Improving Tolerance of Carbohydrate

People who are carbohydrate intolerant can slow down their aging and reduce the risk of diabetes by taking steps to improve their carbohydrate metabolism. Furthermore, it is believe that these steps are useful for anyone over thirty as they reduce the risk of developing carbohydrate intolerance or diabetes in the future.

Reducing glycemic effect of meals : As we ingest food, the enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract break it down into small molecules, such as simple sugars, aminoacids and peptides. Many foods, from ice-cream to pizza to pop-corn, contain glucose or other sugars that are converted to glucose in the body. Usually, glucose is in the form of starch, a branched polymer made up of many glucose molecules, or sucrose, a sugar consisting of one glucose and one fructose molecule. As the food is digested, the glucose it contains is released and absorbed into the bloodstream, which causes blood glucose level to rise. (Scientists call this glycemic effect of food.) How dramatic such a rise would be depends on several factors: (1) how much glucose a meal contains; (2) in which form this glucose is (e.g. starch or sugar); (3) are there other food ingredients, such as fiber, that affect the rate glucose absorption. Meals that produce less dramatic rise of blood glucose tend to be better for one's carbohydrate metabolism. Generally, among nutritionally equivalent alternatives, the food with smaller glycemic effect should be preferred. For instance, glycemic effect of a whole grain rye bread is 32 percent smaller than that of the equivalent amount of white bread. Guess which is better for your health!

Fiber: Over the past decades, research has promoted fiber from a nearly useless non-nutrient filler in plant-derived foods to an important food constituent conducive of health and longevity. Chemically, fibers are a diverse group of plant polymers based on polysaccharide chains. In contrast to starch, which is also a type of polysaccharide, fibers cannot be digested by humans, and pass through the gastrointestinal tract fully or partially intact. Large amounts of fiber in the diet make stools soft and bulky.

Fiber came to the spotlight when physicians working in Africa noted a very low incidence of such typical "Western" conditions as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, colon cancer, diverticulosis and hemorrhoids. They also noticed that local population consumed a very high fiber diet -- their stool volume was several times greater than that of people in the West. A role of fiber in preventing diseases and obesity was hypothesized, which spawned abundant research on the subject. Some health benefits of fiber, such as colon cancer prevention, are still controversial. Others, including its ability of fiber to prevent and/or improve carbohydrate tolerance and type II diabetes, are confirmed by solid evidence. Fiber slows down the rate at which glucose is absorbed from food into the bloodstream. This gives the body more time to process carbohydrates, leading to lower blood sugar and better carbohydrate metabolism.

It is estimated that a typical citizen of a developed country consumes about one third of the amount of fiber optimal for health and longevity. Luckily, it is not as difficult to increase one's fiber intake without supplements as many people think. Keep in mind that fiber supplements, especially when used improperly, may cause intestinal obstruction, a serious health problem. (This never happens with high fiber foods though).

Exercise: Regular exercise is known to improve carbohydarate tolerance and have a variety of other health benefits. (And it's fun too!). If exercising outdoors, which is usually more fun than otherwise, make sure to protect you skin from excessive sun and wind exposure.

Supplements: Certain nutrients and botanicals have positive effect on carbohydrate metabolism. For instance, lipoic acid is known to lower blood sugar levels (see also the article about conditionally essential nutrients in this section). Some adaptogens were consistently proven to improve carbohydrate tolerance or even reverse early stages of type II diabetes. Adaptogens are substances that promote successful adaptation of the body to various forms of stress and also normalize various physiological aberrations. Most known adaptogens are derived from plants and are quite safe at commonly used doses.

Drugs: Of course, there are drugs that lower blood sugar. Vritually all of them, however, can have substantial adverse effects. Using glucose-lowering drug in people with confirmed diabetes is a reasonable trade-off. These drugs should not be used in people with mild carbohydrate intolerance. There are far safer things to try!

Connection between Skin and Blood sugar

Blood sugar, or more accurately blood glucose level, is a very important aspect of human physiology because glucose is the primary fuel for the central nervous system. If the blood level of glucose drops below a certain point for a long enough period of time, a person will lose consciousness, fall into coma and die. Very high blood glucose seen in diabetes is also harmful, although the immediate consequences are usually less dramatic.

It is less widely known that blood sugar has an important bearing on the aging process. Unfortunately, in addition to being a vital cellular fuel, glucose is also a substance that can cause damage to cells and tissues by randomly reacting with proteins, DNA and other vital molecules. (Scientists call this process glycation). Perhaps the worst consequence of glycation is cross-linking which is the formation of chemical bridges between proteins or other large molecules. A material that undergoes cross-linking usually becomes harder, less elastic and has a tendency to tear or crack. For instance, cross-linking is responsible for hardening of a rubber mat or a garden hose left in the sun. In an aging body, cross-linking causes hardening of arteries, wrinkling of the skin and stiffening of joints. Not surprisingly, diabetics, whose high blood glucose intensifies cross-linking, tend to have more skin damage (as well as vascular and other organ damage) than non-diabetics. However, even mildly high blood sugar promotes the aging process in the long run. This condition, called carbohydarate intolerance (or glucose intolerance) means that one's blood sugar tends to be higher than normal but not high enough to warrant the diagnosis of diabetes. Carbohydrate intolerance is extremely common, affecting up to fifty percent of the population in developed countries. In most carbohydrate intolerant people, fasting blood sugar is normal while blood sugar after meals is higher than it should be.

Research indicates that correcting carbohydrate intolerance is one the most important steps one can take towards slowing down the aging process.

Now, the question is how can one find out whether she has carbohydrate intolerance. An overt diabetes is relatively easy to diagnose. A doctor simply takes your fasting blood glucose to see whether it is elevated. A more sophisticated test called OGGT (oral glucose tolerance test) is needed to diagnose carbohydrate intolerance. First, your fasting blood sugar is measured. Then you are given a meal containing a standard amount of glucose, after which your blood glucose is measured every 30 minutes for 2 or 3 hours. This allows to see how quickly your blood sugar returns to normal after a carbohydrate load. The main risk factors for carbohydrate intolerance are being overweight and age over forty.

Next Article: How to improve carbohydrate tolerance?

About Cellulite …

Cellulite is sometimes viewed as an unscientific term. While there is no official disease called cellulite, the phenomenon it refers to clearly exists. Basically, the term cellulite refers to skin dimpling caused by protrusions of subcutaneous fat into the dermis and other irregularities of the junction between the skin and subcutaneous fat. Other names used synonymously to cellulite include orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese skin, and so forth. According to various estimates, over 80% of adult women have some degree of cellulite. Cellulite is possible but infrequent in men.

Signs and Symptoms: Cellulite is harmless and causes no pain or discomfort. Its main sign is dimpled appearance of the skin.

What causes cellulite?

The direct causes of cellulite appear to include connective tissues abnormalities, impaired microcirculation and, possibly, enlargement of fat cells. However, what leads to these disturbances remains somewhat unclear. Hormonal levels and heredity are believed to play a role. While men with normal male hormone levels rarely develop cellulite, those with abnormally low levels are much more prone to this condition. This points to a role of the hormonal balance between androgens and estrogens.

Some experts theorize that stress and diet have some role but the evidence is lacking.

Cellulite is not related to excess weight. Normal and underweight people develop cellulite as well. Losing weight does not eliminate cellulite although it may reduce its appearance somewhat as it makes fat tissue shrink.

So far, researchers found no clear distinction between normal fat tissue and the one affected by cellulite. In fact, it seems that cellulite may have more to do with changes in the lower levels of the skin and how they anchor fat tissues than with the fat itself. Age-related changes in microcirculation and lymphatic drainage may also be involved.

Treatment: There is no officially proven and approved treatment for cellulite. One of the reasons is that quality research in this area has been scarce. However, a number of empirical treatments claiming to improve cellulite are available on the market.

Next Article: Cellulite myths & misconceptions

Pigmentation Disorders

Skin pigmentation disorders and irregularities are common. Hyperpigmentation problems are particularly prevalent and many are associated with aging. While the triggers may vary, hyperpigmentation occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) become more active than normal, which leads to the production and deposition of more pigment (melanin). Conversely, hypopigmentation occurs when melanocytes are destroyed or silenced. Following are the most common pigmentation problems.

Hyperpigmentation Disorders

Age spots / sun spots (solar lentigines): Age spots/sun spots (solar lentigines) are pigmented skin blemishes associated with aging, sun damage and, to a lesser degree, other forms of skin damage. Age spots range in color from light brown to black and are predominantly located in areas exposed to the sun, such as hands, face, and arms. It is not entirely clear how sun damage triggers age spots: most likely, UV radiation produces mutations, local inflammation and other changes that increase local proliferation of melanocytes and/or activate melanin-producing genes. Sun/Age spots are harmless but may be cosmetically frustrating.

Freckles : Freckles are small, pigmented spots containing more melanin than the surrounding skin. Freckles are not caused by aging and/or sun damage. As opposed to age spots, freckles tend to fade with age. Sun exposure, while not a cause of freckles, typically makes freckles much more prominent. Freckles are found mainly in fair skinned people and tend to run in families. The cause of freckles appears to be largely genetic. Freckles are not considered a skin disorder and are harmless. Some consider them a cosmetic nuisance.

Melasma / Chloasma: Melasma is a condition characterized by increased tan-like skin pigmentation typically having uneven, patchy distribution. Chloasma is a variant of melasma occurring mainly in women and associated with increased levels of certain hormones. Chloasma may be triggered by pregnancy, oral contraceptives and occasionally other hormonal imbalances.

While hormonal changes seem to be the most common cause of melasma / cholasma, other factors may have a role. In particular, a combination of sun damage and certain ingredients found in deodorants, toiletry and other personal care products may result in melasma - apparently due to local sensitization of melanocytes.

In some cases, melasma resolves on its own if the underlying hormonal imbalance is removed (e.g. when hormonal contraceptives are replaced by a non-hormonal method or after childbirth). If the cause is non-hormonal, avoiding sun exposure and reducing/eliminating suspect skin/body care products may improve melasma. In persistent cases, various methods of skin lightening may be used.

Hypopigmentation disorders: Hypopigmentation is far less common that hyperpigmentation. Hypopigmentation occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) are either destroyed or stunned into inactivity. This generally occurs either due to serious skin damage (e.g. a burn) or due to an autoimmune disease where the immune system erroneously attacks melanocytes

Prevention of pigmentation disorders: Most hyperpigmentation problems are either caused or exacerbated by sun exposure. Hence sun protection is important for preventing hyperpigmentation. Other measures of skin protection should also help. Women with history of chloasma may be able to prevent recurrence by using non-hormonal birth control methods. However, such step should be discussed with a physician and balanced against the disadvantages of the non-hormonal alternatives.

Treatment of pigmentation disorders: Hyperpigmentation problems may be improved or eliminated by a variety of treatments, including topical lightening agents, laser / intense pulsed light, cryotherapy and chemical peels.

Treating hypopigmentation may be a greater challenge. Hypopigmentation after a burn or similar skin injury may resolve itself over time as melanocytes migrate to the damaged area. Current treatments for vitiligo are of limited effectiveness. For many people, camouflaging hypopigmentaed areas with sunless tanning products represents a viable alternative

Next Article: About Cellulite………….

Vitamins, Minerals and Skin Rejuvenation

Vitamins and minerals are essential for proper function of every organ in the body - and the skin is no exception. Furthermore, deficiencies of some vitamins and minerals are particularly detrimental to the skin and may result in skin diseases and/or accelerated aging. While severe vitamin/mineral deficiencies are rare in the developed countries, mild deficiencies are surprisingly common. To maximize the effects of any skin rejuvenation program, one needs to consume adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. This doesn't mean, however, that one needs to indiscriminately gobble up megadoses of vitamin/mineral supplements. In most cases, excessively high doses do not provide extra benefits. Furthermore, high doses of some vitamins and most minerals may be toxic. For those few vitamins when doses above RDA (recommended daily allowance) may provide extra benefits, one should not exceed safety limits. Below we focus on vitamins and minerals that are particularly important for skin health.

B-complex

The term B-complex usually refers to a group of vitamins that includes vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenate), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cyancobalamine) and folate.

Vitamins B1 and B2 are critical for energy production in the cells. Overt deficiencies of vitamins B1 and B2 are known to cause special forms of dermatitis (along with many other problems). Mild deficiencies usually go unnoticed but still may produce some degree of skin damage. People who consume a diet based mainly on processed grains are particularly prone to developing such deficiencies. A few decades ago, the US government mandated that food manufacturers should add B1 and B2 to foods made of white flour. This markedly reduced the incidence of serious B1 and B2 deficiency in the US. Many other governments did the same. Still, mild deficiency (but enough to have some negative effects on the skin and some other organs) does occur, particularly in those who base their diets mainly on processes grains and potatoes. Balancing the diet or modest supplementation is helpful, while excessively high doses of B1 or B2 seem to provide little or no additional benefit.

B12 (cyancobalamine) is essential for a variety of synthetic processes in the cells. The deficiency of this vitamin is particularly detrimental to neurons and rapidly dividing cells, including skin cells. Mild B12 deficiency often goes undiagnosed, producing no overt symptoms. Sometimes, depression may be the only symptom of B12 deficiency. B12 is unique among vitamins in that it is found almost exclusively in foods of animal origin such as meet, poultry, fish, eggs or dairy products. Contrary to some popular beliefs, no active form of B12 is found in algae such as spirulina or fermented soy products. Thus strict vegetarians are at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. Healthy young and middle-aged people consuming a balanced non-vegetarian diet are usually not at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency. The absorption of vitamin B12 from food requires intrinsic factor, a protein produced by the stomach. Some older people do not produce enough intrinsic factor due to the atrophy of stomach glands. Certain autoimmune and digestive conditions may also lead to poor absorption of B12. In people whose B12 deficiency is due to poor absorption, neither dietary changes nor oral supplements correct the problem. In such cases, B12 has to be administered as a nasal spray or injected. In contrast to many other vitamins, B12 doses higher than what's required to prevent deficiency may provide extra health benefits.

Folate participates in many of the same biochemical cascades as B12. Just as B12, it is particularly important for rapidly dividing cells, including skin cells. Mild folate deficiency often goes unnoticed. Sometimes, depression may be the only symptom of folate deficiency.Vegetables are the most abundant sources of folate, particularly green leafy vegetables and beans. The only food from animal source rich in folate is liver. Folate can be destroyed during cooking and prolonged storage. The best way to obtain enough folate from the diet is to eat generous amounts of fresh or slightly cooked vegetables. Diet lacking vegetables and fruits puts you at risk for folate deficiency. Certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs interfere with absorption of folate and may cause deficiency.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is critical for normal life cycle of skin cells. Vitamin A deficiency causes skin to become dry, fragile and prone to wrinkles. If a person is vitamin A deficient, no skin treatment will work properly. Serious vitamin A deficiency is rather common in the third world and causes a variety of serious health problems. In developed countries, milder forms of vitamin A deficiency predominate. The main sources of vitamin A are foods of animal origin, particularly eggs, organ meats and whole milk dairy products. Unfortunately, these foods tend to be high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Some plants, such as carrots or broccoli, supply carotenoids which can be converted into vitamin A by the body. Diets lacking foods of animal origin and carotenoid-rich plants may lead to vitamin A deficiency. On the other hand, excessive vitamin A intake (from taking high dose supplements or eating large amounts of liver) may cause serious toxicity and should be avoided.

Vitamin C, iron and copper

We mention vitamin C, iron and copper together because all three are important for the synthesis of collagen, a key structural protein in the skin. Deficiency of each of these nutrients reduces skin resilience and ability to heal (in addition to other health problems). Vitamin C is abundant in fresh fruits and vegetables. Iron is found in whole grains and meat products. Copper is found in a variety of foods and its deficiency is uncommon except in people taking zinc supplements.

Moral of the story.

Practically all vitamins and minerals are needed for healthy skin, but some are especially important.

Next Article: What is Sebum, Sweat, Skin pH and Acid Mantle?

Antioxidant nutrients and skin protection

Free radical damage is one of the principal mechanisms of aging. Free radicals are highly and indiscriminately reactive chemicals that can damage any structure in living cells. The most common source of free radicals is normal burning of fuel that occurs in every cell every minute of every day. (Generally, the more free radicals a species produces, the shorter its life spans.) Skin suffers additional free radical damage from sunlight and pollutants.

Topical antioxidants provide some protection against environmental damage to the skin and may be somewhat effective in slowing down the skin aging. However, topical antioxidants are relatively unreliable. Their effect depends on skin permeability, other ingredients in the cream and many other factors. It appears that increasing oral intake of some antioxidants may additionally protect skin from free radicals. Keep in mind, however, that relatively little solid research has been done specifically on skin benefits of oral or topical antioxidants and much of the supporting evidence is indirect.

A very important chemical property for an oxidant is its solubility in water and fat (or oil). Basically, living organisms have two types of internal media, watery extra- and intracellular space and oily membranes that serve as partitions enclosing individual cells and various intracellular compartments. Water-soluble antioxidants are effective mainly in extra- and intracellular fluid, whereas fat-soluble antioxidants protect biological membranes. Both types of antioxidants are needed to create an effective shield against free radicals for the entire body, and skin in particular.

Solubility of antioxidants

Water soluble	Fat soluble	Water and fat soluble
Vitamin C Cysteine Methionine Selenium Glutathione	Vitamin E Vitamin A Carotenes Lycopene Coenzyme Q10	Lipoic acid Melatonin Some polyphenols Some flavonoids

Below we review some of the antioxidant nutrients and supplements which appear the most likely to produce skin benefits.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a principal fat soluble antioxidant vitamin in the body. It protects cellular membranes, lipoproteins and other "oily" structures. Skin is high in unsaturated fatty acids ("oily" molecules especially susceptible to free radical damage), and can benefit from vitamin E protection (both oral and topical).

Flavonoids

Flavonoids are a diverse group of plant pigments with antioxidant properties. These substances are responsible for color in many fruits, vegetables and flowers. In addition to providing color that attracts insects or animals, these pigments protect plants from environmental stress. In addition to being potent antioxidants, some flavonoids have antiallergic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity. Over 4,000 flavonoids have been characterized and classified, but only a few have been researched. As far as skin benefits are concerned, two classes of flavonoids appear to be especially beneficial: proanthocyanins (found in grapes and pine bark) and polyphenols (found in green tea).

Coenzyme Q10, Lipoic acid, Cysteine, Methionine

Coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, cysteine and methionine are potent antioxidants. But they also play other roles that are at least as important as their antioxidant activity. See also the article about conditionally essential nutrients in this section.

Tomorrows Article: Vitamins, minerals and skin rejuvenation

Is there a link - The Body, Diet, Nutrition & Skin Condition?

We all know that the skin is the body’s largest organ but I feel many of us forget just how intricate the internal systems of the body and the skin are at a cellular level. Many skin and hair disorders reflect some system disturbance within the body; everything from hormonal imbalance, immune deficiency, to gastric disease can affect your skin. Researchers have many different theories about the etiology of various skin disorders and several tell us there is no connection between diet, nutrition and skin condition. Is it possible that diet and nutrition can boost the immune system, assist in the repair and control of gastric disease or other diseases of the body? We believe that while diet and nutrition may not cure skin disorders they can certainly provide the body and consequently the skin with vital nutrients to improve the health of the skin and help the body fight disease.

The skin is like a mirror, it reflects everything because it is impacted by everything both internal and external of the body. Human skin is also impacted by the stresses of our lives, genetics, environment, hormones, disease and lifestyle. We have to stop thinking of our skin as just a covering on the body that we wash and scrub, bake in the sun, rub with creams, make-up, lasers and treatments. Topical treatments and cosmetics can be very dramatic but the body functions as a whole complete complex unit which includes the skin. We should nourish and treat the skin from the inside to have lasting healthy improvements.

The skin and its cells acquire and utilize nutrients from the metabolic processes of the skin and the body. When our body is lacking in vital nutrients, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and essential fatty acids the skin will eventually react.

So you are not sure what you should be eating or what supplements you need for healthy skin and hair, search for healthy nutrition information at your local bookstore or on-line, also many physicians and health plans now have nutritionist on staff. If you have a health condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease speaking with a professional nutritionist is highly recommended. Most of us will find that eating healthy, taking supplements and exercise will not only have a positive impact on our skin but also on our overall health and well being.

Start by adding a good all in one vitamin supplement that has all the basic vitamin groups, some minerals, amino acids and other nutrients then add fish oil or a combination omega-3/omgea-6 supplement. I like a vitamin that only requires me to take one a day. Eliminate the fatty snacks and carbonated beverages, instead reach for fruit and even better would be raw vegetables, you can now buy them bagged fresh, cut and ready to eat. Drink more water and natural unprocessed fruit juices, use a blender to make your own. Save time by making a gallon at a time and drink up. Pass on the milk, cheese, and red meat. The cows get so many hormones and other boosters these days who need theirs when we have our own hormonal issues. Just say no to fried foods and processed breads.

To those with skin conditions, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and dry skin types put it to a test for 90 days once you determine what foods to avoid and what supplements to take. Be patient it will take your body some time to react to all this goodness. If you are patient and consistent you should notice some improvement.

Please don't do this if it causes stress in any way because stress is a possible contributor to flares in many skin conditions. Only do this if you can enjoy it, embrace it and can make it a welcome part of your world.

If you like the Information and found it helpful please send me an email

Next Article: Antioxidant nutrients and skin protection

What diet is best for your skin?

The diet which is best for overall health is best for the skin health as well. But still some aspects of a healthy diet which are more important for the skin are given below.

Balance and variety

Every one recommends to consume a “Balanced Diet”. But what exactly does it mean? By balanced diet, nutritionist means a diet that contains all necessary nutrients within a certain optimal range. This range is usually selected in such a way as to prevent protein malnutrition and vitamin / mineral deficiencies. Thus, in a strict sense, balanced diet is a diet allowing avoiding malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies. And, for many people, especially junk-food lovers, adopting a standard balanced diet would already be a great improvement. However, derive significant anti-aging benefits; one may have to consume some nutrients in greater amounts than those found in a basic balanced diet.

For most people, the simplest and probably the most practically feasible way to take a balanced diet is to follow the recommendations of the Daily Food Guide developed by the US Department of Agriculture. Adults are advised to:

· Consume a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables while staying within energy needs. Two cups of fruit and two-and-a-half cups of vegetables per day are recommended for a reference 2,000-calorie intake, with higher or lower amounts depending on the calorie level.

· Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables each day. In particular, select from all five vegetable subgroups (dark green, orange, legumes, starchy vegetables, and other vegetables) several times a week.

· Consume 3 or more ounce-equivalents of whole-grain products per day, with the rest of the recommended grains coming from enriched or whole-grain products. In general, at least half the grains should come from whole grains.

· Consume 3 cups per day of fat-free or low-fat milk or equivalent milk products.

To ensure than all essential nutrients are consumed in adequate amounts, it is desirable to consume a wide variety of foods.

Fruits and vegetables: My grandma use to say and now it's official! Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables is good for your health. Fruits and vegetables are particularly important for preventing premature skin aging because they contain a wide variety of antioxidants. Many of the pigments responsible for the color of fruits and veggies are potent antioxidants. These antioxidants help protect skin cells from damage by free radicals which are especially rampant in the skin due to environmental exposure. To ensure that your fruits and veggies have all their antioxidants intact, make sure they are fresh and uncooked (or only minimally cooked) since heat inactivates most antioxidants. Also, some fruits and veggies are significantly richer in antioxidants than others.

Fluids: A well-moisturized skin is somewhat less prone to developing of wrinkles. Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day ensures proper hydration of the body and helps reduce skin dryness. Experts usually recommend drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day. Coffee and sodas are not a good substitute for water because they contain caffeine, which is a diuretic ( a substance promoting the excretion of water via urine). Also, do not drink too much fluid 2-3 hours before going to bed. This may cause morning puffiness and excessively stretch your skin.

Calories: Except for frying oneself in direct sunlight at noon, the quickest way to get wrinkles is to put on a lot of weight and then lose it. The reason is obvious: when you gain weight, extra fat stretches the skin, then, when you lose weight and body fat goes away, the skin sags and crumples up. The degree of skin sagging after weight loss varies with the person's age, genetics and other factors. Let the desire to retain youthful skin be another incentive for you to watch your calories and avoid weight gain - even if you plan to lose weight later on. Also, keep in mind that gaining and losing weight in cycles may have negative effects not only on the skin but on your overall health as well.

Cooking: The central theme in cooking is heat-treatment of foods. Every time a food is heated up, the rate of reactions of degradation and oxidation of nutrients jumps up dramatically. In other words, cooking depletes food of many essential nutrients and antioxidants and increases the content of oxidative by-products (free radicals). As a result, we consume less essential nutrients and more aging-promoting free radicals. True, complete avoidance of cooked foods is no fun. You don't have to stop eating cooked foods altogether to avoid most of the negative effects of excessively cooked foods. For starters, reduce cooking time and avoid deep frying, grilling and cooking in large amounts of oil or fat.

Next Article: More on Nutrition…