Diet Secrets for Younger-Looking Skin

There is an effective alternative to painful procedures and costly wrinkle creams to keep a youthful appearance.  The key is to reduce inflammation.

You may think of inflammation as redness and swelling, but inflammation is a constant and invisible process happening at the cellular level.  Cell-damaging free radicals cause oxidation, which in turn causes inflammation.  Free radicals, which come from UV radiation, air pollution, and natural metabolic processes, damage cell membranes.  As the cell membrane oxidizes, inflammation occurs, and the cell cannot bring in essential nutrients or expel wastes.

So what are the secrets?

• Cut back on sugar.  Sugar molecules react with collagen, the protein that gives skin a supple and resilient texture.  When sugar reacts with collagen, it releases a burst of free radicals.
  

• Eat more protein.  Give your skin a constant supply of amino acids to repair cellular damage.  You can get  protein from dairy products, meat, and legumes. 
  

        But the best source of protein for healthy skin comes from cold-water fish like anchovies, sardines, and salmon. These fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids (a potent anti-inflammatory agent) as well as a compound called dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), which supports the process by which messages are carried from nerve endings to muscles, helping to keep the skin well-toned.

• Take your supplements--especially your antioxidants, like vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, and selenium.
  

The Journal of American Heart Association suggests    that increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish or canola oil, and decreasing omega-6 fatty acids, found in plant seed oils (corn, safflower, and sunflower) is a way to reduce the risk of sudden death in middle-aged men.

The American Heart Association recommends eating two meals of fatty fish per week--as well as an overall diet emphasizing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean meats and poultry.
                                           
                         From Alternative Health News Online

Antibiotics Kill Good Bacteria, Too

Did you know that most bacteria aren't bad for you?  In fact, some are even good for you.  These "good germs" live in your intestines, especially the colon, which harbors at least 400 species of bacteria.  An abundance of good bacteria will crowd out the bad bacteria occasionally found in your food.  But after an antibiotic treatment, healthy intestinal bacteria are killed, and the normal balance is thrown off.  The bad bacteria can then outnumber the good, and a number of health issues can result.

Remember that, while antibiotics are used to treat infections, they are not effective against colds or the flu, which are caused by viruses.

Eating yogurt or other products made from fermented milk can help restore your intestinal flora, or to be more effective you can buy probiotics.  (Notice the term "pro-" rather than "anti-" biotics.)  It's important, however, you buy a quality product.  You can't always be sure you are getting the same strains as on the label, or that they are still alive.  They are also very sensitive to heat and moisture.

Research on certain strains of probiotics has shown toease intestinal upsets, cure diarrhea, and stimulate the immune system.  Some even seem to work against viruses.

                                                                                                                               From Time.com

Long-Term Stress and Nutrition

Let's face it.  It can be a hectic world we live in.  Even if we don't watch the local news, dealing with jobs, family, time restrictions, and other responsibilities can bring on stress.
But we can take some positive steps in the form of nutritional adjustments to more successfully deal with long-term stress.

There are two stages of stress.  Initially, the "fight-or-flight" reaction is caused by hormonal cascades.  Then the longer-term stress response includes an increase in the production of glucocorticoids.  These stress hormones are the body's natural anti-inflammatories.  They come from the adrenal glands, protecting against short-term stress and affecting the body's metabolism. 

The body interprets long-term stress as an injury.  It reacts by increasing fat, to increase the amount of available energy.  It also triggers the degradation of muscle, making the amino acids found in muscle available for repairing the body and creating antibodies.

Stress reduction techniques, such as meditation, yoga,  walking, and other exercises are ideal.  To aid with the immediate effects of long-term stress, you can suppress the shift toward fat production by increasing your intake of polyunsaturated fat a bit.  This will help suppress the stress response by letting the body know that fat is available.

                                                                                           From Alternative Health News Online

Product Spotlight:  EPA-DHA Complex

EPA-DHA Complex is a totally natural source of the omega-3 essential fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), concentrated from cold water fish oil. EPA and DHA are polyunsaturated fatty acids that nutritionally support cardiovascular health and help maintain healthy triglycerides and other blood lipid levels. EPA-DHA Complex promotes healthy cellular balance of these essential fatty acids and supports healthy, balanced eicosanoid synthesis. A healthy balance of eicosanoids helps to support proper cardiovascular, nervous, and immune system function.*

EPA-DHA Complex is cholesterol-free and assayed for peroxides and environmental contaminants to ensure quality and purity. Natural source vitamin E is added to help guard against oxidation and to maintain freshness.

Each Capsule Supplies:
Natural Marine Lipid Concentrate 1,000 mg
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) 180 mg
DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) 120 mg
Other Ingredients: Mixed Tocopherols.

For ordering information, click here.

Product Spotlight 2:  Ultra Flora Plus

Ultra Flora Plus is a patented† probiotic supplement featuring a highly viable, pure strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus (NCFM® strain) and Bifidobacterium infantis -- "friendly" flora that help support a healthy intestinal environment. In addition, Ultra Flora Plus features the valuable Probio-Saccharide® factor, fructooligosaccharides, which are an excellent food source for the beneficial bacteria and help to promote their growth in the intestines, and Probio-Protein® factor, a concentrate of immunoglobulin proteins (antibodies) from whey.*

Produced in a freeze-dried form and refrigerated during storage and shipping for maximum stability, Ultra Flora Plus is guaranteed to provide no less than 2.25 billion acidophilus and 2.5 billion bifidobacteria microorganisms per serving through date of expiration. To provide you with assurance of potency, the most current viability assay is shipped with each order.

1/2 Teaspoon Supplies:
Bifidobacterium infantis 2.25 billion live organisms
Lactobacillus acidophilus
(NCFM® Strain) 2.25 billion live organisms

Also available is Ultra Flora Plus DF, which is dairy-free.

For ordering information, click here.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. 
    These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.