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Wrinkles can sometimes feel like the bane of our existence. In today’s youth driven world, wrinkles are considered the biggest downside of getting older. Since we cannot avoid getting wrinkles, as they are a natural part of aging, there are a couple of things we can do to slow their arrival.

When we are young, our skin cells have the ability to regenerate new cells after the old ones die off. This replenishment process begins to slow with each passing decade starting after your twenties, meaning your skin becomes less plump and loses much of its elasticity as the years pass.

The biggest factors that cause early onset wrinkles are too much exposure to the sun and cigarettes, among many things. Too much time spent in the sun can especially cause dryness, skin growths (liver spots), and sagginess. Other common causes of wrinkles are heredity, wearing clothing that exposes your neck, arms, and hands to the sun, or recreational activities like golfing, sailing, or fishing.

The best things we can do to prevent wrinkles then, seem fairly obvious: do not smoke, and do not stay in the sun for too long. However, if you are past the point of being able to prevent wrinkles, my Purglo line’s Advanced Dermal Repair is a wonderful anti-aging treatment with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants clinically proven to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Also, if spending time outdoors is hard to give up, which it definitely can be, then make sure to cover up with the Element Protection Stick every time you go out. The more proactive you are, the less likely you are to develop wrinkles earlier, and the less severe they will be!

References:
http://www.medicinenet.com/wrinkles/article.htm

 

Research tells us that we the average American consumes half a pound of sugar every single day. We know it can lead to conditions like diabetes and obesity, and sometimes, the latter precedes the former. Unfortunately though, the risk of diabetes and other diseases is not enough to get us to stop. However, did you also know that sugar can affect the collagen and elasticity of your skin?

A complex group of compounds called “Advanced Glycation End Products” better known as AGE’s, are major contributors to the aging process. They are part of a chemical chain reaction that occurs when sugar and proteins bond improperly called “cross-linking”. When a sugar molecule like fructose bonds with a protein and no enzyme is present to control the reaction, AGE’s are formed. This can lead to damaged tissue within the skin and prevent the formation of skin-tightening agents like collagen.

AGE’s come from the foods we eat, especially those cooked without water at high temperatures. Water prevents these sugars and proteins from bonding, which is why it is always best to steam or boil raw vegetables and avoid browned or processed foods. Browning foods increases the level of AGE’s!

As a promising area of research, AGE’s have been associated with the vascular damage of diabetes, as too much sugar in the bloodstream can greatly hasten the reaction between sugars and proteins in the body. AGE’s are also known to be a primary cause of cellular aging, and has been implicated in diseases like Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, and end-stage renal disease for its effects on body tissue. Fortunately, a peptide found in animal tissue and powerful antioxidant called carnosine has been known to offset this destructive reaction between sugars and proteins. Carnosine helps prevent cross-linking of collagen in skin. As skin age, cross-links form between adjacent collagen fibers causing the characteristic wrinkling and loss of elasticity. Carnosine is one of my favorite “anti-aging” nutrients; it is available in supplementation and has been used in many topical creams to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

In order to prevent the negative effects of AGE’s from creeping up on you, I suggest keeping the blood sugar low by reducing your sugar intake and eating raw, natural foods. Also, avoid well-done meats at high temperatures, such as grilled or BBQ meats, which have higher levels of AGE’s than do slower, cooked meats. Meat and poultry in soups and stews is a great way to prevent the AGE’s process. Making small changes in your diet every day can go a long way!

References:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/h0lyk91w88lj5j1q/fulltext.pdf