise in sports nutrition. They can assess this and advise you on particular supplements.