Health and Beauty Les Halles

The Wear and Tear Theory

The Wear and Tear Theory was first introduced by Dr. August Weismann, a German biologist in 1882.  He believed aging occurred when the body and its cells were damaged by overuse and abuse.  The major organs of the body such as the liver, stomach, kidneys, skin and so on are worn down by toxins in our diet and in the environment, by excessive intake of fat, sugar, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, by the ultra-violet rays of the sun and by the many other physical and emotional stresses to which we subject our bodies.  Simply using the organs over time wears them out even if you never touch a cigarette or have a glass of wine and stayed out of the sun, etc.  Abuse just wears them out quicker.  He also believed it takes place on the cellular level.

Nutritional supplements and other treatments can help reverse the aging process by stimulating the body’s own ability to repair and maintain its organs and cells.

The Neuroendocrine Theory

The neuroendocrine theory was developed by Vladimir Dilman, Ph.d.  The theory elaborates on the wear and tear theory by focusing on the neuroendocrine system that governs the release of our hormones and other vital bodily elements.  Different organs release various hormones under the governance of the hypothalamus, a walnut-sized gland located within the brain.  Hormone levels are high in youth and account for menstruation in women and high libido in both sexes.  As we get older the body produces lower levels of hormones which can have serious effects on our functioning.  Hormones help repair and regulate our bodily functions.  When aging causes a drop in hormone production, it causes a decline in our body’s ability to repair and regulate itself.

The hormone replacement therapy is a frequent component of any anti-aging treatment and helps to reset the body’s hormonal clock and then reverse or delay the effects of aging.  The theory holds that if our hormones are being produced at youthful levels the cells of our bodies are stimulated to active and we stay young.

The Genetic Control Theory

This theory focuses on the genetic programming encoded within our DNA.  From birth we are equipped with a unique genetic code, which has a great deal to say about how quickly we age and how long we live.  When our biological clock goes off it signals our bodies first to age and then to die.  The timing on this genetic clock is subject to enormous variation and depends upon what happens to us as we grow up and on how we actually live.

Anti-aging medicine attempts to prevent damage to our cells and increase repair of DNA to help us escape our genetic destinies, at least to some extent.

The Free Radical Theory

This development in anti-aging research was first introduced by R. Gerschman in 1954 and developed by Dr. Denham Harman of the University of Nebraska, College of Medicine.  Free radical is a term used to describe any molecule that differs from conventional molecules.  Free radicals possess a free electron that makes it react with other molecules in highly destructive ways.

The theory holds that free-radical damage begins at birth and continues until we die.  In our youth its effects are fairly minor because the body has extensive repair and replacement mechanisms that in healthy young people function to keep cells and organs in working order.  With age, the accumulated effects of free-radical damage begin to take their toll and are part of what ages our cells.  Free-radical disruption of cell metabolism may also create mutant cells leading to cancer and death.  Free radicals attack collagen and elastin.  Collagen and elastin are the substances that keep our skin moist, smooth, flexible and elastic.  When these vital tissues fray and break under the assault of free radicals, we begin to notice folds of skins and deep-cut wrinkles.

Another way of looking at free-radical changes is to think of it as rust and our aging process is similar to the rusting away of a once-intact piece of metal.  Oxygen itself is free radicals and so our breathing and aerobic exercise generates free radicals that help us along the aging process.

Substances that prevent harmful effects of oxidation are antioxidants.  This is why specialists in anti-aging medicine prescribe a host of natural and manufactured antioxidants to help combat the effects of aging.  Many vitamins and minerals and other substances fight aging by acting as free-radical scavengers.

Source:  The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine

Disclaimer:  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  All health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care professional.

The fact that our mythologies always speak of a fountain of youth tells something about us as a race. For centuries, civilizations have tried to find a cure for death and to prolong life as long as possible. This tradition has lived on today, and science has been able to provide several methods to make us look younger and live longer as well. We now have several products we apply on our skin to prevent the formation of wrinkles and maintain its appearance. At the same time, we have several supplements that help us feel good and avoid several ailments.

What many don’t realize is that some of the methods that our ancestors have been doing in order to look and live longer actually require less foreign products and involve things that can be found in nature. It has also been proven by science that routine things that we normally take for granted can actually help live a longer and better life. As such, if we look around us, we can find many things that do exactly the same things that anti-aging creams do. Couple this with the right lifestyle, we might be able to discover the secrets of the fountain of youth without spending an arm or a leg for it.

The first thing is to watch the food that you eat. One reason is that you have to avoid eating food that actually contributes in making your skin look older than it should be. This same kind of food also causes several bodily ailments such as high blood pressure and heart failure. Unfortunately, it will be tough to let go of the normal diet as they are considered staple food or even more delicious. Fast food such as greasy burgers and fried chicken as well as a steady supply of potato chips will only keep us from living a healthy life. After avoiding certain food, it is also necessary to include a proper diet. Many people have already discovered that consuming less processed food and more natural products have helped them look and feel five or more years younger than their age.

People should also keep an active lifestyle. This becomes more necessary if your current job keeps you in a limited position most of the time. If such is the case, you should devote a fraction of your day to exercise your body. Even if you don’t want to exercise, there are several errands that will give you an entire workout. This includes cleaning your room, mowing the lawn, or moving some furniture. Walking over short distances is a cheap alternative to driving and gives your legs the exercise that they need. Getting a sport that you will regularly practice will also help your heart and burn the excess fat and calories off your body.

Finally, you all need to relax. The current speed of things and the economic situation have been giving you many reasons to feel stressed and depressed. It is therefore necessary to find a way to simply sit down and experience life as it passes by. Enjoying life is key to maintaining your energy and looks. People who laugh and listen to music more often have been found to live longer and look better than those who don’t.

You have to face that your face begins to show its age. But you’ve heard that there are quite a few natural remedies for those wrinkles. Why subject your skin to chemical treatments which may spoil it even further, if you can get great results with natural alternatives? Here are just a few suggestions to get you on your way.

1. Green Tea:

You’ve probably already heard that green tea has a wide range of health benefits. It is loaded with antioxidants which make it not only a good choice as a drink, but as an ingredient in anti-aging creams. Research indicates that green tea can benefit aging skin in a number of ways.

Medical trials have shown that green tea can actually boost elasticity of skin. If you use a green tea supplement in combination with a green tea-enriched wrinkle cream, you’ll see even more visible improvement.

Thanks to the many studies which have been performed on it, green tea is now considered to have as much anti-aging potential as any other supplement on the market. Its active age-fighting ingredients smooth away wrinkles while increasing the elasticity of skin. Its antioxidants are effective at repairing aging effects of free radicals.

2. Vitamin C:

You have probably used Vitamin C to help you avoid colds and know about its remarkable antioxidant properties. But you may not know that Vitamin C can actively promote the skin’s production of collagen, and healthy collagen will reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Look for a Vitamin C-enriched winkle cream to boost your collagen or make your diet rich of vitamin C.

The anti-aging benefits of Vitamin C have been clinically established, and it has been a long-standing addition to wrinkle creams and serums. Vitamin C is one of the most affordable of all wrinkle fighters, and is as effective as some other skin care products which can cost many times as much.

3. Vitamin A:

Another of the best collagen fighters for your anti-aging treatment is Vitamin A (Retinol). Vitamin A, like Vitamin C, will help your skin produce healthy collagen fibers. It will also shrink your pores and lighten your age spots.

Some women, however, may find Vitamin A-enriched products irritating. Those reactions can occur though Vitamin A is one of the popular of all wrinkle fighters.

4. Eating a clove of garlic a day (row or cooked) helps to protect the body against cancer and heart disease. The cardio protective effects of garlic are well recorded. In a study, to eat a clove of garlic on regular basis prevents one from colon cancer. Another study suggested that garlic reduced cholesterol levels and assisted blood thinning more effectively than aspirin, thus helping to reduce the risk of heart disease.

The market for anti-aging products of all kinds is greater than ever, but the demand for products which fight aging naturally is also greater than it has ever been. There’s no reason at all why your path to looking younger needs to be anything but natural!

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