Top Tips for Perfecting Skin at Home

Good skincare does not have to be about expensive moisturisers and bank-breaking facials. Healthy-looking skin can also be achieved with a balanced diet, regular exercise and vitamins. Despite skin being the body's largest organ it is also one of the most vulnerable areas of the body. Exposed to germs, insects, sun damage and pollution, if not looked after skin is quickly affected by these elements to cause blemishes, lines and wrinkles. By following certain lifestyle changes, these issues can be avoided and skin can appear dramatically improved.

Feed your skin

There are certain ground rules in achieving healthy and improved looking skin including hydration and diet. Research has proved that drinking at least 2 litres of water a day is essential in flushing toxins from the body; this not only helps internal health but also skin becomes clearer and less spot prone. Diet is also essential, as whatever is eaten tends to have an impact on skin. Introduce healthier, fresh options into your daily meals, including fruit and vegetables which are packed with vitamins and minerals. It is said that foods rich in omega-3 are also effective supplements to keeping skin firm and smooth for longer. Choose salmon, nuts and olive oil to gain a natural source of healthy oils.

Accompany a nutritious and balanced diet with regular exercise, good for the whole body, exercise increases circulation and helps keep skin supple and young and is also a good anti-aging tool. Sleep is also significant in keeping skin young and healthy, it is recommended that at least 8 hours of sleep is needed for the body and mind to fully relax.


Cleansing is key

Hygiene is also an important factor in keeping skin looking younger for longer, pores can get clogged up with grime, dust and pollution from the day and it is important that this is washed away regularly to avoid suffering from greasy, clogged up skin. Gentle exfoliation has always been a key part in the cleansing process, not only removing grime but also helping to remove dead skin cells from the body.

Extensive research has shown the detrimental affects that sun damage can have on the skin; various UV protection products are now available on the market. Working to block out the suns UV rays, which are often held responsible as the cause of skin cancer, sun damage also causes aging and blemished skin which cannot be repaired.

Supplement skin

Vitamins and supplements are an easy, effective and relatively inexpensive way of providing the body with essential goodness which fortifies skin. Just as important are the products used, always try to select products tailored to the appropriate skin condition, whether suffering from dry, oily, sensitive or normal skin. A commonly used product for the anti-wrinkle process in particular, is moisturiser. The best products to use are gentle or non-perfumed which are milder on the skin. Choose Resveratrol based products which offer impressive health benefits, including the encouragement of destruction of unhealthy skin cells and the regrowth of new tissue.

Nutrients for Younger, Healthier Skin

With many expensive and fashionable skincare products, cosmetics and treatments on the market offering to decrease wrinkles, lines and dryness it is difficult to find something that is suitable for your skin condition and budget. However, often overlooked, there is a much more effective, affordable and safer alternative available.

Natural products such as vitamins, supplements and super foods are a cost effective choice in providing your body with essential minerals and oils to keep your mind, body and skin healthy. Unlike other modern approaches, natural products provide a safer option to fight the anti-aging process. There is a wide selection of available products on the market made from natural ingredients, such as Resveratrol based treatments, which offer impressive health benefits for the skin.

There are many varieties of health and super foods which are packed with antioxidants and goodness that help provide skin with essential nutrients to improve your skins conditions, these include:

Green Tea

Rich in antioxidants, green tea helps to protect cell membranes and repair damaged skin cells caused by sun damage. Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia have revealed that the polyphenol found in green tea helps to reactivate dying skin cells to leave skin looking younger for longer.

Berries

Berries are considered to be high in antioxidants which help protect skin cells. Blueberries in particular are packed with nutritional goodness which helps to neutralise damaging free radicals within the body. Other nutritious berries include blackcurrants, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries and strawberries which all offer a natural formation of collagen which makes skin supple, smooth and younger looking.

Carrots

Carrots are a high source of beta-carotene and antioxidants, which are good for reducing the affects of sun damaged skin which is often the cause of premature aging. Carrots also aid the skins collagen formation helping skin to look younger and firmer. The vitamin A which is found in carrots helps to keep skin moist and hydrated avoiding dry skin which can lead to wrinkles and lines.

Salmon

Full of essential fatty acids, salmon along with other fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed is essential for achieving healthy skin. The omega 3s found in salmon helps protect skin cells by keeping out harmful substances, reducing dryness and improving the skin's elasticity. Consuming more omega 3 foods such as salmon, helps keep the skin supple and youthful looking for longer. Also high in selenium, salmon improves overall skin problems and maintains skin health.

Dairy Products

Packed with vitamin A, dairy products are good for skin health and anti aging. Keeping skin moisturised and supple, products such as milk and yoghurt help to keep skin looking younger for longer. Dairy is also good for digestive health which is reflected in healthy looking skin.

What we eat daily plays a significant role in the health of our skin with food affecting internal and external health. Eating healthy foods rich with nutrients and vitamins will help protect skin from sun damage and replenish dead skin cells to leave younger looking skin.

Tips - How to Look Younger When You Are Getting Older

As well as the natural affects of aging, skin is constantly exposed to weather damage, pollution and germs, causing wrinkles and lines to appear over time. Whether approaching retirement age or in your thirties, keeping skin looking young and healthy is a result many of us strive for. With thousands of anti-aging products on the market it is hard to know what to use in order to postpone the inevitable process. As well as the wealth of creams, potions and treatments available there are also some simple changes to your daily routine that can help in the anti-aging process.

Keep skin hydrated

Dry skin is often the cause of wrinkles, lacking elasticity and firmness dry skin encourages the appearance of lines. Keeping skin hydrated is an essential part of the daily routine, research has suggested that all adults should drink up to two litres of water a day to keep skin moisturised and healthy. Drinking lots of water helps flush out unwanted toxins and poisons from the body, which has positive effects on the appearance of skin.

Moisturising also keeps skin moist and firm and helps to slow down the aging process, by introducing a complete cleansing and moisturising process into your daily routine skin will remain hydrated and wrinkle free for longer. Cleanser helps to clean away grime and dust ready for a high quality moisturiser to be applied, locking in moisture to dry and aging skin.

Enjoy an active life

Keeping active is also integral to looking younger for longer. The release of endorphins that exercise creates help to keep your mind, body and skin healthy and glowing. It also increases circulation to keep skin supple and young looking. Retirement is a prime time for being as active as possible and keeping skin younger looking, whether taking up a new hobby, going for walks or joining the gym, any type of activity which gets your heart rate going will work wonders for your skin.

Just as important is your bodies need for sleep, eight hours of sleep a day is recommended to give your body and skin time to relax and repair, leaving you feeling healthier and younger on the inside and in appearance.

Go natural

Skincare products should also be central to your daily routine and picking the right product for your skin is equally as important. There are many anti-wrinkle treatments out there which are not regulated and offer little beneficial effects. Choose recognised and experienced anti-aging products and supplements that have been tested and proved to work.

Natural skincare products provide a good source of vitamins and minerals that are effective in providing skin with essential oils and supplements, made from 100% natural and organic ingredients they work in tune with your body. The range of Resveratrol based products are ideal for anti-aging, made from a super enzyme which encourages the destruction of unhealthy skin cells and the re-growth of new tissue, the affects on aging skin are outstanding.

Resveratrol News

Resveratrol – the key to successful weight loss?

For anyone who is trying to lose weight, or who has tried to diet in the past, success is often elusive. The trouble is that while you might shed the weight, it is difficult to keep the weight off after the diet period ends. However, research is showing that the red wine compound Resveratrol may be a key ingredient to successful weight loss and keeping the weight off afterwards.

Calorie restriction

The classic method of dieting is reducing the amount of calories in the diet to levels below the daily requirement for the body. The body is, in effect, burning more energy than it takes in. The response to lower levels of glucose in the blood at any given time stimulates the conversion of fats and proteins into glucose for the muscles and brain to utilise.

This is also why it is recommended that you increase the amount of daily exercise you get. By increasing the number of calories you burn off in a day through exercise, you are speeding up the weight loss by stimulating your body to convert more fat into usable energy. However, extended calorie restriction diets are difficult to maintain in the long term.

Sugars, weight gain and the French Paradox

The link between excess sugar in the diet and weight gain are well documented. If we consume more sugar or glucose than our bodies need, the excess glucose is stored for later use by the body, and most often this storage is in the fat cells. The same goes for fat consumption. Fat is a high energy substance, and beneficial to the body in some forms. However, like sugars, if our diet contains too much fat the body reacts to store this excess energy for later use.

So what about the phenomenon called 'French Paradox'? Many researchers recognise that the French diet is often high in calories, especially in fats, yet France does not seem to have the rates of obesity and diet-related health issues as other Western countries.
The reason for the paradox may be because of the consumption of red wine in France and other Mediterranean countries. Scientists studying the effects of the polyphenol chemical compound Resveratrol found in red grape wine have shown that Resveratrol helps to prevent fat storage, and found that it actually inhibits pre-fat cells from changing into mature fat cells. Resveratrol also acts to lower the amount of sugars in the blood, preventing it from changing into fat. Interestingly, studies have also shown that Resveratrol can increase the levels of 'good' cholesterol in the blood.

Holding the keys to healthy living

Adding the health benefits of Resveratrol to a healthy diet and regular exercise may be the key recipe for successful weight loss. While the research continues into other health benefits of Resveratrol, users of supplements like Biotivia's Resveratrol report increased energy levels, a drop in blood pressure or a drop in weight. Losing weight can lead to other health benefits including decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes and other weight-related problems.

Boosting your brain power with Resveratrol

There has been a lot of talk in the news lately about boosting your brain power with mental exercises or 'brain training'. And while results show training your brain does little to actually improve your cognitive functions beyond learned repetition, new research is showing that a simple phytochemical compound called Resveratrol may boost your brain power.

Resveratrol is found in red grape skins and flesh. Its presence in red wine is thought to contribute to red wine's reputed heart and health promoting properties. It can also be found other dark fruits like blueberries, raspberries and pomegranate. Studies into Resveratrol's health promoting benefits show it acts in much the same way as calorie-restricted diets to promote longevity and improve overall health.

Better brains with fewer calories

Over 70 years ago, studies were conducted on mice that showed that a calorie-restricted diet extended the life spans of the mice, sometimes by up to 50%. The researchers also showed that mice on these calorie-restricted diets showed improved motor skills, memory, cognition and reaction times when compared with mice of a similar elderly age.

Since then, many studies have supported this research showing that in mammals, calorie restriction improves life spans and reduces age-related disease, effectively increasing life quality as well as length.

Resveratrol mimics calorie-restricted diet's effects

Recent studies on Resveratrol have shown that it mimics the longevity and health-promoting effects of calorie-restricted diets. Specifically, Resveratrol has been shown to act on regions of the brain that affect diabetes, and it seems to protect the nerves themselves from damage and oxidative stress due to aging. Because most humans cannot maintain a calorie-restricted diet as in the other mammalian studies, Resveratrol is receiving a lot of attention. New studies are being conducted now on humans to prove its effectiveness in prolonging quality of life as well as its effects on brain power.

One study conducted at Northumbria University revealed that adults who had taken Resveratrol did better at mental maths tests than the control group.

Blood flow and protecting nerve cells

Where Resveratrol seems to benefit the brain is by improving blood vessel functions. Resveratrol lowered cholesterol levels, reduced blood vessel hardening and lessened oxidative stress within the blood vessels. On their own, each of these effects has been shown to produce affect brain function. Taken together, the power of Resveratrol to boost brain power seems evident.

Another area where Resveratrol seems to protect our brains is in its ability to protect nerves at a cellular level, preventing damage to DNA, and its action in reducing inflammation in tissues.

Though Resveratrol comes from many plants, much of the discussion of Resveratrol has focussed on its presence in red wine. While we don't deny that it is present in red wines, we would caution you on its use as a brain booster – alcohol, of course, tends to have the opposite effect on brain power than we might like. So supplements like Resveratrol seem like the right route to boosting your brain power.

Resveratrol – the new kid on the science block

Science has dedicated itself to discovering and understanding the processes of our bodies in order to treat and prevent disease and illness. Discoveries along the way have led to a massive increase in both the life span of humans and in our ability to heal or prevent many diseases which troubled our ancestors. Resveratrol is a relatively new addition to the body of scientific work on human wellness and disease, and it is showing itself to be this generation's big discovery.

Resveratrol is part of a family of compounds called phytochemicals found in many plants, with red wine grapes having relatively high concentrations of Resveratrol present in the flesh and skins. These phytochemicals, or phytoalexins, protect the plants from bacteria and fungi. Early research on Resveratrol showed a similar effect in animals by reducing or even reversing metabolic problems in the animal test subjects. But not until recently has science been able to explain what effect Resveratrol has on the molecular and biological pathways in the cells of the body.

Sirtuins

Decades ago, research on animals showed that mice given a calorie-restricted diet of up to 50% of normal calories lived longer than their normally fed contemporaries. The calorie-restricted mice also had stronger bones and showed signs of better motor functioning. But most people find it impossible to maintain a calorie-restricted diet, so the benefits to humans remained elusive.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, researchers discovered that a family of genes called sirtuins might be responsible for the longevity and health of those calorie-restricted mice. Sirtuins are present in every cell of our bodies and seem to monitor the energy levels within the cell. Their action on longevity and cellular health is thought to be their action in triggering enzymes within the cell that help repair and prevent damage to the cell during times of famine.

Resveratrol switches on sirtuins

After discovering the sirtuin family, researchers then went on to find out which chemical compounds could trigger sirtuins to do their work. New findings show that Resveratrol switches on sirtuin genes in cells in much the same way as the calorie-restricted diet does. This initial finding stimulated billions of pounds worth of research into Resveratrol and has produced findings showing Resveratrol helping to reverse or reduce inflammation, reduce blood sugar levels, prevent fat from forming and protecting heart and nerve tissue from damage and degradation.

Resveratrol's presence in red wine may explain why Mediterranean diets seem to paradoxically contain more fats, yet show lower levels of cardiac and age-related metabolic diseases than in other Western diets. The race is on to provide more evidence of Resveratrol's role in preventing and reversing age-associated disease like diabetes, some forms of cancer and neurological diseases like Alzheimer's.

Research on Resveratrol continues

Because it is such a new area of cellular research, studies on the pathways that promote anti-aging in humans and the compounds that stimulate cellular protection are continuing. One thing is clear about the new kid on the science block – Resveratrol's popularity is gaining ground and its publicity is helping to fund a whole new series of studies into its role in helping prolong healthy living.